Healing the Wound Judas Left

"And they cast lots for them,
and the lot fell on Matthias." (Acts 1:26)

They had spent three years with Judas.
Walking the same dusty roads.
Sharing the same meals.
Preaching the same kingdom.
Healing the sick.
Casting out demons.
Sleeping under the same stars.

They weren't coworkers.
They were brothers-
handpicked by Jesus,
sent out by Jesus,
promised thrones over the twelve tribes of Israel.
(Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:30)

So when Judas betrayed Jesus,
and when he ended his life,
the Eleven were devastated.

How could he deceive us like this?
How could someone who walked with Jesus,
and with us, walk away?
How could our brother end his story like that?

They were left stunned.

You may not know this about Jesus,
the resurrection began the healing-
Jesus standing alive in front of them,
breathing peace into their fear,
turning their sorrow into joy.
(John 20:19-20)

But the wound Judas left still ached.
The Twelve were broken.
The symbol cracked.
The new Israel stood one tribe short.
(Acts 1:20; Psalm 109:8)

So they prayed,
"Lord, You know the hearts of all."
(Acts 1:24)

And in that prayer,
they were saying
what they couldn't bring themselves
to admit out loud:

We don't trust ourselves.
We don't trust our emotions.
We don't trust our judgment.
We trust You.

And God answered.
It wasn't a feeling,
and it wasn't a vote.
It was God stepping in and making His choice known.
(Proverbs 16:33)

The lot fell to Matthias-
not by chance,
but by the hand of God.

And something shifted in the room.
The symbol was restored.
The breach was healed.
The presence of God was unmistakable.

Matthias filled the post,
but God healed the wound.

You can fill a vacancy.
Only God can heal a betrayal.

You can restore the number.
Only God can restore the people.