WEBVTT 00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:12.720 This sermon was recorded at Faith Evangelical Free Church in Grand Forks, North Dakota. 00:00:19.039 --> 00:00:23.120 Please take your Bible and open it to the Book of Acts. 00:00:26.640 --> 00:00:42.479 Two weeks ago, we began considering the book of Acts by looking at the end of Luke's gospel, being reminded there that Luke wrote two books that continue the same narrative. 00:00:43.039 --> 00:00:47.759 Then last Sunday we looked at the beginning of Acts chapter 1. 00:00:47.840 --> 00:00:54.719 And so this morning we're going to pick up there where we left off in Acts chapter 1 and verse 15. 00:00:56.240 --> 00:01:01.759 And our passage for this morning is all about the fulfillment of Scripture. 00:01:02.960 --> 00:01:08.480 Peter explains to us how Judas fulfilled Scripture. 00:01:08.879 --> 00:01:23.439 And then we see through the rest of the passage, the disciples' faithful obedience to the will of God as a man named Matthias takes Judas's place as one of the twelve. 00:01:23.680 --> 00:01:29.599 Again, that's Acts chapter 1, beginning in verse 15, if you'd like to follow along. 00:01:29.840 --> 00:01:53.599 It says, In those days, Peter stood up among the brothers, that is, the company of persons was in all about 120, and said, 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. 00:01:54.079 --> 00:01:58.560 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry. 00:01:59.760 --> 00:02:08.479 Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle, and all his bowels gushed out. 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:18.800 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, the field of blood. 00:02:19.360 --> 00:02:30.159 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. 00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:46.800 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 men must become with us a witness to his resurrection. 00:02:47.520 --> 00:02:49.280 And they put forward two. 00:02:50.080 --> 00:02:55.199 Joseph, called Barsabbas, who was also called Justice, and Matthias. 00:02:55.919 --> 00:03:09.520 And they prayed and said, You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place. 00:03:10.479 --> 00:03:18.479 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. 00:03:19.199 --> 00:03:19.840 Amen. 00:03:21.599 --> 00:03:40.319 This section can get lost pretty quickly between the first part of the chapter that details the commissioning of the disciples and the ascension of the Lord Jesus, and the passage that comes after this, which details the coming of the Holy Spirit and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. 00:03:40.719 --> 00:03:45.199 But what is recounted here had to happen. 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:50.240 It was necessary for the continuation of Jesus' work. 00:03:51.280 --> 00:03:59.680 Remember, Luke began this book by telling us that the gospel account was all about what Jesus began to do. 00:04:01.199 --> 00:04:08.800 The book of Acts continues what Jesus does while he rules and reigns from his place at the Father's right hand. 00:04:09.919 --> 00:04:17.839 And here Peter recognized the necessity of Judas' role as one of the twelve. 00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:23.759 His presence was necessary to fulfill Scripture. 00:04:24.319 --> 00:04:27.920 His death was required to fulfill Scripture. 00:04:28.160 --> 00:04:32.800 And his replacement was essential to fulfill Scripture. 00:04:39.120 --> 00:04:45.199 That's a better translation, I think, of the words had to be in the English Standard Version. 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:51.759 In verse 16, the scripture had to be fulfilled. 00:04:52.160 --> 00:04:55.600 It's just one word in Luke's Greek language. 00:04:55.839 --> 00:04:58.800 And it carries the sense of our English word must. 00:04:59.519 --> 00:05:18.319 In fact, that's how the ESV translates it a few pages over in chapter 3 in verse 21, where there Peter says that heaven had to receive Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all things. 00:05:19.199 --> 00:05:30.879 Luke used this word, this must, this had to word, it is necessary word, 21 times in the book of Acts, twice in this passage. 00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:38.720 And when we find it in the New Testament, it often implies God's sovereign plan. 00:05:40.160 --> 00:05:45.519 So from God's vantage point, certain things were absolutely necessary. 00:05:46.959 --> 00:06:03.920 Twice in our text, Peter's mind is open to understand specific necessities about Judas' part in the plan of God that factored into the very first days of Jesus' absence and the beginning of the church. 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:10.240 So this morning I want you to think about a theology of Judas. 00:06:11.839 --> 00:06:13.199 Why is he here? 00:06:14.399 --> 00:06:16.480 What purpose did he have? 00:06:18.160 --> 00:06:23.600 If nothing else, I pray that you leave this morning with a renewed understanding of Judas. 00:06:24.959 --> 00:06:29.519 His part in the gospel story is not a mistake. 00:06:30.399 --> 00:06:36.319 Jesus did not make a mistake in calling a thief to be his disciple. 00:06:36.959 --> 00:06:43.519 And the disciples did not make a mistake in considering Judas one of their own. 00:06:44.800 --> 00:06:47.360 It was necessary. 