A Renewed People

Outline

Intro me

If you have a computer or a phone, and I’m guessing most of you do, all too often I’m sure you’ll have found yourself being told you need to “reboot to install updates”. This isn’t like it used to be - to begin with there was no such thing as an update - you just got what you got. And then you’d get one version and be stuck with it for the next age - years most times. But nowadays it seems like there’s an update which needs a reboot every week. Now this could be a good thing because we might be getting exciting new features and options each time - though I have to admit I don’t feel like there’s been much new on my phone or my computer for the last set of updates. It could be a good thing because they’re fixing stuff that’s broken behind the scenes. Most of the time, these “essential” updates don’t really seem to do much at all.

But this morning, I want to ask for your attention for the next twenty minutes because we’re going to be reading and thinking about a world-changing reboot in today’s passage, not one of these “essential” ones you’ll never even notice. Something new is beginning, something is fundamentally changing - and it’s worth you paying attention to, whoever you are, wherever you are with Jesus, because you can be a part of it.

We’re right at the start of a new series looking at the book of Acts which tells the story of the very first Christians. If you’re new with us at Hope City, this is a great time to join. We think this story has so much to teach us so we’re expecting to continue studying it at least until Easter.

We’re going to start by reading the next part of the story. Let me give you some context quickly, so you know where this fits in: It’s about 40 days since Jesus died on a cross. Three days later he rose and he’s been appearing to, and speaking to his followers through these 40 days. Then he leaves, ascending to heaving, telling them to wait in Jerusalem for the gift God has promised them, the Holy Spirit. That’s where we are today: the disciples are waiting for the coming of this Holy Spirit

Hannah’s going to read for us this morning and we’ll put the words up on screen for you but if you have your own bible, it’d be great to find this bit too so you can refer back to it. Were in the book of Acts, chapter 1 and starting at verse 12. So over to Hannah.

Acts 1:12–26 NIV

Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.” (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms: “ ‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’ and, “ ‘May another take his place of leadership.’ Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

Good job these disciples - Jesus has gone but they’re not panicking. Instead they are waiting well, sticking together, united in prayer. They’re keeping going even though they don’t really know what’s next.

And then Peter grabs the mic:

Judas’ fallout was foretold

There’s so much in today’s passage, we won’t be able to cover it all, but as an aside, what Peter says to us here is important information about the bible: if you’re thinking about what to make of the bible, how to approach it, how important is it, how accurate it is, here Peter tells us Scripture (that means the Bible) is the Holy Spirit speaking through humans. Verse 16. And he tells us that it must be fulfilled - it’s true; what it tells us has to happen.

So Judas’ fallout was foretold by the Holy Spirit through David, an ancient leader in God’s people, long ago; thousands of years before. It wasn’t a terrible accident, an unexpected torpedo into God’s plans that upset the apple cart. It was part of the plan. But that’s not all… Peter tells those first disciples that Scripture also teaches him that Judas needs to be replaced.

Now on first glance, if you look at those two bits Peter quotes from the bible in English translation, it can look like there’s a conflict, a toss-up. Judas’ place is to be deserted, says one; another is to take his place, says the other. But if you look more closely at the original language, at the precise words, there really is no conflict: in the first quote, place is a word that means estate (that is, land and house). In the second one it’s a single word that means “place of leadership”, that is Judas’ role, his office. So his house is to be deserted but his office is to be filled.

And it’s worth recognising that Peter has this interpretation of David’s ancient writings right even if it wouldn’t jump out to us on reading the original psalms he’s quoting from. Remember, before ascending, Jesus opened the disciples’ minds to understand the Scriptures Lk 24:45

So Judas’ place of leadership, Judas’ office must be filled. And Peter gives us some specifics about who can fill those shoes:

v21 it has to be an end-to-end witnesses, someone who was there from the beginning of Jesus’ ministry all the way to the end, to the ascension v22.

And Peter also tells us something about the role this replacement is going to have: a unique role testifying to, bearing witness, to Jesus’ resurrection - that’s the end of v22. We’ll come back to that emphasis on the resurrection, where we might have expected Jesus’ teaching, in a bit.

If you know me, you know I’m the sort of person that likes to ask a lot of questions. So here’s my question: Why does Judas’ place need to be filled?

Why do there need to be 12? Why not settle for 11?

I guess 12’s a fine number, lots of factors for our mathematicians, seems to turn up all the time in the bible too. But if we’re adding people, why not go all the way to the 120 gathered there?

