Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd
numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, 16 "Friends, the
scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold
concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus— 17 for he
was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry." 21
So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord
Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the
day when he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to
his resurrection." 23 So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who
was also known as Justus, and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed and said, "Lord,
you know everyone's heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen 25 to
take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside
to go to his own place." 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell
on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.
“So one of the men who have
accompanied us during all the time that 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—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection."
·
Shortly after the Ascension
of Jesus, the apostles and all the disciples gathered to find a replacement for
Judas Iscariot. It appears that this was among the first things that the early
church did. It seems that they didn’t’ want to get by with only eleven
apostles, so a replacement was needed. Two men were nominated by the assembly.
After prayer and the casting of lots, a man named Matthias was chosen.
·
What he was chosen for is
interesting to note. Peter says “One of these must become a witness with
us of his resurrection.” He was not chosen for church
administration or teaching, but to witness the resurrection of Jesus to all
around.
·
This witnessing appears to
be the primary function and ministry of the apostles. The proclamation of the
Resurrection of Jesus was what the apostles saw themselves to be about.
·
Why would it be important
to choose one from among all the disciples who had accompanied the apostles
throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry? That appears to be the first requirement.
·
It might be a case of a
desire for continuity. The early church wanted to be sure that those who
proclaimed the Resurrection were familiar with the Resurrection. They may have wanted
the proclamation to be the same for all, without any additions. We don’t know.
What we have is the four Gospels that proclaim the life and ministry of Jesus
as well as his death. Matthew, Luke, and John all have resurrection accounts
although Mark does not for reasons not known to us. All these accounts are
based on the earlier proclamations of the Christian community.
·
With this in mind, the
apostles and the early church may have wished to maintain so commonality of
belief. They may have wished that the proclamation lead to a common faith, held
everywhere. Since nothing had yet been written down, the only way to maintain a
constant proclamation was to choose the proclaimers from the group that “accompanied
us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us.”
·
This decision to choose an
apostle from among the group that knew Jesus points to a strong commitment to
proclaim the earthly life of Jesus. Both Matthias and Joseph Barsabbas knew
Jesus, had heard his preaching, and had probably witnessed his miracles and his
death. They had seen the risen Lord and were, at the very least, aware of his
ascension. They experienced the entire story and knew it personally. To them,
to all the apostles, and all the disciples who had walked with Jesus, knowing
his earthly reality was of vital importance. It was important to proclaim it.
·
Knowing Jesus’ earthly
ministry and life makes his Resurrection all the more real. It affected all the
disciples’ lives. The early church appears to value the Resurrection of Christ
above all things. It has been the constant theme of the church’s preaching and
proclamation since the earliest days. It is what permits Jesus’ death to make
sense. If the chosen apostle “must become a witness with us to his
resurrection.", then the church has made the Resurrection of
Jesus the bedrock of the faith. To proclaim the Resurrection carries with it
all the rest of the revelation that the church hold dear.
·
This is why we celebrate
Easter for seven weeks, a “Week of Weeks.”
·
This is why we say “Christ is risen” so often in the season
of Easter.
·
This is why every Sunday,
we celebrate a little Easter in our churches.
·
This is why we as
Christians worship on Sundays for it is the day of the Resurrection.
·
In truth, we can’t do
without Easter and the Resurrection of Christ. It is what gives us our ultimate
hope.
·
The Church throughout the
world proclaims the Resurrection of Christ even though there are none among us
who are like Matthias and Joseph Barsabbas, that is “who have accompanied us
during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us…”
If you want to know the proclamation of Jesus’ Resurrection
today, look to the Church, because it is our constant word. Look to the
Church’s Scriptures, for they tell of it. And look to the Church’s members, for
we are to proclaim the Lord’s death and Resurrection with our words and lives,
until he comes again.
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