00:06:49.759 --> 00:06:51.360 It was necessary. 00:06:52.240 --> 00:06:59.360 And because it's necessary, it has implications for your life and for our church. 00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:08.560 And all of this occurs in the context of 120 people or so, about 120 people gathered together. 00:07:09.360 --> 00:07:11.680 That number may be significant. 00:07:12.319 --> 00:07:20.319 The Jewish rabbis taught that 120 men were the minimum required for a legal quorum in any community. 00:07:20.959 --> 00:07:32.079 So that 120 number may be a subtle way to establish the integrity and the authority of this meeting and its decisions. 00:07:33.920 --> 00:07:39.120 There were 120 people witnessing this event. 00:07:39.360 --> 00:07:49.439 That means we aren't dealing with a story concocted by Luke to merely remove Judas's shame from the group of disciples. 00:07:50.240 --> 00:07:55.519 It was a genuine and authoritative meeting, but it was shameful. 00:07:57.120 --> 00:08:01.439 Everything that Judas did would be shameful in the ancient world. 00:08:02.240 --> 00:08:10.879 And it would have been a mark of shame, a continuing mark of shame on the disciples if they continued to be the eleven. 00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:18.240 But there's another problem that goes beyond the shame. 00:08:19.040 --> 00:08:29.199 And that is the promise that the Lord Jesus made in the upper room on that last night before Judas betrayed him as they were eating supper together. 00:08:29.519 --> 00:08:33.360 Luke recounts it with these words from Luke chapter 22. 00:08:33.600 --> 00:08:39.200 Jesus said, You are those, speaking of all the twelve, you are those who have stayed with me. 00:08:39.840 --> 00:09:02.080 You stayed with me in all my trials, and now I assign to you, as my father has assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table, that is at the king's table, in my kingdom, and that you might sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 00:09:03.679 --> 00:09:04.799 Pretty simple, right? 00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:11.120 That in that promise the Lord announced a kind of renewed Israel with twelve tribes. 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:19.919 And since that renewed Israel is a part of Christ's kingdom, they belong there because of their faith in him. 00:09:21.039 --> 00:09:28.000 In that eternal kingdom, the twelve disciples will rule over the twelve renewed tribes of Israel. 00:09:28.399 --> 00:09:34.799 That goal or that end was initiated with the twelve disciples. 00:09:34.960 --> 00:09:38.080 They were the beginning of that renewed Israel. 00:09:38.320 --> 00:09:40.960 But now Judas has taken his life. 00:09:42.720 --> 00:09:45.200 The twelve are no more. 00:09:47.440 --> 00:10:01.360 But eleven disciples are problematic when the Lord Jesus Himself has said that there will be twelve disciples on twelve thrones ruling twelve tribes. 00:10:03.200 --> 00:10:16.000 So there must be twelve representatives if the disciples represent a renewed Israel that will bless the nations of the world by proclaiming Jesus so that a host of new people will come into Christ's kingdom. 00:10:17.279 --> 00:10:19.120 But that's all context. 00:10:19.840 --> 00:10:24.320 All of those details merely prepare us for what we find here. 00:10:25.360 --> 00:10:28.399 What we find here is all about Judas. 00:10:28.960 --> 00:10:33.200 Let's move in a little closer to see the biblical theology of Judas. 00:10:33.279 --> 00:10:40.720 And the first thing that we see is that Judas's presence among the disciples was necessary to fulfill Scripture. 00:10:41.919 --> 00:10:53.759 You see, Judas represents here the wrong way of the broad road to destruction in contrast to the narrow road. 00:10:54.000 --> 00:10:58.480 What the book of Acts will call the way of Jesus. 00:11:00.320 --> 00:11:03.840 Judas went his own way. 00:11:04.320 --> 00:11:09.360 Verse 25 says he turned aside, he went to his own way, to his own place. 00:11:10.480 --> 00:11:15.919 Judas took his own way rather than the way of Jesus. 00:11:16.159 --> 00:11:23.039 But he also had a share in the Messiah's ministry. 00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:34.000 And so, in some sense, Judas represents those who share in Christ's ministry from age to age, but do not truly belong to him. 00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:39.840 In fact, Peter says he was numbered among us. 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:45.759 He's been numbered among us from the beginning, all the way until he took his own life. 00:11:47.440 --> 00:11:49.600 He's a part of the twelve. 00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:58.480 In fact, if you go back to the Gospels, you can see in Matthew chapter 10 that Judas is one of the 12 apostles. 00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:04.000 It always has the note, though, describing him as the one who betrayed Jesus. 00:12:04.639 --> 00:12:14.559 In Matthew chapter 26, verse 14, he's called one of the twelve who went to talk to the chief priests about betraying Jesus. 00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:25.120 He's called one of the twelve in the Garden of Gethsemane, as he's surrounded by a troop of people carrying clubs and swords to arrest Jesus. 