Well, to answer that question, we have to take a step back for a minute. Stick with me here - this will lead us somewhere :) We need to zoom out, and look at the big story of the Old Testament, the first part of the bible, and think about what’s gone before for a moment. What we see through the pages of the Old Testament is the story of God seeking to reconcile a rebellious world to him - and to do that through a chosen people, his representatives.

Abraham, the great father of faith, is blessed by God: “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you” - but as you read on through this famous foundation of God’s people, you see he’s blessed to be a blessing: “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you”

His grandchild Jacob has twelve sons - sons who become the twelve tribes which make up the nation of Israel. What’s been promised to Abraham is beginning to come to pass. God’s work of reconciling the rebellious world to himself through his people is beginning.

That’s the story of the first book of the Old Testament. Unfortunately I can summarise the next 45 books for you in one sentence: God’s people, Israel, fail in their mission. Like bad sequels that just keep coming.

They bow to other kings rather than living under God as king. They don’t live out God’s right plan for life, and so they don’t enjoy the blessing he has promised them. “Shalom”, which is normally translated peace, but really communicates a much bigger idea of everything at rightness, slips from them. They cannot, and will not call others into reconciliation and God’s blessing.

Why’d it all go wrong? There’s a bug in humanity - a problem inside people, a glitch. The code has been corrupted and so they keep doing the wrong thing rather than the right thing.

Now this is where Jesus comes in, this is where the second part of the bible, the New Testament picks up the story.

Jesus is God come in the flesh, creator entering creation, programmer inside the programme. Jesus will change everything. But here’s what I want you to see particularly today:

When Jesus comes, that isn’t God abandoning plan A - chucking buggy old Israel out of the window in a fit of rage following yet another blue-screen-of-death.

When Jesus comes, that isn’t God choosing to starting with a nice, clean slate. A fresh install, if you like - though that might seem easier.

Instead through Jesus, God is rebooting his people to install updates.

That’s why there have to be 12 apostles - because we’re watching the earliest church laying the foundations for a renewed people of God.

12 apostles are the foundation on which the church, God’s renewed people must be built. There have to be 12 because this is installing updates, not wiping the disk and starting again. This is continuity and change.

Some things change, pretty seriously. Who remembers Windows 95? ouch.

We’re no longer talking about an ethnic people, descendants of Abraham. There’s no more circumcision for boys - phew! Bacon’s back on the menu - double-phew!

There’s change as God renews his people - but there’s also continuity

This renewed people are still called to live under God as king. This renewed people are invited to live out shalom, to enjoy rightness and blessing - and to call others into it.

That’s why there have to be 12.

But having answered question 1, I’m feeling like it’s time for us to go for the double, and to think about a question 2: Remember we noticed that Peter’s looking for end-to-end witnesses? Witnesses to Jesus’ model life and life-changing teaching, and witnesses to Jesus’ pivotal saving death on the cross - clearing our slate from all the wrongs behind us… Witnesses to Jesus’ ascension into heaven. But especially he’s looking for 12 witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection - people who will testify to it. Surely 120 witnesses would be better? But that’s the task particular to these 12 - Acts 1:22. And if you read on in Acts, that’s what these 12 will do: testify to Jesus’ resurrection - Acts 2:31, 3:15, 4:33, 13:30. Why is the resurrection so important here?

Why the emphasis on resurrection? I’m sure there’s more to think and to learn about this, but here’s where I’ve gotten to on this question.

Jesus is described as “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” by Paul, one of the key early leaders. That’s a farming picture: imagine planting a whole field with grain and then waiting and waiting and waiting for the harvest. First some shoots come up. Then the stalks grow long. The heads of grain begin to appear, the crop begins to ripen and finally, finally, at last the day comes when the very first plant is ready for harvest. There you have the firstfruits. That’s what Jesus is like - the first. The first of many.

The people of God is getting a renewed foundation with the 12 apostles - but the change is more fundamental than that - with Jesus’ resurrection, we’re seeing another renewal pictured for us. A renewal that’s utterly essential if things are going to be any different this time around. The people of God are getting a renewed heart; a new Spirit. A new birth is how Jesus describes it when he’s talking to one faith explorer; the beginnings of a new humanity.

