Last Thursday a relatively minor celebration went unnoticed, or at least I would imagine that not too many of us celebrated. Last Thursday marked the fortieth day following Jesus’ resurrection which was Ascension Day. I have always contended that the reason Ascension Day gets short shrift is because it is not a sellable holiday. What can you sell to celebrate Ascension Day? Presents, eggs, rabbits, and candy have all been used up, so what is left? A rising Jesus doll? So, Ascension Day goes rather unnoticed.
Ascension Day marks Jesus ascending to the place from which He descended in order to be our substitute, to pay the price for our sins so that we have forgiveness, life and salvation. In another ten days since last Thursday, which will be next Sunday, we will celebrate the sending of the Holy Spirit as Jesus promised before He ascended, and that will be the day we mark as Pentecost. So, today we are left with that Sunday between Ascension Day and Pentecost Sunday.
Although today is an “in between” Sunday, our text for this morning is no less important. Our text begins by listing of the disciples, verse twelve, “12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers” (v. 12-14).
Notice that our list of the Apostles is made up of only eleven men. Jesus chose twelve Apostles and in the Revelation to Saint John we understand the importance of the twelve Apostles, so another apostle is needed to take the place of Judas and make the number twelve.
Luke also makes note of the importance of the women and the other disciples. And here we distinguished the other disciples, those who were simply followers of Jesus, because we are included as disciples today. These women and other disciples are distinguished from the twelve apostles who were chosen, set apart and given an extra measure of gifts, which is what the word apostle means, set apart for a purpose. Luke helps us to understand that in Jesus’ eyes there are no second class citizens, but we are all equal in God’s eyes. We are all equally condemned sinners and by His grace, all equally forgiven saints.
Jesus has ascended and now the disciples and Apostle’s wait for Jesus’ promise of sending the Holy Spirit to be fulfilled, in ten days, which we will celebrate next Sunday, Pentecost Sunday. Our text continues with Peter’s Sermon as they wait, picking up at verse fifteen, “15In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16‘Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.’ 18(Now this man bought a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20‘For it is written in the Book of Psalms, ‘“May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’”; and ‘“Let another take his office’” (v. 15-20).
Peter interprets these Old Testament passages as speaking of the events which they have witnessed, namely that of Judas betraying Jesus and the use of the betrayal money to purchase a field for the burial of those without a place to be buried. It is fascinating that Peter and the Apostles were rather oblivious to understanding the fulfillment of the Scriptures while Jesus was alive and with them, but following Jesus resurrection, and as we will see next week following the sending of the Holy Spirit, the Lord opens their minds and hearts to complete understanding.
Peter understands the need for completeness, for having the complete number of Apostles, that is the importance of having twelve Apostles and we see this as we heard in our reading from Revelation this morning. Certainly the twelve Apostles relates to the twelve tribes of Israel and the importance of the complete number of all the believers of the Old and New Testament, thus it was important to replace Judas. (It was the total number of believers of the Old Testament, represented by the twelve tribes of Israel, times the total number of believers in the New Testament, represented by the twelve Apostles, times the number of completion, [1000] or 12 x 12 x 1000 or 144,000 which is the total number of believers in heaven, or as John also describes in Revelation, a vast number of people that no one can count (Rev. 7:9).)
Concerning Judas, Peter helps us understand that Judas was called an apostle. Perhaps in the life of Judas we have a warning for our own lives. Just as Judas was called by Jesus Himself to be an Apostle, yet, he strayed, he denied, he refused and rejected Jesus and His gifts and blessings, forgiveness, faith, life and salvation, so too in our own lives, as our Lord calls us to and gives us faith through His Word as well as through the waters of Holy Baptism, perhaps we might be careful in our own lives to not stray, to not deny, refuse and reject Jesus and His gifts and blessings, faith, forgiveness and life.
Notice that in speaking about Judas, Peter does not judge Judas, but simply states the facts, the obvious. Judas was an Apostle, counted with the other eleven Apostles, but he turned aside to go to his own place.
Our text continues with the Selection of a replacement for Judas, picking up at verse twenty-one, “‘21So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.’ 23And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24And they prayed and said, ‘You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.’ 26And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles” (v. 21-26).
The criteria for the replacement of Judas was simple, with only two important points to be met; first, he must have “accompanied us during all the time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us.” Certainly we can see the importance of an Apostle having been with, listened to and known Jesus.
The second point of criteria was that he must have been an eye witness of Jesus’ resurrection. Again, certainly we can understand that one of the original apostles must be a person who was an eye witness of the resurrection to which he is to attest.
With these two criteria, only two names were presented as to having fulfilled and met these criteria; Joseph called Barsabbas, also called Justus and Matthias. We are not told a lot about these two men, except that they fulfilled the condition for being elected. And interestingly enough, after Mathias is chosen, by the casting of the lot, we do not hear any more about him in Scripture either.