00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:37.519 In Luke chapter 23, verse 3, it says, Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the 12. 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:45.279 Now we have eleven. 00:12:46.960 --> 00:12:53.440 Judas was allotted a share because he was numbered among the twelve. 00:12:53.600 --> 00:12:57.120 The language here is Exodus-like. 00:12:57.840 --> 00:13:10.720 Anyone who belonged to the nation of Israel, to the twelve tribes of Israel, coming out of Egypt, participating in the conquering of the promised land, was allotted a share in the inheritance. 00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:17.279 In the same way as one of the twelve, Judas is an integral part of Jesus' ministry. 00:13:17.440 --> 00:13:20.080 He has a share in that inheritance. 00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:24.080 In other words, Judas wasn't a fringe person. 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:30.879 He wasn't Peter, James, or John, one of the inner three. 00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:37.120 But he's equally and wholly a part of the twelve disciples. 00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:50.240 And that ought to remind us at the very least that false disciples may exist within the church at any time and in any place until the Lord returns. 00:13:51.200 --> 00:13:57.360 Paul spoke of them in what may be the very earliest letter to the church, the letter to the Galatians. 00:13:58.639 --> 00:14:08.159 In his letters, the apostle John spoke of them near the end of the first century, saying that some had already left the church because they were not of us. 00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:28.399 Our own versions of Judas today may discourage us, may surprise us, may even knock us off balance for a bit. 00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:52.559 But in our discouragement and in our surprise about Judas's, we are instructed here to remind ourselves that this kind of behavior, this kind of pattern of wanting to be a part of something without truly believing is not new. 00:14:54.320 --> 00:15:02.399 And if you've ever experienced that, or if you've ever been a part of a church that has experienced that, your reaction is not new. 00:15:02.559 --> 00:15:04.559 You're not alone in that. 00:15:07.679 --> 00:15:13.600 The very first group with which the Lord started the church experience that. 00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:23.360 This must happen to fulfill Scripture and complete God's plan. 00:15:26.159 --> 00:15:31.200 And we can find comfort and peace by following the Lord's steps. 00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:35.600 The Lord's people have always experienced this. 00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:41.200 And we should expect nothing less than what the Lord Jesus experienced. 00:15:44.159 --> 00:15:49.519 That first group of people coming out of slavery in Egypt. 00:15:51.679 --> 00:16:02.000 All of those people that sacrificed the lamb on the Passover night and painted their doorways with the blood so that the death angel would pass over them. 00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:07.440 All of those who saw God's mighty works. 00:16:09.200 --> 00:16:16.399 That generation all wandered in the wilderness for forty years and died without receiving the promise. 00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:22.559 It happens all through history. 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:30.879 Where some look like they belong, but they don't have genuine faith. 00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:37.600 Now we might ask, why couldn't Jesus go forward with 11 disciples? 00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:38.399 Why did he? 00:16:38.559 --> 00:16:40.080 Why did he need 12? 00:16:40.320 --> 00:16:43.200 Why include Judas in the first place? 00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:47.279 Well, the answer to that goes back to God's ancient promise, doesn't it? 00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:51.120 He promised to restore Israel with 12 tribes. 00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:57.200 12 apostles will be sitting on 12 thrones one day judging those 12 tribes. 00:16:57.600 --> 00:17:04.480 As part of God's program laid out in Scripture, it was necessary to have 12 disciples. 00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:06.160 Excuse me. 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:15.119 But then we might ask, why pick someone you know will betray you? 00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:18.880 I don't know that I could do that. 00:17:20.640 --> 00:17:21.599 Could you? 00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:27.839 Why would Jesus choose to have one of the twelve he knew would betray him? 00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:33.519 Well, the answer comes in our next section, which begins in verse 18 with Luke's comment. 00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:37.039 You'll find that in a parenthetical statement. 00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:43.440 Luke interrupts Peter's speech to give us a comment about Judas' death. 00:17:43.599 --> 00:17:48.319 And that is the reason why Jesus chose Judas. 