James, Simon And Judas Series

James, Simon and Judas

1 Corinthians 1:26-27, Matthew 28:16-20

Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567

Ever wonder what kind of “mark” you are going to leave on this world upon your death? Attempts to build a legacy that “outlasts” physical life comes in a variety of forms. For some this means acquiring great wealth in hopes that the inheritance they pass on will keep memories of them fresh in the minds of their family. For some building a legacy means getting one’s name recorded in the history books so that future generations might read about the powerful positions they acquired in their lifetime. For others legacy means passing on their values of honor, integrity and love to their family members. And yet despite their best efforts, legacy tends to be as short lived as the temporary things and people upon which it is focused! The only way to get a legacy that lasts beyond a few generations is to serve our eternal God! Today we are going to continue the sermon series on the Twelve Apostles by examining the lives James the Less, Simon the Zealot and Judas Son of James and conclude that while their feats for God are not known their lives testify to three profound truths: serving God in obscurity is far better than riches, fame or power, serving God is to be done with the right zeal and serving God to obtain an eternal legacy means planting seeds of righteousness.

James the Less

There is very little that is known about the ninth name in Luke’s list of apostles (6:14-16). If he ever wrote anything it has been lost and any conversations he might have had with Jesus have not been recorded in Scripture. He is not to be confused with James the son of Zebedee who was a man of great prominence or James the half brother of Jesus who became the leader of the Jerusalem church and wrote the book of James. His father was Alphaeus (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18) and his mother Mary (Mark 15:40) was a devoted Christian, present at the crucifixion of Jesus and was one of the women who came to prepare His body for burial. While some scholars have suggested James might have been the bother of Matthew or a cousin of Jesus these suggestions are the product of mere speculation. There is some historical evidence that James took the Gospel to Syria, Persia and Egypt and was “either stoned, clubbed to death or crucified like His Lord.” Both the Church of Holy Apostles in Rome and the Cathedral of Saint James in Jerusalem claim to have his relics.

Considering all these unknowns is it fair to say that James the Less was “a figure lost in the deadening shadows of obscurity?” Even though not a single sign, wonder or deed that James performed was recorded in Scripture (2 Corinthians 12:12) his legacy is intact for he will one day sit on one of the “twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:27-30). Even if James had not been granted this honor his eternal legacy would still have been secured in the crowns he was about to receive (2 Timothy 4:8) for having done the will of Jesus Christ! Even though he was not mythic, a celebrity, rich or powerful in the world’s eyes; God chose him, an ordinary, weak person (1 Corinthians 1:27) to plant and water seeds of righteousness in His kingdom (1 Corinthians 3:6-9). Like James, despite our weaknesses and lack of worldly “success,” our eternal legacy is found not only in the grace and mercy we have received at the cross (Ephesians 2:8-9) but also in our faithful obedience to He who bought us at a price (1 Corinthians 6:20)! It is far more lasting of a legacy to be a foot washer in Jesus’ kingdom than to gain the entire world and yet loose one’s standing before a holy God (Matthew 16:26)!

Simon the Zealot

The only thing that is known about the tenth name in Luke’s list of apostles (6:14-16) is his title, “a Zealot” (Luke 6:15, Matthew 10:4, Mark 3:18). While this term could have referred to a “fiery temperament,” it most likely refers to Simon having belonged to a political party called the Zealots. Believing that God was their only ruler fueled members of this party’s hatred and desire to overthrow Rome through acts of terrorism and “surreptitious acts of violence.” Before the apostles better understood and accepted Jesus’ teachings one can’t help but wonder if there were some rather fiery debates between Simon who wanted to kill Rome one person at a time and Matthew who supported Rome by collecting their taxes! The fact that Simon put his dagger away and accepted that Jesus had not come to help conquer Rome but to sacrifice His life for everyone including His enemies (Romans 5:10, 6:10), is truly a miracle! There is “some” historical evidence that Simon took the Gospel message to Persia, Egypt, Britain and/or North Africa, and was either put to death by the sword or spear, stoned or crucified on a cross. Both St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and St. Sirnan’s Basilica in Toulouse, France claim to have the bones of Simon.