With Jesus’ resurrection we don’t see him returned to the same life he already had - like pressing reset. Resurrection is more than this. The resurrected Jesus can come and go as he pleases between earth and heaven. He’s physical and material - and yet his renewed body can do things our simply can’t. For us too, resurrection isn’t just the same life we already had, reset after death - it’s a renewed, a restored life.

And the amazing thing is you don’t have to die before you begin to enjoy it. In fact, these 120 disciples gathered in a room will begin enjoying it in under 10 days. Here’s that same early leader Paul, writing in the bible a little later:

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

This renewal, this resurrection, begins for us when we begin our journey with Jesus, choosing to follow him and join his people. An upgrade, a new version. Peter, the guy with the mic in the part of Acts we red, will later write:

1 Peter 1:3 NIV

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Resurrection is about new birth, new life, a new kind of life - and it begins now.

So the foundation is restored - renewed. God has upgraded his people to v2, founded on the 12 apostles. AND we can hope for a different outcome to v1, Israel - because of this resurrection. We needed new life, we needed a bugfix or God’s new people would just fail in the same way. And this new life is a part of the work of the Holy Spirit that these first disciples are waiting for in the passage we read. That guy Paul again:

Titus 3:5 NIV

he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

God promised this renewal long ago - if you have some time today, read Ezk 36:25-27 - but after so long, these disciples are about to experience it. And we can too.

I’m nearly done - but like we try and do every week at Hope City, I want to ask the big question, question number 3: so what?

This is all very interesting - well, I hope it is, anyway! - but really, so what? What does this mean for you or for me, for today, for the no-doubt difficult week ahead? for this strange year?

Well, if you wouldn’t call yourself a follower of Jesus yet, I’m not overstating things to say this has the potential to change your life. This is nothing less than an invitation to come be a part of solution to this world’s problems. To come get a free upgrade to your life, your heart, your spirit. To come begin a new life, part of a renewed people, called to live in blessing and shalom, and to call others in it.

Now that sounds too good to be true. I get it. But that is what Jesus offers. So the ball’s in your court.

Perhaps you feel like you need more time, more information. And maybe that’s true - then stick with us. Come follow the church from it’s earliest days with us as we work through Acts. Come see how this new life changes lives and builds a new community. We’d love you to stick with us.

But sometimes it can just be an excuse: I need more time, more information. Sometimes the truth is you know plenty - you just know there’s a cost, too. If that’s you, if God is reaching out to you again today, inviting you again, please get off the fence and reach back. Take his hand, and say “yes” and begin this restart. I want to give you a way to do that practically, to step forward, even in this strange digital church we find ourselves in this morning. So just now, in the livestream chat, you’ll see an opportunity to raise your hand - no-one will see but God. You can choose to ask to pray with someone and we’d love to help you take first steps - but you don’t have to - most important is to do business with God. Click that button now.

Now if you’d call yourself a follower of Jesus, what do you do with this? What does it mean to you that God has renewed his people; that God is renewing you, personally, that through you, through us, God is inviting the whole world to peace, to reconciliation with him and new, everlasting life?

It means that you have a right to hope for the blessed community, for this peace and rightness, in your church family. Because we have rebooted to install updates. Because we have been upgraded. “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come the old has gone, the new is here.” Yes, there is a now-and-not-yet thing going on here. There is a final fullness to resurrection, to transformation, to renewal still ahead - but it HAS begun. Things have fundamentally changed. We are not where God’s people were - before resurrection, before the Spirit. So think higher not lower. Think bigger not smaller. And when this new community isn’t everything you’d hoped or wished, know that it will be one day - and that you can be a part of that becoming even now.

Because you, follower of Jesus, you have the Spirit. You have been debugged. You are standing on the firm foundation of the apostles. You can help make this community a city on a hill, a bright light to a weary watching world. You can choose to show grace, to love, to care, to serve - with God’s Spirit at work within you. That’s our logo, by the way, a city on a hill - we want to be a light to this city, showing them what living under God ask king, within his blessing, enjoying that rightness looks like. But we also want to be inviting them to Jesus, inviting them towards God’s people, his new community.

I want to say more but our time is gone. Please can I invite you once more to respond to Jesus’ offer if you haven’t yet. And to pursue God’s plans for his people if you have. To talk and think about this more, why not join us on zoom at 5pm where we’ll have time in small groups to engage and explore more together. But I’m going to stop here and give us just one minute to think and reflect on what we’ve considered before we’ll join together in a song which gives us a chance to declare that we will build our lives on this new, firm foundation - because Jesus is worthy of it.

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