In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) 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.” (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their language Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) “For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his homestead become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it’; And ‘Let another take his position of overseer.’ So one of the men who have accompanied us during all 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.
Acts 1:15-26

Every once in a while, it will be trivia time in some gathering of Christians, and the challenge will come to name the 12 disciples (or apostles.) If we are able to accomplish that task, we might forget that there was a 13^th, Matthias. Matthias is named as an apostle in the first chapter of the book of Acts to replace Judas. And Matthias’ qualifications for the new position were impressive: he had accompanied (the disciples) during all 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—and he was a witness with them to his resurrection.

Matthias had been there all along, also walking with Jesus. Why had we not heard his name until now? Well, Jesus chose the twelve, and yet even in that group, some of the people were listed but then their full stories were never really told. I guess the most important detail is what they did: they told others the good news of the risen Lord Jesus.

Maybe, without our names being widely known, that’s our calling too.

Prayer

Dear God, let me accept my place as a disciple of Jesus, so that I will share the good news that I know with everyone I meet today. Amen