00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:52.880 Judas's death was necessary to fulfill Scripture. 00:17:58.160 --> 00:18:03.279 Luke interrupts Peter's speech to remind his readers what happened to Judas. 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:10.960 He had a chance to follow the way of Jesus, but instead he went his own way. 00:18:11.119 --> 00:18:19.680 Now, he says here all of these kind of gory details that describe what happened to Judas. 00:18:19.839 --> 00:18:29.599 And if you're an astute reader, you may notice that Luke's recounting sounds different than what we've heard from other recountings, specifically that in Matthew. 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:44.960 And some folks who don't believe in the inspiration of Scripture use this as one of the ways to point out that there are inconsistencies in Scripture, that there are contradictions in Scripture. 00:18:45.680 --> 00:18:52.720 They use the differences between Matthew's and Luke's accounts to show, oh, the Bible is full of errors. 00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:55.599 And we need to admit that there are differences. 00:18:56.559 --> 00:19:05.440 For example, Matthew says that Judas hanged himself, while Luke says he fell and burst open. 00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:09.200 Those differences are real, aren't they? 00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:17.519 But the differences that we find in these accounts aren't differences that can't be explained in some way. 00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:26.000 So, for example, Judas could have hanged himself and fallen by the rope breaking or by cutting, somebody cutting the rope. 00:19:28.079 --> 00:19:42.559 Maybe the most realistic description that I've heard is that, yes, Judas hanged himself and somebody found him there later, all bloated up, and they cut the rope, and you know the rest from what we just read. 00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:44.960 Don't worry, it's a while till lunch. 00:19:45.279 --> 00:19:46.480 It's okay. 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:55.039 Another difference is that Matthew says that the priests bought the field. 00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:59.920 But Luke says that Judas purchased the field. 00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:02.319 Now, in some ways, that seems like a bigger deal. 00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:05.440 How do we work through that? 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:10.000 Well, the perspective of writing can explain that. 00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:16.720 How one author chooses to highlight certain things and a different author chooses to highlight different things. 00:20:17.599 --> 00:20:29.680 So, for example, Luke doesn't mention that Judas took the 30 pieces of silver that he had been given for betraying Jesus and he threw them into the temple before he went and took his life. 00:20:30.640 --> 00:20:31.839 Luke doesn't tell us that. 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:33.279 Matthew does. 00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:48.079 But Matthew relates that the priests took that money and they decided they couldn't keep it and put it in the temple treasury because it was blood money. 00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:52.000 They had given that money to pay for somebody's life. 00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:57.839 It couldn't belong to them and it couldn't belong to God in the temple anymore. 00:20:57.920 --> 00:20:59.839 It had to stay Judas' money. 00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:03.599 And so they purchased the field of blood with it. 00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:14.079 But the policy that they followed revealed that they believed that it was Judas' money, not their money, not the temple's money, that purchased the field. 00:21:14.240 --> 00:21:18.880 So it's perfectly in line with Luke's different perspective on Judas. 00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:26.799 Even though Judas wasn't there, his money and his wages of wickedness purchased the field. 00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:33.519 Luke wants us to see all about Judas. 00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:40.160 So there are some natural ways to explain the apparent inconsistencies. 00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:45.440 They're mostly explained by the author's approach to writing their historical accounts. 00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:52.559 Luke wants us to see how Judas took a different way than the eleven took. 00:21:54.799 --> 00:21:56.480 It's a different way. 00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:59.039 But is it all that unique? 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:07.039 Judas says, weigh that that unique and outstanding in a bad way? 00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:10.319 I would argue no. 00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:25.039 There are enough similarities to what Luke relates here that make us wonder if Luke isn't subtly pointing to a pattern that's found throughout Scripture. 