“The Twelve Disciples”
Sermon # 10
The Final Three – the “lesser lights”
James the Less: Simon the Zealot and
Judas-the Apostle with Three Names
In the story of the
creation we read that God created the sun and the moon as two great lights; the sun to
rule by day and the moon to rule by night. He made the stars as lesser lights. As among
the heavenly bodies there are greater and lesser lights so among the men who made up the
Apostles there is also such a distinction.
[Herbert Lockyer. All
the Apostles of the Bible. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1972) pp. 167-168]
The disciples did not
all share the spotlight to the same extent. There were those disciples who great lights,
like Peter, James and John and there were those disciples who we do not know very much
about.
Perhaps the final
three disciples –the “lesser lights” should be more encouraging to us than
those apostles that to us look like super saints. These “lesser” known apostles
were just as important as the others and from them we can learn some valuable lessons.
This is important because behind the scenes in any church there are always unsung heroes
… people who serve quietly, without public acclaim, doing things that are essential
to the health and growth of the church. The truth of the matter is that the majority of
Christians must be ready to serve God in this way...anonymously...with little or no
accolades because there are not many spotlights for Christian heroes on this side of
eternity.
First, James the Less remind us that
though we may not be know or recognized by the world we are still important to God!
The only thing that
the Bible tells us about this disciple is his name “James the son of Alphaeus” (Luke 6:15). You will
remember that Matthew’s father’s name was also Alphaeus, it could be that James
was Matthew’s brother. In Mark 15:40 he
is referred to as “James
the Less” which is probably a nickname. The Greek word for “less” is (micros) and literally means “little.”
It primary meaning is “small in stature” but it can also speak of someone who is
young in age. James the Less or “Little James” was probably a small, young,
quiet person who stayed mostly in the background. He
reminds us of the unnamed people mentioned in Hebrews 11:33-38: “who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained
promises, stopped the mouths of lions, (34) quenched the violence of fire, escaped the
edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to
flight the armies of the aliens. (35) Women received their dead raised to life again.
Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better
resurrection. (36) Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains
and imprisonment. (37) They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain
with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute,
afflicted, tormented — (38) of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in
deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.”
Disciples like James
the Less and the unnamed saints of Heb 11 remind us that though faithful, patient humble
service may go unnoticed and unrecorded by men, it not forgotten by God.
So
though we may not be know or recognized by the world we are still important to God!
Secondly, Simon the Zealot reminds
that what we are zealous about is the most important thing!
In Luke 6:15 Simon is
called “the Zealot.”
In Matthew 10:4 and Mark 3:18 he is called “Simon the Canaanite.” This however, is not a
reference to his being born in Canaan or the village of Cana. It comes from the Hebrew
root (qanna)
and means “to
be zealous.” Simon was
apparently at one time a member of the political party known as the Zealots. One other
famous Zealot that you may remember was Barabbas; the man offered by Pilate and chosen by
the people in the place of Christ. The fact that Simon bore the tag “the
Zealot” for the remainder of his life may also indicate that he had a fiery
zealous temperament.
The Zealots were
ancient terrorists. They hated the Romans and their goal was to overthrow the Roman
occupation. They advanced their agenda primarily through terrorism and underhanded acts of
violence. They are not unlike the Moslem terrorists of our day. They believed that they
were doing God’s work by killing Roman soldiers, political leaders and anyone else
who opposed them.
When Matthew and Mark
list the Twelve, they list Simon just before Judas Iscariot. When Jesus sent the disciples
out two by two (Mark 6:7) it is likely that Simon and Judas were a team. Both men may have
come to Jesus for political reasons at first. But some where along the line Simon became a
genuine believer and Judas never really did.
It is interesting to
consider that Simon had to associate with Matthew who was at the opposite side of the
political spectrum. Matthew collected taxes for the Romans and Simon killed them whenever
he could. I am sure that at one point in his life he could and would have killed Matthew,
given the opport-unity. In the end, because the both loved Jesus, they ended up working
side by side for the same cause – the spread of the gospel.
What matters most in
life is not our zeal but what we are zealous about. Some men are very zealous about their
favorite sport, or favorite team or favorite athlete, and there is nothing innately wrong
with that, unless that is all they are zealous about. The Bible reveals that it is
possible to be zealous for the wrong reasons. The Apostle Paul says in Romans 10:2-3,
“For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but
not according to knowledge. (3) For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and
seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of
God.”
