“[Jesus] appointed the twelve:… Matthew, … and Simon the Zealot.” — Mark 3:16-18
Jesus selected twelve young men to be His closest followers. They were all uneducated, common, “blue collar worker” types. God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. I want to focus on two disciples, Matthew and Simon, to see the incredible unity that can be found in Christ.
First, notice that Jesus called Matthew (or Levi) the tax collector. Tax collection would have been seen as a traitorous job to the nation. The Romans had conquered Israel around 63 B.C. Tax collectors were often corrupt, taking more money than necessary from the people. So, Matthew works for the oppressive conquerors, possibly taking too much money from his own countrymen. Jesus called Matthew to leave that old life behind and be His follower.
Second, notice Jesus called Simon the Zealot. Zealots were Zionist radicals. Radicals killed traitors. In fact, there are stories of zealots murdering Roman soldiers, stabbing them as they walked through a crowd. Zealots were fanatical patriots who were in favor of the immediate revolt against Rome. Jesus called Simon to leave that old life behind and be His follower.
Jesus called a traitorous tax collector and a fanatical revolutionary. To modernize this, it would be like Jesus picking a MAGA hat wearing President Trump fan and a “Never Trump” President Trump hater to be His followers. Jesus can take a radical zealot and a sell-out traitor and unite them to follow Him. Matthew and Simon had to change their previous, primary identities and make following Christ their primary identity.
Honestly, Jesus provides the hope for the divides in our country as well. If we will follow Him. If we are willing to unite behind Jesus. If we are willing to make Christ our primary identity.
Healing is found in following Jesus,
Josh
Posted in A Word from the Pastor