“Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a
guide to those who arrested Jesus; ‘for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry….For it is written in the book of Psalms:
‘Let his habitation be desolate,
And let no one live in it’ (Ps.69:25) and
‘Let another take his office.’ (Ps.109:8)
“Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection,…
And they prayed and said,
‘You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his place.’ And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias.”
Acts 1: 16-26
Peter’s head was swimming. All along the half-mile journey to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, they had just seen with their very eyes, the Lord taken up to heaven , until a cloud received Him out of their sight.
And in that upper room in Jerusalem, the disciples prayed and laid their burdens before the Lord. One of the burdens laying heavy on their hearts was the betrayal of Judas. How could it be? He had been one of them. He had eaten with them, heard the Lord’s intimate teachings which were for the disciples alone, had the responsibility of the treasury, and even ministered the good news with the Master.
Peter stood up and addressed these misgivings regarding Judas. First, that the Lord would be betrayed was prophesied in the Scriptures. As in the case of Joseph who was betrayed by his brothers, what they intended for evil, God intended for good to save many people alive. And in the same way, Jesus was betrayed by his “friend” for God’s ultimate purpose of bringing redemption and eternal life for the whole world.
“Even my familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” (Ps.41:9).
In other words, can God use a crooked stick to draw a straight line? In a word : Yes. If you put a ruler in a glass of water, the straight lines of the ruler appear crooked to our natural sight due to refraction of light when it passes through the water. “Now we see through a glass darkly…”. But when we pull the ruler out of the water, the lines are straight as a arrow! “…but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I am known.” 1 Corinthian 3:12
The sovereignrule and purposes of God prevail, always! After inquiring of God, the lot fell to Matthias. Matthias had been with them since the beginning; from the baptism of John until the resurrection and the ascension of the Lord that they had experienced just that day. Thus the office of Judas was taken by another, to fulfill the prophecy
After his appointment , Matthias is not mentioned by name again in the New Testament . But neither are most of the original twelve disciples. Tradition holds that the ministry took him to Sebastopol, on the northern side of the Black Sea (Russia ). Eventually Matthias made his way back to Jerusalem, where he was stoned to death.
But the bottom line is the sovereignty of God is paramount.
“ I am the Lord, and there is no other;
I form the light and create darkness,
I make peace and create calamity;
I, the Lord, do all these things.” Isaiah 45:7
“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” NKJB
Questions To Think About
guide to those who arrested Jesus; ‘for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry….For it is written in the book of Psalms:
‘Let his habitation be desolate,
And let no one live in it’ (Ps.69:25) and
‘Let another take his office.’ (Ps.109:8)
“Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection,…
And they prayed and said,
‘You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his place.’ And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias.”
Acts 1: 16-26
Peter’s head was swimming. All along the half-mile journey to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, they had just seen with their very eyes, the Lord taken up to heaven , until a cloud received Him out of their sight.
And in that upper room in Jerusalem, the disciples prayed and laid their burdens before the Lord. One of the burdens laying heavy on their hearts was the betrayal of Judas. How could it be? He had been one of them. He had eaten with them, heard the Lord’s intimate teachings which were for the disciples alone, had the responsibility of the treasury, and even ministered the good news with the Master.
Peter stood up and addressed these misgivings regarding Judas. First, that the Lord would be betrayed was prophesied in the Scriptures. As in the case of Joseph who was betrayed by his brothers, what they intended for evil, God intended for good to save many people alive. And in the same way, Jesus was betrayed by his “friend” for God’s ultimate purpose of bringing redemption and eternal life for the whole world.
“Even my familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” (Ps.41:9).
In other words, can God use a crooked stick to draw a straight line? In a word : Yes. If you put a ruler in a glass of water, the straight lines of the ruler appear crooked to our natural sight due to refraction of light when it passes through the water. “Now we see through a glass darkly…”. But when we pull the ruler out of the water, the lines are straight as a arrow! “…but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I am known.” 1 Corinthian 3:12
The sovereignrule and purposes of God prevail, always! After inquiring of God, the lot fell to Matthias. Matthias had been with them since the beginning; from the baptism of John until the resurrection and the ascension of the Lord that they had experienced just that day. Thus the office of Judas was taken by another, to fulfill the prophecy
After his appointment , Matthias is not mentioned by name again in the New Testament . But neither are most of the original twelve disciples. Tradition holds that the ministry took him to Sebastopol, on the northern side of the Black Sea (Russia ). Eventually Matthias made his way back to Jerusalem, where he was stoned to death.
But the bottom line is the sovereignty of God is paramount.
“ I am the Lord, and there is no other;
I form the light and create darkness,
I make peace and create calamity;
I, the Lord, do all these things.” Isaiah 45:7
“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” NKJB
Questions To Think About
- Reflect on a time when someone’s hurtful actions toward you eventually led to a straight line of growth or opportunity . How did God use that difficult situation for a greater purpose ?
- What is one area right now that feels like a riddle? How can you trust God with the parts you cannot see clearly?