00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:28.400 There are multiple patterns. 00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:35.680 There are a couple of people in the Old Testament that were found having hung themselves or having been hanged. 00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:45.680 But there's also a pattern that we see of buying a piece of property that becomes a field of blood. 00:22:47.119 --> 00:22:52.559 For example, in 1 Kings chapter 21, the wicked king Ahab wanted a vineyard. 00:22:52.799 --> 00:22:57.839 He wanted a piece of property that a man named Naboth owned. 00:22:58.000 --> 00:23:01.279 And Naboth said, No, I'm not going to give you my field for some money. 00:23:01.920 --> 00:23:03.359 I'm not going to do that. 00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:08.240 I'm not going to sell my field to the king for some silver. 00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:21.279 But Ahab's even more wicked queen, Queen Jezebel, falsely accused and had Naboth killed so that she could give this vineyard to her husband Ahab. 00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:26.240 She took possession of it and gave it to him. 00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:34.960 And 1 Kings 21:15 says, Take possession of the vineyard which he refused to give you for money. 00:23:35.200 --> 00:23:57.039 Interestingly, God sent the prophet Elisha to tell Jezebel and Ahab that Jezebel would be killed for what she did, that she would be killed on that plot of ground that wasn't sold for money, and it would become a field of blood where the dogs would lick her blood. 00:23:58.160 --> 00:24:04.240 So in one account, a man refused money for a field, in the other, a man paid money for a field. 00:24:04.400 --> 00:24:08.960 Both fields are fields of blood tied to the deaths of innocent men. 00:24:10.559 --> 00:24:15.920 As Jezebel wickedly opposed God, Judas wickedly betrayed the Son of God. 00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:27.519 And this sets us up for later accounts, specifically, Ananias and Sapphira, who would lie and defy the living God and lose their lives for lying about a field. 00:24:33.119 --> 00:24:38.319 Peter didn't need to remind the hundred and twenty about Judas. 00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:42.799 That's for us, the readers. 00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:48.640 Peter, though, continues in verse 20 with why this was all necessary. 00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:57.519 He says, For it is written in the book of Psalms, may his camp be desolate. 00:24:59.039 --> 00:25:01.440 Let there be no one to dwell in it. 00:25:02.240 --> 00:25:05.440 And in another Psalm, let another take his office. 00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:10.079 These are quotations from the Greek translation of the Psalms. 00:25:10.880 --> 00:25:22.799 And as we look at this, it's essential to remember that Peter said in verse 16 that it's the Holy Spirit who inspired those Old Testament songs. 00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:31.680 It was the Spirit speaking through David concerning Judas. 00:25:33.920 --> 00:25:39.680 First, in verse 20, he quotes Psalm 69, verse 25. 00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:47.119 And there David wrote a cry for God's help because he was surrounded by his enemies. 00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:54.640 He felt oppressed and surrounded, and they were mocking him, they were accusing him, they were reproaching him. 00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:59.599 He says in Psalm 69, 12 that there were drunkards making up songs about him. 00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:04.480 And so he's full of shame and dishonor as the king. 00:26:05.519 --> 00:26:06.640 Can you imagine that? 00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:16.559 The glorious man of God reigning over all of Israel, who is surrounded by enemies who are mocking him and who are shaming him and who are dishonoring him. 00:26:16.799 --> 00:26:25.359 And so David asks God to exact vengeance on his enemies, including the prayer that says, May their camp be desolate. 00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:27.920 Let no one dwell in their tents. 00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:33.200 In other words, God do away with them. 00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:51.680 So Peter, followed by Luke, recounting this, announces that David's experience typified the ultimate expression of an enemy slandering and shaming an opponent. 00:26:52.559 --> 00:26:56.000 In this case, Jesus is the ultimate sufferer. 00:26:56.480 --> 00:27:00.319 And Judas is the ultimate human enemy. 00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:14.319 Peter announced that it was necessary for Judas to betray the Lord, to lose his inheritance in the king's kingdom, so that Scripture might be fulfilled. 00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:25.359 This leads us, I think, to a lesson that we have to return to repeatedly in our lives. 00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:31.759 And that is that we have to teach ourselves. 