Acts 1:12-26 ... Ready for Leadership?

We have read about events that took place in the ten-day period between Jesus’ ascension and the Day of Pentecost (Acts 1:12-26). True to Jesus’ instruction, the disciples were together in Jerusalem “devoting themselves to prayer”. With them were the growing number of believers (up to 120 now), which included those “certain women” which had been following Jesus for a while (and had been first to the empty tomb), plus his family members as well – Jesus’ mother, and notably his brothers (who had previously expressed their disbelief, but now were clearly on board).

One thing they would be able to prayerfully discern would be a replacement for Judas Iscariot, who not only betrayed Jesus, but was also no longer alive to be able to redeem himself. Twelve was an important number to retain, as it referred back to and thereby superseded the twelve tribes of Israel (in terms of the future of the mission of God in the world). So who should replace Judas? On what basis should this decision be made? Who is fit for leadership like this? And how does the way this decision was made by the disciples affect the way we think about leadership?

1.       PRAYERFUL ENVIRONMENT. The disciples did not just pray when a crisis decision needed to be made (as a sort of desperate reaction) – they had formed a habit of being prayerful people, and prayerful people together. So it wasn’t just the need for a new leader that led them to prayer – it was in the context and environment of prayer that they understood the need to go in this direction. So if we are looking for guidance or discernment, then it’s not just an isolated prayer that will bring the best results, but much more so the good habit of prayerfulness. Peter’s little speech (v.15-20) reflects an understanding of both recent events and ancient scripture that was no doubt informed by his devoted participation in prayer.

2.       WITNESS TO JESUS. The main criterion that was put up concerning this new disciple (v.21-22) was that he should have been one of those who had accompanied Jesus (and the other eleven main disciples) for the three-year journey of ministry. In this way, this new disciple would be very familiar with what he was getting involved in and the sort of character he was representing. This person was to be one of those who Jesus “went in and out among”, meaning that there existed a familiar and unhindered association over some time. [Which is like the familiar unhindered association God can have with us according to Psalm 121:8 – “The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore”.]

Special mention was made to what? This new leader would have to become a witness to Jesus’ resurrection. Now I would suggest that this not only meant having been personally encountered by the risen Jesus, and not only being a witness to the truth and reality of Jesus’ resurrection, but what else?? Living out Jesus’ resurrection in his own life!! This leader would have to have been obviously transformed by the living Jesus within him. We will come back to this point. The task of ‘the twelve’ was to be ‘guarantors’ of the gospel tradition through their companionship with Jesus in his earthly ministry and to be witnesses to the reality of his resurrection (Longenecker).

3.       PURE OF HEART. There is mention too of the necessity of seeking out God again in prayer, because this new leadership was a matter of the condition of the nominee’s heart. Where the Bible talks about the ‘heart’, this refers to the centre of the human spirit … the place from which springs our feelings, emotions, longings, decisions and actions. It is so easy to fool people through external deeds. How often the ‘go-to-people’ are those who have a good track record of activity. But what about the motivations! Jesus was very strident in his criticism of people, i.e. the Pharisees, who were so overly focussed on external pretences rather than considering inner motivations (especially their own). Good leadership, especially spiritual leadership, begins within a pure heart focussed on the ways of God and the needs of other people.

Jesus himself said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8). To add the concept of ‘purity’ to our ‘heart’ would mean to be unmixed with undesirable elements. Thus the ‘pure of heart’ are always genuine, honest and sincere. The ‘pure of heart’ always deal with issues like bitterness and animosity, so that these negative feelings never take root. Such ‘pure of heart’ people are first seeking God for the sheer joy of a relationship with their Divine Creator, well ahead of what can be done for that God or gained from that God! It is out of our delight in God that we desire to serve him and share with others (Hudson).

Ultimately, through the method of ‘casting lots’, it was God that was seen to be directing the choice of Matthias as best fitted for the role of new twelfth disciple. ‘Casting lots’ involved throwing down various kinds of marked objects in order to determine God’s will; substantiated by Proverbs 16:33 – “The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is the Lord’s alone”. It is interesting to note that this practice now ceased within the Christian community, replaced by the coming of the Holy Spirit … through which all decisions will now be made!

4.       KINGDOM FOCUSSED. One further phrase instructs us on good spiritual leadership. It is how the disciples prayed about what had happened in the case of Judas (v.25b). Judas had failed as a disciple because he had “turned aside to go to his own place”. Judas had come to believe that his own way was better than the way that Jesus laid out. Judas, much more so than the others, failed to see beyond everyday realities to the greater work of God. Because he second-guessed and thus defied Jesus, this led Judas down the track of dishonesty and betrayal. Even his likely regret over these actions could not assuage the extent to which this level of self-destruction had come to. So this begged the question – who could go with Jesus the whole journey … who could carry their own cross in following the way of Jesus (rather than going to their “own place”)?? Who could give up their own agenda, giving preference to God’s Kingdom agenda?

Also, seeking to lead, witness or serve in our own strength, for our own reasons, and according to our own needs, may go alright for a while, but will eventually cause our collapse (and other people will likely be caught in the falling debris). This is why the eleven disciples, supported by the larger number of Jesus-followers, sought to so carefully discern who the new twelfth disciple should be. And this also offers us a challenge toward our particular readiness to fulfil the role of God’s choosing for us.

So returning to our point about living out Jesus’ resurrection in our own life, that is, if we want to be leaders or influencers or effective followers of Jesus, we have to keep watch over our relationship with Jesus and the progress of our life – Paul refers to this, in the context of participating in communion (1 Corinthians 11:28), as ‘examining ourselves’. 1 Timothy 4:16 also records these words of Paul, “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers”. This is where the ‘fruits of the Spirit’ are more crucial than the ‘gifts of the Spirit’! The quality of our witness to the risen Jesus will be defined through our capacity for love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).