Replacing Judas

(Today’s audio reading on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3zC47BOc1gti0WAvXkJart)

“So now we must choose a replacement for Judas…” (Acts 1:21)

One of their teammates was a crook and a betrayer. He killed himself in a terrible life-ending, and now it was time to replace him.

Notice that it wasn’t immediately after the resurrection. I wonder if they knew they would even continue as a group? Is there any hint in the Scriptures that the disciples knew they would stay together, and thus need some reinforcing of their strength? That maybe their little band of brothers would do anything beyond have an Original Disciples Reunion? “See you at the nice little café in Galilee in 10 years! Hey, Matthew, remember, you are in charge of the coordinating committee! Send us a save-the-date once you know it.” None of that.

The Scripture says in Acts 1:15, “During this time”—that is, when they were meeting constantly together, and in prayer, and just after they had witnessed Jesus’ ascension—Peter stood up and told them it was time to replace Judas. He rehearsed his catastrophic ending, and then they started choosing to replace him.

They needed another among them to bring the inner-circle group back to the full strength number of 12, or six groups of two, which their Master had set in motion. It’s best not to deviate from that number. Besides, they are going to need all the help they can get in the category of presenting another witness of the resurrection (Acts 1:22).

Absent from the Gospel account of Judas’ betrayal is any record of how the disciples felt about Judas. Surely they talked among themselves. I wonder if in their despising of him, they entertained thoughts of “If he only hadn’t betrayed Jesus…he would still be alive!” Or, worse, “If he were still alive, I would love to get my hands on him, alone, for about five minutes…lucky for him he’s gone!” We have no history of that. I’m sure they harbored some bad feelings about him, and no doubt he left an evil taste in their mouths. It’s hard to imagine at least conversation among them that didn’t result in a shaking of the heads, eyes dropping to the floor, or deep sighs whenever his name was mentioned.

But they moved on. They knew he needed replacing, and they took action. There was no need to talk about the what ifs. It was time for the what nows, and they began their replacement process of one of the original 12 apostles identified among the larger band of disciples (Luke 6:13). Judas had been chosen, like the rest, after Jesus had spent the entire night in prayer with his Father. They would now earnestly seek the same Father in the act of replacing.

“Father, thank you for giving the disciples the grace to choose a replacement for Judas, all in the purpose of moving forward your Kingdom work.”