00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:47.119 We have to speak truth to ourselves so that our hearts and our minds are instructed to rest in God's sovereignty whenever we encounter those disastrous and painful situations. 00:27:48.799 --> 00:27:55.359 Friends, Judas not only betrayed Jesus, he betrayed the disciples too. 00:27:56.319 --> 00:28:01.920 The Lord had ascended into heaven, and they were abandoned by a brother. 00:28:03.039 --> 00:28:16.240 Just as Joshua and Caleb must have been beside themselves as the report of the other ten spies of the promised land became negative, the eleven disciples must have been crushed by Judas' actions. 00:28:17.680 --> 00:28:29.920 But here they're surrounding themselves and infusing themselves with Scripture, specifically the divine necessity of Judas's presence, betrayal, and death. 00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:38.480 Judas meant it for evil, but God meant it for good. 00:28:40.960 --> 00:28:52.799 And whatever Judas's you may encounter in your life, you can be sure that if you belong to God, he will make even that work out for good in your life. 00:28:54.079 --> 00:29:00.319 It's a hard thing for us to remember in the midst of pain and agony and disastrous things, isn't it? 00:29:01.839 --> 00:29:11.680 But here are the disciples, all gathered together, wrestling with the ascension of Jesus. 00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:12.880 He's gone. 00:29:13.039 --> 00:29:16.319 He's with them in a different kind of way, but he's not there physically. 00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:17.680 He's not physically present with them. 00:29:17.839 --> 00:29:19.440 Judas has abandoned them. 00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:20.960 He has taken his own life. 00:29:21.119 --> 00:29:28.160 All of this is disastrous, but they come back and they rest in God's sovereignty found in Scripture. 00:29:28.480 --> 00:29:35.839 At this moment, they they rest in the Holy Spirit's authority in the scriptures and Christ's sovereignty over his kingdom. 00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:45.119 And that is what we must do whenever we face disastrous and painful circumstances that threaten to crush us. 00:29:46.400 --> 00:29:52.079 And that's not just true of us as individual followers of Jesus. 00:29:53.039 --> 00:29:55.200 It's true of his church. 00:29:57.359 --> 00:29:59.440 It's true of his church. 00:29:59.839 --> 00:30:07.119 We must always come back to what God says, who he is, and what he's doing. 00:30:09.599 --> 00:30:18.079 That leads us to our last section here, which reminds us that Judas's replacement was necessary to fulfill Scripture. 00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:27.839 The second quotation, verse 20, comes from Psalm 109, verse 8. 00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:30.880 Let another take his office. 00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:37.680 This is another of David's psalms, his songs, that's spoken about his enemies. 00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:39.839 It's a prayer to God. 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:51.039 The whole Psalm is a prayer to God to act against the wicked people who are surrounding and opposing the king. 00:30:51.759 --> 00:31:00.720 And in verse 9 of Psalm 109, David asks that his days be few, may another take his office. 00:31:02.960 --> 00:31:09.279 So David's probably thinking about someone specific, where we're not told. 00:31:10.640 --> 00:31:26.400 But in the end he's asking, listen, this individual, this enemy, this person, whoever it might be God, would you take him out of the way and put somebody else in there who is not opposed to me? 00:31:26.960 --> 00:31:41.519 And Peter contends that while David meant what he said about his own enemies, the Holy Spirit is here intending a greater fulfillment regarding the enemy of the great king, Jesus. 00:31:43.119 --> 00:32:02.640 Since the twelve disciples represent the beginning of God's work to bring Israel back to him, and because it was necessary that Judas picture the Israelites who died in the wilderness without inheritance or rest, then it's also necessary, according to the scriptures, that Judas be replaced. 00:32:04.079 --> 00:32:08.480 Now let's back up for a moment and reframe this issue. 00:32:09.359 --> 00:32:10.319 This picture. 00:32:12.400 --> 00:32:30.079 If this is Luke's way of saying that there is an official quorum of people to make decisions for a group, then Peter is leading that group to make an official decision. 00:32:32.480 --> 00:32:39.119 But there's no need for Judas to discuss whether or not Judas should be replaced. 00:32:40.319 --> 00:32:42.400 There's no discussion about that. 00:32:43.200 --> 00:32:47.119 The decision will be on who replaces him. 00:32:48.960 --> 00:32:58.640 You see, the Lord had opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and in this case, Peter understood the Spirit's intent behind those Psalms. 00:32:59.519 --> 00:33:08.079 The Spirit meant for them to point beyond King David to the more excellent King, the Lord Jesus. 00:33:08.319 --> 00:33:15.519 Therefore, they applied them to situations regarding Jesus in Judas' life. 00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:22.880 And Peter says, We don't have a choice. 00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:26.559 It was necessary for these things. 