Anyway, the selection of the candidate was done by the casting of the lot, which may have been simply a role of a dice or a drawing of a bead of one color over another. The importance of the casting of the lot was that God would guide the selection which would determine which candidate would be chosen. We might well compare this casting of a die and depending on God’s guidance to what happens in a voter’s meeting when a congregation is calling a pastor; prayers are said and God guides the voting of the man for the office. And as we said, the lot fell to Matthias.
So, what does this mean? How do we apply this message to our lives today? First and foremost we understand that it is who God provides us with a church and a part of that provision is that He provides us with a pastor. Now, certainly, we understand that our pastor is a human being, a sinner like we all are, not perfect, but he is the man God has called through the congregation and he is the man who has been given the authority and the task to preach the Gospel, administer the sacraments, and forgive and retain sins. Because he has been called by God, through the congregation, this calling means that, unless our pastor is not preaching the Gospel, administering the sacraments, forgiving and retaining sins, and preaching heresy, for us to profane and speak out against our pastor is tantamount to speaking out against and profaning God.
Concerning the call into the office of Holy Minister; we rightly understand, as we see lived out in our text, that men do not call themselves into the Office of Holy Ministry. Matthias did not call himself to be an Apostle. It is God who calls men into the office of Holy Ministry and He calls through the congregation. This call into the office of the Holy Ministry, by God, through the congregation reminds us that this is not our church, but this is God’s church. As members of this congregation we realize that God has called us to faith and given us the privilege to be His people in this place, to bear witness of His grace and love and to serve Him through our serving others in this place.
Notice, how, as always, it goes back to the fact that God is the prime mover. God gives. He gives life, at conception. He gives faith, through the means of His Word and Holy Baptism. He gives vocation, that is that we are priests in the priesthood of all believers and so we are to serve others as priests, offering our lives as living sacrifices so that others might see the faith that is in our heart and give glory to God and in our serving others, we are serving God. And God has called some men into the Office of Holy Ministry.
God’s purpose for our vocation is that we might serve Him by serving others. God’s purpose for our vocation is that our lives might be blessed as we are a blessing to others. God’s purpose for the Office of Holy Ministry is to provide the means of grace, the means through which He gives faith, forgiveness and life so that we are numbered with the saints.
As I have been telling you for the last number of weeks, God loves you so much. We see God’s love in His Word especially as He shows us how He cares for His people and in the same way He cares for us. God has so much that He has given to you and so much more that He wants to give to you. And so, I continue to pray for you and encourage you, receive the gifts. Be where the gifts are distributed and be given the gifts, faith, forgiveness and life so that the Lord may have His way with you, and so that ultimately your life may say, to God be the glory, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Ascension Day marks Jesus ascending to the place from which He descended in order to be our substitute, to pay the price for our sins so that we have forgiveness, life and salvation. In another ten days since last Thursday, which will be next Sunday, we will celebrate the sending of the Holy Spirit as Jesus promised before He ascended, and that will be the day we mark as Pentecost. So, today we are left with that Sunday between Ascension Day and Pentecost Sunday.
Although today is an “in between” Sunday, our text for this morning is no less important. Our text begins by listing of the disciples, verse twelve, “12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers” (v. 12-14).
Notice that our list of the Apostles is made up of only eleven men. Jesus chose twelve Apostles and in the Revelation to Saint John we understand the importance of the twelve Apostles, so another apostle is needed to take the place of Judas and make the number twelve.
Luke also makes note of the importance of the women and the other disciples. And here we distinguished the other disciples, those who were simply followers of Jesus, because we are included as disciples today. These women and other disciples are distinguished from the twelve apostles who were chosen, set apart and given an extra measure of gifts, which is what the word apostle means, set apart for a purpose. Luke helps us to understand that in Jesus’ eyes there are no second class citizens, but we are all equal in God’s eyes. We are all equally condemned sinners and by His grace, all equally forgiven saints.
Jesus has ascended and now the disciples and Apostle’s wait for Jesus’ promise of sending the Holy Spirit to be fulfilled, in ten days, which we will celebrate next Sunday, Pentecost Sunday. Our text continues with Peter’s Sermon as they wait, picking up at verse fifteen, “15In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16‘Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.’ 18(Now this man bought a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20‘For it is written in the Book of Psalms, ‘“May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’”; and ‘“Let another take his office’” (v. 15-20).
Peter interprets these Old Testament passages as speaking of the events which they have witnessed, namely that of Judas betraying Jesus and the use of the betrayal money to purchase a field for the burial of those without a place to be buried. It is fascinating that Peter and the Apostles were rather oblivious to understanding the fulfillment of the Scriptures while Jesus was alive and with them, but following Jesus resurrection, and as we will see next week following the sending of the Holy Spirit, the Lord opens their minds and hearts to complete understanding.