Simon is a positive example of changing an
improper zeal for that which has a lasting eternal purpose.
We need to be reminded that what we zealous about
is the most important thing!
Third, Judas the Apostle With Three Names,
is a reminder that what we know is not nearly as important as what we do!
The last apostle that
we are going to examine in our study is Judas. The name Judas means “Jehovah
leads” and was at one time a popular name until the treachery of Judas
Iscariot ruined it for all time. When the apostle John mentions this Judas (John 14:22) he
adds “Judas – not Iscariot.” Several of the
disciples had double names but Judas is actually the only
one that had three names. Matthew (10:3) refers to him as “Lebbaeus,
whose surname was Thaddeus.” Thaddeus means “breast child” and
evokes the image of “momma’s boy.” Lebbaeus is similar it means “heart child”. Both names suggest a man
with a child-like heart.
“Taking the three names together, they suggest the thought that he
was one of the youngest of the twelve, and was looked upon by the others with an affection
which showed itself in the nicknames added to Judas.” [Lockyer.
p. 169]
The New Testament
records only one incident involving Judas Lebbaeus Thaddaeus found in John 14:19-24.
In this text Jesus has been imparting that He will soon leave his disciples to return to
be with the Father in Heaven. But he want to assure them that he will not leave them
orphans, that he will leave them with another comforter, the Holy Spirit.
In verse nineteen
we read, “A little while longer and the world will see Me no
more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. (20) "At that day you
will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. (21) "He who has My
commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by
My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." (22) Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord,
how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?"
It should be noted
that like Thomas and Philip before him he began his question by addressing Jesus as “LORD.”
His question is based on the fact the he could not under-stand why Jesus was manifesting
himself primarily through this rag-tag group of disciples.
Jesus’ answer to
Judas is found beginning in verse twenty-three, "If
anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to
him and make Our home with him. (24) "He who does not love Me does not keep My words;
and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.”
Jesus probably did not
answer Judas as he probably wanted it answered. But he points out that love and obedience
are all that we need to know. Anyone who truly loves “Jesus” will keep his word.
Judas’ question reminds us that there are many things about the difficulties of
living for Jesus that we do not know and can not know. But that is not
important. What is important is that we love Christ and keep His word.
The
final apostle, Judas, is a reminder that what we know is not nearly as important as what
we do!
Conclusion
I want to close with just a couple of
reminders that can be drawn from the lives of the “Lesser Light” apostles.
First, although
these disciples are not well known they were faithful. Even such obscure men as James
the Less, Simon the Zealot and Thaddeus had their share in turning the world upside down
for Christ.
Secondly, although
they were little noticed they did their best for Jesus. Some of the greatest and most
sacrificial work for the kingdom of God is done by those who names are unknown.
I believe some of the
greatest rewards in Heaven will go to people completely unknown to us. I want to close
with this illustration.
“An elderly preacher was
rebuked by one of his deacons one Sunday morning before the service. “Pastor,”
said the man, “something must be wrong with your preaching and your work. There’s
been only one person added to the church in a whole year, and he’s just a boy.”
The minister listened, his eyes moistening and his thin hand trembling. “I feel it
all,” he replied, “but God knows I’ve tried to do my duty.” On that
day the minister’s heart was heavy as he stood before his flock. As he finished the
message, he felt a strong inclination to resign.
After everyone else
had left, that one boy came to him and asked, “Do you think if I worked hard for an
education, I could become a preacher—perhaps a missionary?” Again tears welled
up in the minister’s eyes. “Ah, this heals the ache I feel,” he said.
“Robert, I see the Divine hand now. May God bless you, my boy. Yes, I think you will
become a preacher.”
Many years later an
aged missionary returned to London from Africa. His name was spoken with reverence. Nobles
invited him to their homes. He had added many souls to the church of Jesus Christ,
reaching even some of Africa’s most savage chiefs. His name was Robert Moffat, the
same Robert who years before had spoken to the pastor that Sunday morning in the old
Scottish kirk.
Lord,
help us to be faithful. Then give us the grace to leave the results to you.
[Source unknown -
www.bible.org/illus. topic – Faithfulness]