In this Lenten Season, our midweek sermons have focused on the 12 Apostles of Jesus Christ. We have only the two left to look at tonight, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot. So let’s get to it.
Little is known of Simon the Zealot, also, except that he was, of course, a “zealot”. The gospels call him “the Zealot” to distinguish him from the other Simon – Simon Peter.
Simon is called "Zelotes" in Luke and Acts.
Now, if you read the lists of apostles in Matthew and Mark, you will see this Simon called the “Canaanite” or “Cananean”. This, however, likely doesn’t mean he was an ethnic Canaanite. Although some do believe it meant he was from the town of Cana in Galilee. But most scholars agree that the word behind it “Kananaios” is another Greek term for “Zealot”.
For these reasons, it is generally assumed that Simon was a former member of the Jewish political party, the Zealots. So who were they? They were a group of Jews who most fiercely opposed the Roman occupation, and would, at times even take matters into their own hands to work toward freedom from Rome.
Even today, we use the term “Zealot”, to describe a religious extremist. We’ve heard some of our own leaders describing the Mullahs of Iran as “zealots”. Someone who believes something so strongly, they will go to great lengths, even do outrageous and extraordinary things to serve their cause.
Obviously, this ideology is incompatible with Christ’s teaching and so it is understood that Simon must have been a “former zealot”. All human ideologies must give way to the teachings of Christ, the word of God, our only infallible source of truth in this fallen world. Jesus didn’t come to destroy the Romans, or to bring down any particular earthly government. Jesus came, rather, to destroy sin and death.
But what about zeal, in and of itself? Zeal as a concept? Recall Psalm 69:9 “zeal for your house will consume me” as quoted from the temple cleansing in John 2. Jesus was zealous, a zealot of a particular sort. Christ’s zeal for the Lord’s house was more than just fussiness about what happened in the temple, but rather his overall commitment to his mission as Savior. Jesus was a zealot in the best way.
But your zeal - for your politics or your football team, or for whatever, might not be so great, especially if it gets in the way of your zeal for the Lord’s house. Especially if it becomes a first commandment issue, an opportunity to have a false god. So must we always test ourselves, guard ourselves, and limit our zeal for anything but those to which God calls us: Love for him, and love for one another.
Like James, son of Alphaeus and Jude, we know little about Simon. He is given just mention in the list of apostles. But the inclusion of his zealotry also reminds us that Jesus calls disciples from all walks of life, zealots along with fishermen, tax collectors, physicians and pharisees. There is a diversity of backgrounds and stories, each one unique but all are one in Christ and bring our baggage of sinful past to the foot of the same cross. So bring also your zeal to Jesus, that he may redeem it.
And finally we come to Judas Iscariot, the betrayer. Listed last not because he is little known but because he is infamous. He is notorious, and amongst the apostles, in a category by himself.
The thirty pieces of silver, the arrest in Gethsemane, the bitter irony of betrayal with a kiss. Judas’ very name is synonymous even today with betrayal and treachery, even outside of Christian circles. It is appropriate to recall the sad story of Judas on this Holy Thursday, in which his betrayal of Jesus was complete.
While many theories have been put forward for Judas’ motivation, Scripture is silent on the matter. One popular theory is that he sympathized with the zealots, and wanted to “force Jesus’ hand” into beginning his military conquest. But when he saw that Jesus was to be crucified only then realized his plan would fail.
"Iscariot", it is suggested by some, might even derive from the Latin sicarius, a term for Zealots who used hidden daggers for assassinations. So you could then call him “Judas the dagger-man" or “Judas the backstabber”.
And if this theory is true, then he stands in stark contrast to Simon the Zealot, who gave up his zealotry and followed Christ. There instead was Judas, whose cause drove him to a twisted zealotry that betrayed even the sinless Son of God.
Alternately, and perhaps this is the simplest explanation, is that Judas was just greedy and a thief (which we know he was from John 12:6), "He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and since he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it" I actually favor this theory.
But the fact that Scripture doesn’t explain might be significant, too. More telling than his motivation is what Judas did or didn’t do with his sin and guilt.
Here, Judas is often contrasted with Peter, who denied Jesus but wept bitterly in contrition, and was later restored by Jesus. Judas rather turned to despair and self-destruction. He tried to take it all back, but he couldn’t. He tried to make up for his sin, but he couldn’t. And so, he hung himself in despair, when he saw the destruction his betrayal brought on Jesus.
Judas stands as a warning for us, then, too. You also cannot make up for your sins. And every sin, dear Christian, is a betrayal of Jesus, isn’t it? We don’t look to Judas with pride, thinking ourselves better than he was. Rather, we say with Paul, “I, too, am a chief of sinners. I, too, need rescue from this body of death. I need the forgiveness and mercy of Christ as much as anyone.”
Simon the Zealot left his former life and repented, turning to Christ in faith – which he held even unto death. Judas the betrayer continued in his sins which led not to repentance, but to despair and to death – first to Christ’s death, but sadly also his own.
And one more little note about Judas, especially on this Maundy Thursday. It was at the Last Supper that Jesus told the disciples one of them would betray him. And Jesus made it clear, he knew it was Judas. He showed John with the sign - “he who dips his bread in the bowl with me”. What a mystery! That Jesus knows and even uses the evil of a betrayer to facilitate his own handing over unto death.
But there’s a lesson here, for the disciples and for us, too. It may have seemed like Judas’ betrayal was a surprise, something that Jesus didn’t intend and was out of his control or knowledge. But yet even this evil, he worked for good. So, too, also, God works for us in all things – for the good of those who love him. He even works evil things for his own good purposes. Just look at the cross itself. God uses the most horrible thing we can imagine – the torturous death of his dear, innocent son, for the good and the life of the world. To bring sin and death to their end. Thanks be to God. And may we trust him to work even through the betrayals and calamities of our own lives, for his good and gracious purposes never fail.
And finally, tonight, we commemorate the institution of the Lord’s Supper. As Jesus gives us the morsel of bread with a little bit of wine, it is not for our judgment, but to redeem our betrayal. It is his true body and blood that promise forgiveness, life and salvation, and inspire in us a zeal – a fervent desire to live for him and in love for others. May God grant it to us, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
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