Simon the Zealot April 10, 2022

Introduction

It's fascinating to think about what and who the followers of Jesus were before he called them. Before he met Jesus time with the zealot was probably more likely to cut the throat of a gentile center then to sit at a table sharing a meal. We don't know much about the life of Simon the zealot before he met Jesus. But we do know that every person who encounters Jesus and accepts Jesus as their Lord will have a life transformed by that encounter and that acceptance.

We read some of the first references to Simon in the early parts of the Gospels.

Luke 6:15 ESV

15 and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot,

Matthew 10:4 ESV

4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Mark 3:18 ESV

18 Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot,

It's fascinating to think that Jesus called Simon the zealot and he called Matthew the tax collector both to serve as his disciples. In a prior life I would imagine that Simon the Zealot would have been far more likely to cut the throat of Matthew rather than to sit across the table from him.

But Jesus....

Through the ministry of Jesus a Jewish nationalist zealot would team up with a turncoat tax collector to proclaim a message more important than either of them.

Matthew 4:17 (ESV)

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Μετανοεῖτε,

"Rethink the way you think about things and then go in a new direction.”

Think about Simon. He had learned to fight for Israel using a sword and violence. He turned his passionate love for God into proactive action to be taken against the oppressors. And yet following Jesus meant he needed to lay down the dagger and pick up the towel. It meant he needed to be willing to serve his enemies and his brothers rather than fight them. It wouldn't be long till Jesus would challenge the disciples to wash each other's feet.

Instead of planning to eliminate Romans he had to think about making peace. You know ironically thinking about making peace had to sound terrible too this zealot. today you might think especially with the situation in Ukraine why doesn't he push for peace and try to affect change in in non violent way.

Let's put this in a modern perspective.

Essentially what has happened in the promised land in Israel is this: imagine in the Ukraine today that Russia completely pushes in and crushes all resistance and subjugate Ukraine completely. And what's more after taking over the country they killed 10s of thousands of people as demonstrations of the Russian might against anyone who would oppose them. And then after a few years they proclaim the peace of Russia over this land. The piece of Russia will be a peace that lasts as long as you respect Putin and Moscow. If you pay your taxes if you consider your country part of Russia and a vassal state then everything goes good but if you try to fight back they will crush you. And then Fast forward 20 years and that's the country that Simon the zealot lived in it's a country that used to be independent at one time and much more it was a country that God had made promises to and yet they were crushed and subjugated under what was known as the pox romana. This piece of Rome meant a loss of freedom to worship the way you wanted to govern the way you wanted to live how you wanted. It meant pain often oppressive taxes and more. And the only thing that Rome responded to was an equal display of force.

And yet Jesus brought something different.

Simon had to change his thinking dramatically in obedience to the call of Jesus.

And Simon wasn’t alone. Remember that the inspired writer of half the New Testament—Paul was once known as the Zealous protector of the Jewish faith. He went as far as to chase down and imprison the heretical followers of Jesus in order to protect the jewish faith given to t hem by God.

And yet Jesus interrupted his life on the road to Damascus and brought a change in thinking that changed his life.

Take a look with me at how Paul talks about the struggle to change in obedience to God:

Philippians 3:12–16 ESV

12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

Paul uses athletic language turning away from the past and looking ahead.

For Paul the past was full of spiritual elitism and thinking he knew the best path.

For Paul the Christ-folllowing walk was constant pressing on to become more like Christ.

Because of Jesus Simon had a new race to run. Because of Jesus Paul had a new race to run. Because of Jesus we have a new race to run.

At the end of the passage in verse 16 which is still on the screen Paul challenges his listeners to just hold on to what they've already attained... to not give up.

And then again a little earlier in verse 14 there is a great calling in following Jesus.

For Paul and for Simon the zealot at the end of the race wasn't a gold medal or prizes it was the call of following and honoring Jesus. It was the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Many people think Paul was talking about heaven here. Of course Paul is also talking about the resurrected life of believers.

Look what he wrote in another passage

Colossians 3:1–4 ESV

1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

We have already been given so much God calls us to live for our future period to live for a high calling.

Sometimes it's hard to forget what's behind us. Sometimes it's hard to forget the sin and sometimes the mistakes that are in our past.

Maybe it's something someone did to you in the past.

Maybe it's something someone said to you.

Maybe it's something you did or said to someone else.

Maybe it's a deep regret that happened and still haunts you in this moment today.

You must know that God and Jesus are in the business of transforming lives.

It's easy to live life looking at the rearview mirror. It's easy to live life looking at the past and regretting and thinking about what's in the past. Thinking that the past this qualifies us from God using us for the future. But Paul in God's word challenges us to forget the past and look to the future the calling that God has to live like Jesus. To be remade in his image! To leave the death of sin in the past.

Perhaps what each of us needs to do today it's a give ourselves permission to remember that Jesus has forgiven us for our sins in the past and he has called us to a new future.

Philippians 3:13 ESV

13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,

Straining towards what is ahead. some days it's easy to push towards being made more like Jesus and to rest in God promises. Some days it's actually very hard.

Wherever you are today just keep moving forward. Will you choose to move forward?

What do you need to do to move forward today?

Who do you need to forgive today?

I love how they evangelist Louie Giglio shared at a conference talking about moving forward.

F—Forget the past

I—It’s under the blood.

R—Receive His love and power.

E—Enter the battle.

If we approach each day with the truth of this fire acronym and run our race with zeal we will be well on our way to becoming the follower of Jesus he has called us to be. Jesus called Simon the zealot and his life was transformed forever. Jesus called the zealous Paul and the transformation of his life affected millions. The reality is we can't follow Jesus and be the same person we were in the past. He calls us to change and become new. As we follow Christ uses today may we be different may we be peacemakers may we be transformative.