“Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You have chosen us out of the millions in the world. The matter of God’s sovereign will is too big a matter for our human mind to grasp. Lord, we desire to hear those words from You that we have done well and that we are pleasing to You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.”
Peter took responsibility to initiate the process to find a replacement for Judas. This is the statement that Peter made while introducing the subject. Acts 1:16 “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;
Judas Iscariot is an enigma. Why did the Lord choose Judas to be a disciple knowing that he was a devil? John 6:70-71 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” (71) He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve. Let us try to probe into this matter. Matthew 26:47-50 And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people. (48) Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” (49) Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. (50) But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. This was how the actual betrayal of Jesus took place.
The Lord connected His betrayal to the fulfilment of the Scriptures. Matthew 26:54-56 How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?” (55) In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. (56) But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.
How could a man, who had been so close with Jesus, for these three and a half years, turn around and commit such an evil act? The Lord is showing us, our hearts, that all of us are as capable as Judas to go against the Lord. Zechariah 13:7 “Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, Against the Man who is My Companion,” Says the Lord of hosts. “Strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered; Then I will turn My hand against the little ones. The Lord is showing us the immutability of His word. The lesson for us is to remain rooted in the Scriptures, for we live in a world where all things are transient and fleeting. Those who live by His word will abide forever. I John 2:17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Peter had referred to what was spoken by David concerning the betrayal of Jesus. Psalms 41:9 Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me. Psalms 55:12-15 For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; Then I could bear it. Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me; Then I could hide from him. (13) But it was you, a man my equal, My companion and my acquaintance. (14) We took sweet counsel together, And walked to the house of God in the throng. (15) Let death seize them; Let them go down alive into hell, For wickedness is in their dwellings and among them.
The Lord had chosen Judas. John 13:18 “I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me’. This is difficult for us to understand but this was the fulfilment of Scripture. Yes, we have free will and we make choices in life. Nevertheless, the sovereign plan of God remains and cannot be changed. How can both these positions, which seem contradictory, be reconciled and held together? This is the reason why we must be always led by the Spirit of the Lord. It is the Holy Spirit who guides us through this maze and gives rest to our hearts and minds.
We see the Lord praying to the Father. John 17:12 ‘While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled’. We must know that each of us is chosen by God and each of us is being kept by God. We have been chosen for a purpose. Ephesians 1:4 ‘just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. The Lord has chosen us to bear fruit and that our fruit should remain’. John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
“There are certain things that are not fully comprehensible unless the Lord gives us a revelation. We know that the Lord is good and that we can trust Him.”