WEBVTT 00:00.810 --> 00:07.162 Today we commemorate Matthias, chosen by God to take the place of Judas 00:07.306 --> 00:09.470 as the 12th apostle. 00:10.050 --> 00:14.014 So I I hope that you'll excuse me if I do something that I rarely, if 00:14.052 --> 00:20.640 ever, do, because I think it's worth our time today to learn all about 00:21.170 --> 00:23.882 the life and ministry of Matthias. 00:24.026 --> 00:28.706 So at the risk of turning this into an academic lecture, please bear 00:28.738 --> 00:33.430 with me for a moment while I recount the story of Matthias. 00:34.650 --> 00:40.810 In the first century in Judea, there was a man by the name of Matiahu, 00:41.310 --> 00:48.890 gift of Yahweh in Hebrew, Matheon in Greek, Matthias in English. 00:49.630 --> 00:54.046 This Matthias became a follower of Jesus around the time that Jesus was 00:54.068 --> 00:59.438 baptized by John and remained among his disciples throughout his 00:59.524 --> 01:00.430 ministry. 01:01.010 --> 01:05.794 After the death of Judas and the ascension of Jesus into heaven, the 01:05.832 --> 01:11.906 remaining apostles cast lots, and God chose this Matthias to take the 01:11.928 --> 01:15.910 place of Judas, who had committed suicide. 01:21.960 --> 01:23.030 There it is. 01:26.200 --> 01:33.304 Now you know all that there is to know about the life and ministry of 01:33.342 --> 01:34.360 Matthias. 01:34.940 --> 01:39.944 There are, of course, a great many legends about him, stories about 01:39.982 --> 01:45.644 his later life and death, and even several writings almost certainly 01:45.762 --> 01:47.596 falsely attributed to him. 01:47.778 --> 01:50.028 But none of these stories are certain. 01:50.194 --> 01:55.500 Many are contradictory, and all are probably false. 01:56.660 --> 02:02.368 The bottom line is that apart from the scant information in our text 02:02.454 --> 02:10.180 for today, we know with certainty nothing at all about Matthias. 02:11.240 --> 02:17.780 He was, for all the world knows or cares, a nobody. 02:21.060 --> 02:27.824 Our commemoration of Matthias on this day places before us then, a 02:27.862 --> 02:28.544 question. 02:28.742 --> 02:34.460 And the question is not whether Matthias was worthy of succeeding Jesus 02:34.620 --> 02:35.760 as an apostle. 02:36.940 --> 02:44.216 The question is whether you are worthy of succeeding Matthias as a 02:44.238 --> 02:45.160 disciple. 02:46.780 --> 02:53.080 One of the side effects of the vast array of communications technology 02:53.230 --> 02:59.540 that the 20th century spawned is that so many people feel compelled 03:00.810 --> 03:02.990 to compete for attention. 03:03.650 --> 03:06.320 Everybody wants to be somebody. 03:07.490 --> 03:13.310 You hear athletes blather on about their legacy as if any of the 03:13.380 --> 03:19.774 heroic exploits on the field of competition contribute a single thing 03:19.972 --> 03:22.240 that makes the world better. 03:23.570 --> 03:28.786 The Internet has become choked with talking heads striving to achieve 03:28.818 --> 03:32.070 the glorious label of influencer. 03:33.610 --> 03:38.174 And to that end, they constantly harass us to like and subscribe. 03:38.322 --> 03:41.014 Like and subscribe, like and subscribe. 03:41.142 --> 03:42.860 And don't forget, thumbs up. 03:46.110 --> 03:54.602 And everywhere you turn it seems that somebody wants everybody wants to be regarded 03:54.666 --> 03:59.710 as a hero, if not a superhero. 04:01.090 --> 04:09.694 And into this maelstrom of fame seeking, narcissistic self promotion, 04:09.822 --> 04:20.279 Jesus sends you to talk not about you, but about Him. 04:21.370 --> 04:31.210 God calls you to be like Matthias, a nobody for Jesus. 04:33.230 --> 04:40.830 To labor without fame, without honor, without the recognition or 04:40.900 --> 04:43.920 respect or reward of the world. 04:45.010 --> 04:46.926 Now, let me be clear. 04:47.108 --> 04:51.758 Being a nobody for Jesus is not the same as doing nothing. 