BULLETIN ARTICLE – 21 January 2018
SELECTION OF AN APOSTLE
The first order of “business” after Jesus was taken up took place in “the upper room”. This may be the same “upper room” that Jesus ate the Last Supper with the disciples. It was a large room for the 120 disciples to fit within it. There was a sense of expectancy as they gathered and prayed. Apostle Peter already stood out as the leader of this group of Jesus’ disciples. It was Peter who boldly explained about “May another take his place of leadership” (Psalm 109:8) in respect to the fulfillment of prophecy from the Psalms regarding Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus. The task at hand was to pick a replacement so that the “Twelve” is complete.
Peter was very clear about the qualifications required of the man who would be the twelfth apostle. The first qualification was that he must have been with Jesus from the very beginning of his ministry – from the baptism of John the Baptist. Secondly and most critically, he must be a firsthand witness to Jesus’ bodily resurrection. The apostles would need to testify of this to the world and for that they must be first-hand eyewitnesses of the resurrection of Jesus. The Christian faith stands on the veracity of this resurrection. The credibility of the apostles must be impeccable. Their account of what took place must be unimpeachable. There may well be quite a few amongst the 120 present who could meet these criteria. Two men, Joseph Barsabbas and Matthias, were proposed by the community. The disciples then committed the matter to the Lord and invited God who knows the innermost hearts of both men to make the choice. Matthias was added to the eleven apostles and the “Twelve” was complete.
Their method of discerning God’s choice was by casting lots. It was the method of the Old Testament and permitted under Jewish law. Proverbs 16:33 states the belief that God determines the outcome when lots are cast. This was the last recorded occasion where Christians cast lots to determine God’s will concerning the choice of the replacement for Judas. After the Holy Spirit came, the method of selection was very different. After Pentecost, the apostles were led by the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 6:3-5; Acts 13:2-3). The Holy Spirit would open their spiritual eyes to discern truth and previously unrevealed mysteries of God (John 14:26).
Now, consider this – God chose you to be his through Jesus Christ. The blood of Jesus redeemed you from sin and you received forgiveness. Whereas once, you did not know God or cared about him, now, you have received the spirit of sonship. Have you experienced the inner change and transformation as a new life in Christ? Now, Jesus calls you to be his witness. How are you telling your friends about Jesus, the risen Saviour? It is a wonderful experience to see them come to faith in Jesus as Saviour. However, if you personally have yet to know Jesus as your Saviour, it is still not too late. Speak to one of our Church Elders and he would be pleased to introduce you to Jesus and start you off on an exciting adventure in the Christian life.