Peter understands the need for completeness, for having the complete number of Apostles, that is the importance of having twelve Apostles and we see this as we heard in our reading from Revelation this morning. Certainly the twelve Apostles relates to the twelve tribes of Israel and the importance of the complete number of all the believers of the Old and New Testament, thus it was important to replace Judas. (It was the total number of believers of the Old Testament, represented by the twelve tribes of Israel, times the total number of believers in the New Testament, represented by the twelve Apostles, times the number of completion, [1000] or 12 x 12 x 1000 or 144,000 which is the total number of believers in heaven, or as John also describes in Revelation, a vast number of people that no one can count (Rev. 7:9).)
Concerning Judas, Peter helps us understand that Judas was called an apostle. Perhaps in the life of Judas we have a warning for our own lives. Just as Judas was called by Jesus Himself to be an Apostle, yet, he strayed, he denied, he refused and rejected Jesus and His gifts and blessings, forgiveness, faith, life and salvation, so too in our own lives, as our Lord calls us to and gives us faith through His Word as well as through the waters of Holy Baptism, perhaps we might be careful in our own lives to not stray, to not deny, refuse and reject Jesus and His gifts and blessings, faith, forgiveness and life.
Notice that in speaking about Judas, Peter does not judge Judas, but simply states the facts, the obvious. Judas was an Apostle, counted with the other eleven Apostles, but he turned aside to go to his own place.
Our text continues with the Selection of a replacement for Judas, picking up at verse twenty-one, “‘21So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.’ 23And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24And they prayed and said, ‘You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.’ 26And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles” (v. 21-26).
The criteria for the replacement of Judas was simple, with only two important points to be met; first, he must have “accompanied us during all the time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us.” Certainly we can see the importance of an Apostle having been with, listened to and known Jesus.
The second point of criteria was that he must have been an eye witness of Jesus’ resurrection. Again, certainly we can understand that one of the original apostles must be a person who was an eye witness of the resurrection to which he is to attest.
With these two criteria, only two names were presented as to having fulfilled and met these criteria; Joseph called Barsabbas, also called Justus and Matthias. We are not told a lot about these two men, except that they fulfilled the condition for being elected. And interestingly enough, after Mathias is chosen, by the casting of the lot, we do not hear any more about him in Scripture either.
Anyway, the selection of the candidate was done by the casting of the lot, which may have been simply a role of a dice or a drawing of a bead of one color over another. The importance of the casting of the lot was that God would guide the selection which would determine which candidate would be chosen. We might well compare this casting of a die and depending on God’s guidance to what happens in a voter’s meeting when a congregation is calling a pastor; prayers are said and God guides the voting of the man for the office. And as we said, the lot fell to Matthias.
So, what does this mean? How do we apply this message to our lives today? First and foremost we understand that it is who God provides us with a church and a part of that provision is that He provides us with a pastor. Now, certainly, we understand that our pastor is a human being, a sinner like we all are, not perfect, but he is the man God has called through the congregation and he is the man who has been given the authority and the task to preach the Gospel, administer the sacraments, and forgive and retain sins. Because he has been called by God, through the congregation, this calling means that, unless our pastor is not preaching the Gospel, administering the sacraments, forgiving and retaining sins, and preaching heresy, for us to profane and speak out against our pastor is tantamount to speaking out against and profaning God.
Concerning the call into the office of Holy Minister; we rightly understand, as we see lived out in our text, that men do not call themselves into the Office of Holy Ministry. Matthias did not call himself to be an Apostle. It is God who calls men into the office of Holy Ministry and He calls through the congregation. This call into the office of the Holy Ministry, by God, through the congregation reminds us that this is not our church, but this is God’s church. As members of this congregation we realize that God has called us to faith and given us the privilege to be His people in this place, to bear witness of His grace and love and to serve Him through our serving others in this place.
Notice, how, as always, it goes back to the fact that God is the prime mover. God gives. He gives life, at conception. He gives faith, through the means of His Word and Holy Baptism. He gives vocation, that is that we are priests in the priesthood of all believers and so we are to serve others as priests, offering our lives as living sacrifices so that others might see the faith that is in our heart and give glory to God and in our serving others, we are serving God. And God has called some men into the Office of Holy Ministry.
God’s purpose for our vocation is that we might serve Him by serving others. God’s purpose for our vocation is that our lives might be blessed as we are a blessing to others. God’s purpose for the Office of Holy Ministry is to provide the means of grace, the means through which He gives faith, forgiveness and life so that we are numbered with the saints.
As I have been telling you for the last number of weeks, God loves you so much. We see God’s love in His Word especially as He shows us how He cares for His people and in the same way He cares for us. God has so much that He has given to you and so much more that He wants to give to you. And so, I continue to pray for you and encourage you, receive the gifts. Be where the gifts are distributed and be given the gifts, faith, forgiveness and life so that the Lord may have His way with you, and so that ultimately your life may say, to God be the glory, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
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