Make up or Break up

Acts 1:12-26

Acts 1:12-26, Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. 13 And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. 15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said, 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; 17 for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. 19 And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.)

20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one live in it’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’ 21 “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 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.” 23 And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen 25 to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” 26 And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

List of 12 apostles listed in the book of Acts by Luke. This is 40 days after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the last appearance before going up to heaven from the mount of Olives. Judas in every one of our lives is inevitable.

Judas is also necessary! Jesus appeared to His disciples 10 times according to the scripture documentation, but the traditions confirm that it is 12 times.

When we read the Gospels, we see the variations and the details are bit different. Don’t discuss which is right or wrong but we need to embrace the details in different account.

Matthew 27:3-10, Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!” 5 Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself. 6 But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood.” 7 And they consulted together and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. 8 Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, 10 and gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.” According to Luke it is different account. Judas goes and buys the land, and he dies there. Judas makes an accident fall in the field and he died.

When Jesus was crucified, they could not do anything to the body the next day since it was annual Sabbath and then the regular Sabbath. According to the Jewish law it is not possible to do anything. Same law would have forbidden to buy any land by Judas since you can’t do any legal transaction.

Judas could not have bought the land until the first day of the week, that is the day Jesus was resurrected. Jewish law shows that it takes about 10 days to buy the land. Judas was alive for a minimum 10 days after the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:3-5, For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.

John 20:19, Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

John 20:24, Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.

Luke 24:33-36, So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread. 36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.”

Now 40 days there is a meeting. Meeting chaired by Peter.

Peter

Denied 3 times 3rd time he started cursing. How come Peter is on the list of Apostle? Some moment Apostles have forgiven Peter. Offense is inevitable Forgiveness is optional! Someone will break your heart. Disciple of Jesus you must forgive.

Luke 17:3-4, Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” Peter himself asked the question about forgiveness to Jesus.

Matthew 18:21, Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus spoke forgiveness from the cross forgiving the thief.

Luke 23:34, Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Why do we need to forgive? All of us guilty. All of us sinned. All of us messed up somewhere.

Matthew 6:14-15, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

There is no hierarchy in sin.

No little sin or small sin or big and great sin. All sin is same. We look other sin great when we compare ourselves. There is forgiveness in the blood of Jesus.

1 John 1:9-10, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. Forgiveness available to Judas as well. While they accepted and forgave Peter, they did not do the same with Judas. Why? Here the issue is not forgiveness but reconciliation.

• Offense is inevitable.
• Forgiveness mandatory.
• Reconciliation is optional.

You can forgive someone and let them go and not reconcile with them. There is nothing wrong for Christians to not to reconcile.

Are you dealing with Peter or Judas?

There will be moment in every relationship, business, or ministry there we need to decide whether to retain or release?

What is the difference? 1. Profit out of Pain. None of the Apostles went and brought Peter but not Judas. Judas could have been forgiven and it was available. No one names Judas even the dogs.

Acts 1:18, (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. Judas takes the money and buys the land. Judas profited from the crime he committed. Taking advantage of the pain he had caused. Peter denied Jesus but he was remorseful. Peter denied by fear. Judas betrayed by the greed.

John 12:5-6, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 This he said, not that

he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. Reconciliation happens only when you trust. Where there is no trust there can’t be reconciliation. I can forgive someone, but it is not possible to trust that person.

It is difficult to trust someone who profited from your pain. It is difficult to trust someone who had defamed you through What you had spoken to them in private made it to public. It is difficult to reconcile with someone who humiliated you.

It is difficult to reconcile with someone who used you! Peter heart was right but not Judas. Peter may be messed up, but his heart was right.

John 13:27, Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him.

Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” God is not deceived by appearance. God is manipulated by anything you do!

2. Hurt will reveal hurt. God will allow some hurts to reveal the others heart. You will not know what is in their heart until you go through some hurt.

Psalms 30:5, For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

God may allow you to get hurt to reveal their heart, but it also helps you not get hurt more in the future. It may be painful to take some hard decisions, but it will help you in the long run. Example of Covid vaccine and Flu jab.

What you got yesterday may hurt you today, but it prevents you from dying tomorrow. Judas bought the land for himself.

Acts 2:44-45, Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

Acts 4:32, Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. Why did Ananias and Sapphira died?

They sold the land, but they kept for themselves. Rather than using it for others but he used it for himself selfishly. Judas is selfish. What are you going to do loose someone who is selfish?

Did they respect you?

Did they change themselves for you?

Did they make you progress? Peter added something better to them. V 21-22, “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 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.”

Someone who is a witness to His resurrection. Peter quoted Psalms 69 and 109.

3. Humble yourself. Judas knew the upper room but did not come back. Peter came back. Peter humbles himself by telling others about what has happened. Judas never apologised. Judas never said sorry. Judas did not repent.

V 25, to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” Judas left! We let him go!! 120 gathered in the upper room. If they know they want Judas, why did they let him go!

Matthias is already in the room. You don’t need Judas in your life. There is always a person waiting in line Judas has Matthias.

Every Moses has Joshua. Every Elijah there is Elisha. All of you need is to pray! Pray God will show you who to release and who to restore in your life.