04:51.924 --> 04:56.002 I'm quite sure that Matthias continued to live a faithful life, 04:56.135 --> 05:01.074 preached many powerful sermons, reached the lost with the love of God, 05:01.192 --> 05:06.337 nurtured the flock entrusted to him, counseled the weary, comforted 05:06.433 --> 05:09.922 the sorrowing, taught the orthodox faith. 05:09.986 --> 05:15.158 Cared for those in need and by his life word and deed, in every way 05:15.324 --> 05:21.210 proved himself worthy of being called by God to his task. 05:22.590 --> 05:29.419 And I pray and I believe that you will do the same. 05:31.250 --> 05:33.520 That's not the issue here. 05:34.450 --> 05:40.382 Nor is the issue how you will respond to the increasing hostility of 05:40.436 --> 05:44.590 our society to those who follow Jesus faithfully. 05:45.169 --> 05:48.430 Look, persecution sucks. 05:49.570 --> 05:53.342 But at least if they're persecuting you, you know they've heard your 05:53.395 --> 05:54.000 message. 05:54.890 --> 05:58.914 Our Brother John said, don't be surprised, brothers, if the world hates 05:58.962 --> 05:59.060 you. 06:00.490 --> 06:06.526 And John said that because Jesus himself said if the world hates you, 06:06.628 --> 06:09.600 know that it hated me before it hated you. 06:10.290 --> 06:13.134 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. 06:13.172 --> 06:17.440 But because you're not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, 06:18.370 --> 06:20.800 therefore, the world hates you. 06:23.330 --> 06:30.642 But I suspect that if it comes your way, you will actually handle 06:30.706 --> 06:32.760 persecution just fine. 06:34.490 --> 06:39.930 What I wonder is how you will respond to being ignored. 06:41.870 --> 06:47.594 Will you still devote every ounce of your talent and energy to 06:47.632 --> 06:51.020 preaching the good news of eternal life in Jesus Christ? 06:51.970 --> 06:59.774 If no one listens. Will you keep pouring out your heart and tears to 06:59.812 --> 07:01.518 care for those in need? 07:01.683 --> 07:08.658 If the world, and even, sometimes the Church, and maybe even those 07:08.744 --> 07:19.313 that you help don't notice or don't care. Will you continue to reflect 07:19.361 --> 07:24.566 the love of Jesus to those who show you only neglect, who treat you 07:24.587 --> 07:31.050 with ignominy, with indifference, or even with disrespect? 07:33.070 --> 07:43.470 If so, maybe, just maybe, you may be a worthy successor to Matthias. 07:45.409 --> 07:50.746 But if you doubt whether you can live up to the standard of Matthias. 07:50.938 --> 07:57.134 If you are the uncertain whether you have what it takes to be a nobody 07:57.262 --> 08:04.659 for Jesus, remember that Jesus became somebody for you. 08:05.590 --> 08:12.246 And the kind of somebody that Jesus became was foretold by Isaiah when 08:12.268 --> 08:16.840 he said in chapter 53 he was nothing to look at. 08:17.690 --> 08:20.550 He didn't appear worthy of our desire. 08:20.970 --> 08:25.466 He was held in contempt and shunned by men, a man who endured pain and 08:25.488 --> 08:26.086 sickness. 08:26.198 --> 08:30.522 And like one of those that no one looks at, he was regarded as 08:30.576 --> 08:36.400 contemptible, so that no one even bothered to think about him. 08:38.930 --> 08:48.062 Jesus loved you so much that he was willing to become that kind of 08:48.116 --> 08:49.920 somebody for you. 08:50.850 --> 08:55.806 And if, like Matthias, you find yourself forgotten or neglected by the 08:55.828 --> 08:59.860 world and perhaps even by the Church. Know that 09:00.090 --> 09:08.542 somebody has not forgotten you. That somebody knows. That somebody 09:08.676 --> 09:16.782 cares. That somebody remembers and treasures every word and deed that 09:16.836 --> 09:24.946 you do in His name. And that somebody gives you the strength to carry 09:25.018 --> 09:31.238 on proclaiming and sharing and living the love of Jesus for this 09:31.324 --> 09:34.760 rotting cesspool of a world. 09:36.170 --> 09:45.080 And that somebody promises to be with you until the day someday soon 09:45.930 --> 09:51.038 when He comes to take you to Himself and caress you with His love 09:51.124 --> 09:54.990 forever. In the name of Jesus 09:55.810 --> 09:57.760 somebody for you. 09:58.770 --> 09:59.210 Amen.