Peter here leads the early Christians (Luke tells us they numbered around 120) in a process to replace Judas by casting lots.
What I always find so interesting about Judas is that—as Peter points out here—he was in the inner trusted circle of Jesus and betrayed Jesus anyway.
What do you think the betrayal of Judas says about human nature?
The difference between Peter and Judas is that Peter, even when he denies Christ, is still trying to say close, whereas Judas runs off on his own.
Be like Peter.
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I find it fascinating that, when Jesus says at the Last Supper that one of the disciples will betray him, each of them asks in response, "Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?"
I wrote yesterday that if even Jesus can be betrayed by someone he loves, then it can happen to any of us.
But it's also true that any of us could be the betrayer. If we think we are the kind of people who would never betray someone we love, then we need to be careful, lest like St. Peter, we end up doing the very thing we swore we would never do. (That's in tomorrow's reading.)
*There is the potential in each one of us to be Judas. In fact, I think the more we humble ourselves and admit that we're not better than anyone else, the less likely it is that we become the kind of people who sell their friends for 30 pieces of silver.
Pride goes before a fall. So, help us, Lord, become faithful people.
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Judas was hand-picked by Jesus, saw Jesus do spectacular miracles, heard Jesus teach in a way no one has ever taught before or since, and still:
Judas agreed to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.
If even Jesus was betrayed by someone he loved, why are we surprised when it happens to us?
I’m blogging through the Gospels in 2019. Subscribe here to receive a weekday update on that day’s Gospel reading. (There is also an option to subscribe to non-Gospels posts as well through my plain ole Andrew Forrest Newsletter.)