00:33:28.400 --> 00:33:35.359 It was necessary for Judas to be present, it was necessary for Judas to die, and it is necessary for us to replace him. 00:33:35.440 --> 00:33:36.960 There is no question. 00:33:38.240 --> 00:33:39.839 So we have to replace him. 00:33:40.559 --> 00:33:41.440 With who? 00:33:42.160 --> 00:33:48.720 Well, Peter gives two requirements to be met by the person who replaces Judas. 00:33:49.519 --> 00:33:58.720 In other words, whoever replaces Judas has to have fit these two primary qualifications. 00:33:58.880 --> 00:34:06.240 One of them being he needed to have believed in Jesus from the beginning and stayed with them all the way to that time. 00:34:08.559 --> 00:34:12.880 And he must have been with them after the resurrection and the ascension. 00:34:13.039 --> 00:34:16.400 In other words, he witnesses Jesus' life and ministry. 00:34:18.400 --> 00:34:23.119 He has witnessed his death, his burial, and his resurrection and his ascension. 00:34:24.079 --> 00:34:32.320 In short, he says, this witness, this person has to become a witness to his resurrection with us in verse 22. 00:34:34.719 --> 00:34:38.000 Friends, this is why there are no apostles today. 00:34:39.920 --> 00:34:45.039 Even if you've heard of people claiming to be apostles. 00:34:46.239 --> 00:34:50.559 No living person today can fulfill these requirements. 00:34:52.400 --> 00:35:04.239 To have been with them from the beginning, heard Jesus' teaching, witnessed his death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, and be a witness, therefore, to his resurrection. 00:35:04.400 --> 00:35:10.400 No living person today can fulfill those requirements. 00:35:11.280 --> 00:35:15.280 These twelve are the apostles. 00:35:16.320 --> 00:35:20.480 But someone might say, well, what about Paul? 00:35:22.480 --> 00:35:23.599 Wasn't he an apostle? 00:35:23.760 --> 00:35:27.519 You've been harping so long about these twelve apostles, but Paul makes 13. 00:35:27.840 --> 00:35:29.280 What about Paul? 00:35:30.239 --> 00:35:33.119 Maybe it's not so much Matthias because we don't hear about Matthias. 00:35:33.280 --> 00:35:38.639 Again, maybe, maybe Paul is the one who was intended to fill his spot. 00:35:39.199 --> 00:35:40.480 Wasn't he an apostle? 00:35:40.639 --> 00:35:42.239 Well, yes, he was. 00:35:42.400 --> 00:35:46.079 He calls himself an apostle, but he wasn't an apostle in the same way. 00:35:47.599 --> 00:35:52.960 Paul himself viewed himself as distinct from the twelve. 00:35:53.199 --> 00:36:00.719 For example, in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, and in that section where he says, I declared to you what was of first importance. 00:36:01.119 --> 00:36:02.320 Here's the gospel. 00:36:04.079 --> 00:36:09.920 He refers there to the twelve, not including himself. 00:36:11.760 --> 00:36:18.719 In connection with the gospel message and the confirmation of the resurrection, he doesn't include himself in that number. 00:36:19.199 --> 00:36:33.119 A few verses later, in 1 Corinthians 15, 9, Paul refers to himself as the least of the apostles, unworthy to even be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 00:36:33.920 --> 00:36:40.159 You see, Paul is unique among the apostles as the one to whom grace was given to go to the Gentiles. 00:36:40.239 --> 00:36:43.519 He sets himself apart from the twelve. 00:36:45.440 --> 00:36:47.679 He doesn't include himself there. 00:36:48.480 --> 00:36:52.320 There are these twelve, and that's all. 00:36:53.920 --> 00:36:55.599 These are the twelve. 00:36:56.239 --> 00:37:01.199 So Paul will not be one of those who sits on the twelve thrones. 00:37:02.480 --> 00:37:04.239 Matthias will be there. 00:37:06.079 --> 00:37:07.920 The group recommended two. 00:37:08.800 --> 00:37:17.199 Joseph, who was called Barsabbas, also called Justice, and Matthias. 00:37:19.280 --> 00:37:20.880 Notice what happens here. 00:37:21.119 --> 00:37:23.039 We get all focused and caught up on. 00:37:23.280 --> 00:37:24.159 Wait a minute. 00:37:24.480 --> 00:37:26.880 They use some dice to decide? 00:37:27.119 --> 00:37:28.079 That seems like gambling. 00:37:28.159 --> 00:37:28.800 Why would we do that? 00:37:28.880 --> 00:37:30.000 That's just chance. 00:37:30.159 --> 00:37:33.199 Well, let's look at it a little bit more carefully. 00:37:33.440 --> 00:37:35.119 Notice how they started. 00:37:35.519 --> 00:37:36.639 They prayed. 00:37:38.239 --> 00:37:40.000 That's the first thing that you need to notice. 00:37:40.079 --> 00:37:41.199 They prayed. 00:37:41.840 --> 00:37:44.079 And to whom did they pray? 00:37:46.400 --> 00:37:53.760 There's not agreement across the board in this, but I would argue that they are praying to Jesus. 00:37:55.119 --> 00:38:04.000 They say, You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these you have chosen to take the place in this ministry. 00:38:04.239 --> 00:38:07.119 So who, the question is, is the Lord? 00:38:08.000 --> 00:38:11.039 Well, the only thing we really have to answer that is our context. 00:38:11.119 --> 00:38:15.679 And if you go back, we can see the answer to that. 00:38:17.760 --> 00:38:23.360 In verse 16, we're talking about the Holy Spirit. 00:38:23.599 --> 00:38:29.119 We're talking about those, Judas who became a guide who arrested Jesus. 