Simon the Zealot
Simon the Zealot
Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and King. This week finds us looking both at what has come to pass as well as what lies in the future. The month of May is traditionally a busy month. People are working in their yards, and families are preparing for the end of the school year. We are not quite way to the middle of the year, but Summer is coming and everything will change for a few months. The reason for this is that for many people their world revolves around the school calendar. Before we know it, the bells ring again and the schedule of our daily lives changes once more. As we prepare for what is ahead, it is good for us not to forget what has been in the past. This is a primary reason we have been reviewing the lives of the twelve apostles. A very faithful pastor once told me, “We must learn history and language! If we forget either we will lose a sense of where we have come from.”
This point is brought home to us when we realize that the history surrounding the apostles of our Lord is our history. We, you and I, are the Church! The history of all Christians is our history from which to learn and grow. As we turn our attention once more to the life of one particular apostle, we do so in order to grow. We learn from their lives a little about ourselves. We see in them where we fall short and what great things God can do in and through us when we yield our lives to Him.
This week we again turn our attention to one of the apostles about whom we know very little. His name is Simon. He is not to be confused with Simon Peter, rather he is called “Simon the Canaanite” or “Simon the Zealot.” Lest we become confused, we need to begin with this man’s name. Upon a cursory reading one might come to the understanding that Simon the Canaanite meant he was from Canaan or Cana. We need to understand that the root of the word Canaanite is the Hebrew word “kana” which means “to be ardent or zealous.” This recognition most likely comes from Simon’s political affiliations prior to becoming a disciple of Jesus. In much the same way you are known to be a Republican or a Democrat, in Jesus’ day there were the Scribes, Pharisees, Herodians, and the Zealots. You might recall that Barabbas was a Zealot who had been convicted of rebellion and murder.
What does being a Zealot tell us about Simon? First, it should tell us that Simon was a man who loved his country. Zealots could be called enthusiastic patriots. Their zeal for the restoration of the land to God’s people and the expelling of Roman rule was the focus of who they were. This was a man who by his affiliation with this movement was not ashamed to stand up and say, “I believe this! or that!” and “I will live and even die for . . . !” Yet, this man of zeal was chosen by Jesus to be one of the twelve, an apostle.
This above all should tell us about Simon. Though he has strong political feelings, he was a man who was zealous for the things of God. While Barabbas was the kind of Zealot who was thirsty for blood. Simon was the kind who was thirsty for the things of God. Jesus saw this in him and called him to be an apostle. What was great zeal for his country, by God’s grace, was refined into great zeal for Christ and His kingdom, a kingdom not of land but eternity.
As one of Jesus’ disciples, Simon must have struggled prior to coming to the full understanding of what Jesus was to accomplish. When the disciples asked, “Are you now going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” Simon was no doubt there with bright eyes and a look of anticipation. It was only as God’s plan of salvation was unfolded that Simon, and the others came to understand the deep things of God.
Love and zeal for country became love and zeal for a Savior. Love and zeal for a Savior became love and zeal for his Savior’s cause. While the Zealots were battling their great enemy, Rome, the true Zealots of God were fighting those powers which held His people captive. It was not a battle of flesh and blood.
Armed not with sword and shield, but with the Word of Law and Gospel these men went forth to fight against Satan and sin. They went forth to set God’s people free, free from Satan’s control - free to love, worship, and serve God. As we think of the life of Simon the Zealot there are a few lessons for us to learn from such a servant of God. There is nothing wrong with being patriotic. Love of country is a good thing. But it is never to be put above the things of God. God bless America and may America bless our great God, but God will still be great and worthy to be blessed even after America is only a memory!
What God wants of each of His people is to find in Him a higher calling. A calling which is far greater than any found in this world. It is a calling from Him. A calling to be a Zealot for the Lord. One who sees how the enemy of God’s people has entered into the land and taken people captive. One who brutally uses and abuses those who are powerless. One who is so powerful the captives can never free themselves. God calls us to be Zealots for Him. Zealots armed with the Word which is able to defeat the enemy and set the captives free, free for all eternity.
