Sermon for May 12, 2024: Added In based upon Acts 1:15-17, 21-26

Acts 1:15-17, 21-26

​In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred and twenty people) and said, ‘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— for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.’

So one of the men who have accompanied us throughout 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.’ So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed and said, ‘Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us 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.’ And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.

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     Tasha and I really like this British show called The Repair Shop. It is a show about expert builders and restorers who work on returning precious but worn things back to their original luster. Sometimes it is an heirloom jewelry box. Sometimes a beloved old teddy bears. Dolls’ houses, pocket watches, broken chairs, and bagpipes are all lovingly, painstakingly restored by the experts on the show. Sometimes the end-product of a restoration is as near to identical to how the item looked on the day it was purchased as humanly possible. Sometimes, though, the same-as-it-once-was isn’t possible or even preferable.

     While working on this sermon, I rewatched part of an episode where two of the restorationist, Will, who is carpenter, and Suzie, who is a leatherworker, work on a rocking horse. It had been worked on by a couple, Julie and Paul, who’d intended to work on it again for their grandchildren. Unfortunately, Paul died before they could complete it. The two experts took great care to make the color of the horse look as close as possible to the original, and fixed so much broken plaster and a mane and tail that had once faced bored children with scissors. In this way, the horse looked very much like it did when Julie’s parents bought it for her when she was a child.

     The experts also changed some of the design. Paul, who had died, had signed the horse up under where the saddle would lay when working on it for his own children. During the restoration, Suzie made a whole new saddle that could be removed, so that Julie could show her children and grandchildren Paul’s signature. Julie was astounded when she saw the finished piece, and deeply moved by the change that allowed everyone to see Paul’s signature. In this case, the most useful restoration for this family wasn’t just making the horse look like it did 55 years ago. It was going to be a restoration that took their grief and their love seriously, making a space for them to remember one they had lost, while also offering a gift to the next generation of their family. A good restoration meant a change from the original design that actually helped them better fulfill their ultimate goal, which was passing along a toy to help the grandchildren feel connected to their grandfather. 

     Today’s reading is an act of restoration. Restoration attempts to bring something that has been damaged in some way back to the state in which it was created. The damage in the reading comes from Judas’ betrayal of Jesus back in Luke. Remember, Acts is the sequel to Luke. The author of Acts uses the first chapter of the book to remind us of important things that happened at the end of Luke and set the stage for the next steps of the disciples’ ministry after Jesus is no longer physically present with them. Their ultimate goal was to go out into the world, empowered by the Spirit, to teach and heal as Jesus did. They knew that it would be necessary to have coworkers for this calling. It also seemed important for them to have twelve specific apostles, as Jesus’ first 12 disciples were called. With the death of Judas, they only had eleven. It seemed clear that they would need to restore themselves to twelve.

     Scott Spencer notes in his commentary on today’s reading that finding a new 12th apostle is the first thing that Jesus’ first followers do in this book. Why is twelve important? At least part of the reason, according to Christopher Matthew’s notes on the chapter, seems to be that it may have been important to them to have 12 apostles in order to mirror the 12 tribes of Israel. Like last week when we talked about the ways that Jesus’ 40 days with the disciples after the resurrection was to mirror his 40 days in the wilderness at the beginning of his ministry, Moses’ forty days of fasting before receiving the Torah, and the Israelites 40 years in the wilderness, the repetition of a number from one vital part of their scriptural history into a newer story is used to remind us that all of these stories are connected. Jesus was concerned about the restoration of his people, according to Amy Lindeman Allen, and calling the first twelve apostles, who become his closest confidants, was meant to evoke that history and also the future he wanted to work for.

     Judas’ actions and subsequent death had disrupted that particular image of restoration by creating a rupture in The Twelve. While, as Spencer notes, Peter, who also betrayed Christ by denying him, was given a second chance and ultimately redeems himself, Judas will only be replaced. It is Peter who is most clear about the need for a new twelfth Apostle. And, it is people who offers up theological explanations for Judas’ actions, pointing to Hebrew scripture that he believed foretold of Judas’ actions. And, he roots his argument for a return to Twelve Apostles in his biblical interpretation.

     Notice how easily the 120 people gathered come to an agreement. This is the eleven remaining apostles plus other loyal disciples who had gathered. It was about as many people as can fit in this room if we sit in every seat. They lifted up two names, Joseph and Matthias, as potential new apostles and did something called “casting lots” to decide which of the two would be chosen. It seems like a game of chance, but they trusted that the Spirit would make the right decision for them through what would look like a game to us. The Spirit brought them Matthias, completing the Twelve and setting them up for the next steps in their mission.

     The Twelve would not look the same going forward. How could they after such trauma? These changes aren’t a failure though. That’s what Peter argued. The change was necessary. They did not have to leave a gap to remember what had been lost. They could bring in something... someone new to help them fulfill their mission more completely. Matthias is so well integrated into the Twelve and the Twelve are so connected to one another that we never really hear about most of them separately again. As Spencer points out, only Peter and John will be named again individually in the book of Acts, though their roles will be significant.

     Generally speaking, The Twelve have a purpose, but it is not to exist for their own sake. It is to remind people of their connection to Jesus and, I think, to show that others can be adopted into this new movement. And, others will. As Spence points out, the Twelve and the 120 will grow like branches on a vine, even if we don’t hear most of their names again. Newer disciples like Barnabas, Stephen, Philip will come to prominence as key “servant-leaders.” Eventually Saul will be transformed by a vision of Christ and adopt the name Paul. He’ll come to call himself an apostle, but not one of the Twelve. There will be women- Tabitha, Lydia, Priscilla, and Philip’s four daughters- who will become leaders, teachers, and prophets in their congregations.

     Jesus’ movement for love and justice will grow beyond those whom he appointed in life into those who feel the call of his Spirit. The change that brought in Matthias became the foundation for the development of every follower of Christ who came later. May we follow their example and be open to our restoration and evolution. And, may our shared service bloom, yet again, into God’s love and justice.

Resources consulted while writing this sermon:

A definition of Restoration: https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/restoration

You can watch the episode of The Repair Shop with the Rocking horse story here:
https://youtu.be/LBJVIud8mLA?si=tIFuIK0NJoriphmd

Scott Spencer: https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/seventh-sunday-of-easter-2/commentary-on-acts-115-17-21-26-6

Amy Lindemen Allen: https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/seventh-sunday-of-easter-2/commentary-on-acts-115-17-21-26-4
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Christopher R. Matthew’s notes on Acts in The New Oxford Annotated Bible: The New Revised Standard Version with Apocryphya, ed. Michael Coogan (New York: Oxford University Press, 2001)