00:38:30.639 --> 00:38:34.480 And now we're talking about you, Lord. 00:38:35.760 --> 00:38:48.480 In all of this setting, we're talking about the relationship between Christ Himself, His kingdom, His ministry, and the part that Judas plays in that. 00:38:48.960 --> 00:38:58.239 Seems odd to me that you would insert God the Father in that, unless you're trying to make a Trinitarian argument that says, oh, we have God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit here. 00:38:58.719 --> 00:39:03.360 No, this is the acts of the risen Lord Jesus. 00:39:04.000 --> 00:39:06.719 He is the one who is continuing his work. 00:39:06.960 --> 00:39:12.239 He is the one who is directing the choosing of who will be his apostle. 00:39:12.559 --> 00:39:14.320 So first they pray. 00:39:15.119 --> 00:39:19.599 And they pray, asking, Lord, who is your choice? 00:39:21.679 --> 00:39:27.039 The basis of which is you know everybody's hearts, you know the right one to choose. 00:39:29.840 --> 00:39:32.000 And then they cast lots. 00:39:33.679 --> 00:39:45.360 So they're trusting Jesus' direction of their actions by praying, by addressing him as the Lord of all hearts. 00:39:46.800 --> 00:40:00.079 And then, since he's not there to speak to them, they put a maybe a couple of pieces of inscribed clay in a jar and shake it up and see which one comes out. 00:40:01.840 --> 00:40:03.679 Now, why would they do that? 00:40:04.960 --> 00:40:06.159 I'll tell you my reason. 00:40:06.239 --> 00:40:08.880 It comes from Proverbs 16, verse 33. 00:40:09.679 --> 00:40:18.000 Which says, the lot is cast into the lap, but it's every decision is from the Lord. 00:40:19.440 --> 00:40:25.599 The disciples here are recognizing Jesus isn't here to answer our questions verbally. 00:40:27.119 --> 00:40:36.639 But we are trusting through prayer and through our desire to have his will known that what comes out will be his decision. 00:40:37.920 --> 00:40:39.760 That's what's happening here. 00:40:42.400 --> 00:40:56.159 The way Luke presents this is that it is through the sovereign direction of the ascended Lord Jesus that Matthias takes Judas' place. 00:40:57.760 --> 00:41:04.719 And if we connect it to Proverbs 16, it's in fulfillment of Scripture. 00:41:06.079 --> 00:41:17.280 Now we have to note here that the disciples specifically considered the Psalms authoritative about the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:41:18.639 --> 00:41:23.039 When was the last time you read through the Psalms thinking that they're about Jesus? 00:41:25.199 --> 00:41:26.639 And it's nice to think that way. 00:41:27.199 --> 00:41:30.800 It's a challenge and it's encouraging, it's an exciting study to do. 00:41:31.840 --> 00:41:35.840 But notice that they consider the Psalms to be authoritative. 00:41:37.280 --> 00:41:42.159 Following the Psalms and what they said about Jesus was unquestioned. 00:41:44.320 --> 00:42:00.480 And so if there is a clear point of instruction and application for us, for the church today, it's that we should have no qualms about hearing what the scriptures have to say when there is direct application to us and obeying it. 00:42:02.159 --> 00:42:08.480 The first two actions that we see after the Lord's ascension are actions of obedience. 00:42:08.880 --> 00:42:15.280 They obeyed the command to remain in Jerusalem, and then they obeyed the scriptures about Judas. 00:42:18.159 --> 00:42:28.400 And as we then back away from this, we are left with this overwhelming sense of all of this had to happen. 00:42:30.079 --> 00:42:31.679 It was necessary. 00:42:33.280 --> 00:42:36.800 It was necessary to fulfill Scripture. 00:42:37.440 --> 00:42:50.719 The first few moments of the church's beginnings were full of scripture fulfillment, of obedience to scripture and direction from the Lord Jesus from his place of rule in heaven. 00:42:51.760 --> 00:42:58.639 And the disciples submitted themselves to that in even a simple decision. 00:42:59.599 --> 00:43:00.880 Who's going to take Matthias? 00:43:01.039 --> 00:43:02.480 Who Judas's place? 00:43:05.360 --> 00:43:17.119 May the Lord be pleased with us by granting that Faith Evangelical Free Church is a place that hears his word and obeys his word without question. 00:43:18.239 --> 00:43:21.840 And that we would be people of the same heart and mind. 00:43:22.239 --> 00:43:23.039 Would you pray with me? 00:43:23.280 --> 00:43:26.719 Lord Jesus, grant us this grace we ask. 00:43:28.320 --> 00:43:31.440 Oh, we we are we are sinners, we recognize that. 00:43:33.440 --> 00:43:35.440 We need your cleansing every day. 00:43:35.599 --> 00:43:45.360 And you have said that you will forgive us when we confess our sins to you, because you are faithful and just to do so. 00:43:48.000 --> 00:43:55.360 Would you be pleased to be gracious to us and open our hearts and minds to understand the scriptures? 00:43:55.840 --> 00:44:18.239 So that we would be a people of your way, not people who take our own way or the way of the world, and so end up in Judas's place, but that we would be people who follow the way and listen to your word and your voice day after day, month after month, looking for your return. 00:44:19.039 --> 00:44:19.679 Amen. 00:44:21.760 --> 00:44:25.440 That concludes this sermon from Faith Evangelical Free Church. 00:44:25.679 --> 00:44:32.559 Our mission is to declare the Word of God and disciple believers into mature, devoted followers of Jesus. 00:44:32.800 --> 00:44:36.239 You can learn more by visiting our website at faithfree.com.