May the words spoken over our mortal remains be similar to those of the apostle Paul. When we have finished the course of our lives and our labors are done, may it be said of us, “He fought the good fight! “
In Christ,
Pastor Russ
Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and King. This week finds us looking both at what has come to pass as well as what lies in the future. The month of May is traditionally a busy month. People are working in their yards, and families are preparing for the end of the school year. We are not quite way to the middle of the year, but Summer is coming and everything will change for a few months. The reason for this is that for many people their world revolves around the school calendar. Before we know it, the bells ring again and the schedule of our daily lives changes once more. As we prepare for what is ahead, it is good for us not to forget what has been in the past. This is a primary reason we have been reviewing the lives of the twelve apostles. A very faithful pastor once told me, “We must learn history and language! If we forget either we will lose a sense of where we have come from.”
This point is brought home to us when we realize that the history surrounding the apostles of our Lord is our history. We, you and I, are the Church! The history of all Christians is our history from which to learn and grow. As we turn our attention once more to the life of one particular apostle, we do so in order to grow. We learn from their lives a little about ourselves. We see in them where we fall short and what great things God can do in and through us when we yield our lives to Him.
This week we again turn our attention to one of the apostles about whom we know very little. His name is Simon. He is not to be confused with Simon Peter, rather he is called “Simon the Canaanite” or “Simon the Zealot.” Lest we become confused, we need to begin with this man’s name. Upon a cursory reading one might come to the understanding that Simon the Canaanite meant he was from Canaan or Cana. We need to understand that the root of the word Canaanite is the Hebrew word “kana” which means “to be ardent or zealous.” This recognition most likely comes from Simon’s political affiliations prior to becoming a disciple of Jesus. In much the same way you are known to be a Republican or a Democrat, in Jesus’ day there were the Scribes, Pharisees, Herodians, and the Zealots. You might recall that Barabbas was a Zealot who had been convicted of rebellion and murder.
What does being a Zealot tell us about Simon? First, it should tell us that Simon was a man who loved his country. Zealots could be called enthusiastic patriots. Their zeal for the restoration of the land to God’s people and the expelling of Roman rule was the focus of who they were. This was a man who by his affiliation with this movement was not ashamed to stand up and say, “I believe this! or that!” and “I will live and even die for . . . !” Yet, this man of zeal was chosen by Jesus to be one of the twelve, an apostle.
This above all should tell us about Simon. Though he has strong political feelings, he was a man who was zealous for the things of God. While Barabbas was the kind of Zealot who was thirsty for blood. Simon was the kind who was thirsty for the things of God. Jesus saw this in him and called him to be an apostle. What was great zeal for his country, by God’s grace, was refined into great zeal for Christ and His kingdom, a kingdom not of land but eternity.
As one of Jesus’ disciples, Simon must have struggled prior to coming to the full understanding of what Jesus was to accomplish. When the disciples asked, “Are you now going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” Simon was no doubt there with bright eyes and a look of anticipation. It was only as God’s plan of salvation was unfolded that Simon, and the others came to understand the deep things of God.
Love and zeal for country became love and zeal for a Savior. Love and zeal for a Savior became love and zeal for his Savior’s cause. While the Zealots were battling their great enemy, Rome, the true Zealots of God were fighting those powers which held His people captive. It was not a battle of flesh and blood.
Armed not with sword and shield, but with the Word of Law and Gospel these men went forth to fight against Satan and sin. They went forth to set God’s people free, free from Satan’s control - free to love, worship, and serve God. As we think of the life of Simon the Zealot there are a few lessons for us to learn from such a servant of God. There is nothing wrong with being patriotic. Love of country is a good thing. But it is never to be put above the things of God. God bless America and may America bless our great God, but God will still be great and worthy to be blessed even after America is only a memory!
What God wants of each of His people is to find in Him a higher calling. A calling which is far greater than any found in this world. It is a calling from Him. A calling to be a Zealot for the Lord. One who sees how the enemy of God’s people has entered into the land and taken people captive. One who brutally uses and abuses those who are powerless. One who is so powerful the captives can never free themselves. God calls us to be Zealots for Him. Zealots armed with the Word which is able to defeat the enemy and set the captives free, free for all eternity.
May the words spoken over our mortal remains be similar to those of the apostle Paul. When we have finished the course of our lives and our labors are done, may it be said of us, “He fought the good fight! “
In Christ,
Pastor Russ
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