TWELVE COMMON MENJames the Less Simon the Zealot Judas Thaddaeus LebbaeusThe Least Known Apostles

THE THIRD CIRCLEJamesJudas IscariotJudasSimon

INTRODUCTION The Apostles were men who were willing to give up everything to follow Christ (Lk. 18:28)The Gospel writers honestly portrayed their weaknesses along with their strengths. They are never shown as major role players. -When they are emphasized it is often to highlight their doubt, disbelief or confusion. -Their heroism played out after Jesus went back to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to empower them.James, Simon, Judas The Least Known Apostles

INTRODUCTION The founding of the church stands as their true legacy of greatness.The church exists today because of these men.It is the durability of their faith that sets these men apart. -John 6:54 ff demonstrates this durability.The single most heroic thing about them is that they gave up all to follow Christ. James, Simon, Judas The Least Known Apostles

JAMES THE LESS James the son of Alpheus. He is coupled with Thaddaeus and with Simon Zelotes. As Matthew is also called the son of Alpheus (compare Mt. 9:9; Mk. 2:14), it is possible that he and James were brothers. James the Less, the brother of Joses and son of Mary (Mt. 27:56; Mk. 15:40). In Jn. 19:25 this Mary is called the wife of Cleophas who is identified with Alpheus. Perhaps he and Simon the Zealot were brothers?James, Simon, Judas The Least Known Apostles

JAMES THE LESS What scripture tells us of JamesHe was not James the son of Zebedee, James the Lords brother and he did not write the NT book: James. We have no record of his words or deeds. He is totally obscure.Other than the name of his father Alphaeus, mother Mary and brother Joses, we have nothing else. No wonder he was James the Little! James, Simon, Judas The Least Known Apostles

JAMES THE LESS How was he Little?Perhaps he was short or small in stature.Perhaps he was young; at least younger than James the son of Zebedee. He apparently sought no recognition, displayed no leadership, or asked no critical questions. Then why was he chosen?Heb. 11:33-38 tells of the many who labor in obscurity. James, Simon, Judas The Least Known Apostles

SIMON THE ZEALOT This Simon was also named -"the Canaanite" (Mt. 10:4; Mk. 3:18) -"the Cananean" (Mt. 10:4; Mk. 3:18) -"Zelotes" (Lk. 6:15; Ac. 1:13) -"the Zealot" (Lu 6:15; Ac 1:13)Simon, was probably a Galilean, the designation "Cananaean" is regarded as of political rather than of geographical significance. James, Simon, Judas The Least Known Apostles

SIMON THE ZEALOT The Zealots were a faction, headed by Judas of Galilee, who "in the days of the enrollment" (Acts 5:37; Lu 2:1-2) bitterly opposed the threatened increase of taxation at the census of Quirinius, and would have hastened by the sword the fulfillment of Messianic prophecy. James, Simon, Judas The Least Known Apostles

SIMON THE ZEALOT The Zealots hated the Romans and their goal was to overthrow the Roman occupation.They practiced terrorism and acts of violence. They interpreted the Law literally and believed only God had the right to rule over the Jews. They believed their assassination of Roman soldiers and political leaders was Gods work. They were waiting for a Messiah to lead them in revolt and victory over the Romans and to restore Israel to the glory days of Solomon. James, Simon, Judas The Least Known Apostles

SIMON THE ZEALOT The ZealotsTo them paying tribute to a pagan king was treason against the one true God. After the death of their leader, Judas of Galilee (Acts 5:37), the sect went underground and formed a group of assassins known as sicarii (dagger-men). Many historians attribute the total destruction of Jerusalem to the fact that the Zealots in the city refused to surrender or allow anyone else to surrender. James, Simon, Judas The Least Known Apostles

SIMON THE ZEALOT Other ideas about SimonMost likely paired with Judas Iscariot when the Apostles went out two by two.These were the ones with political motives for following Christ. Imagine the initial meeting between Simon and Matthew. Jesus knew he could channel Simons loyalty, passion, courage and zeal for His purposes. We have no reliable record of Simon beyond the New Testament.James, Simon, Judas The Least Known Apostles

JUDAS THADDAEUS LEBBAEUS Lk. 6:16; Ac. 1:13 - "brother of James," or "son of James." The name corresponds with the "Thaddaeus" or "Lebbaeus whose surname was Thaddaeus" (Mt. 10:3; Mk. 3:18). Thaddaeus Lebbaeus are probably nicknames. They mean breast child and heart child. They suggest he was a man of a tender child-like heart.

James, Simon, Judas The Least Known Apostles

JUDAS THADDAEUS LEBBAEUS The only incident recorded of Judas of James is in Jn. 14:22, where during Christ's address to the disciples after the last supper he put the question, "Lord, what is come to pass that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?" James, Simon, Judas The Least Known Apostles

JUDAS THADDAEUS LEBBAEUS Jn. 14:21 ff. Judas questions the Lord concerning why only the Apostles will receive the manifestation of Christ and not the world.He posits that the kingdom and salvation were meant for the world. This was a good-hearted honest question from a pious believing disciple. He was obviously still expecting an earthly kingdom. Jesus answer Jn. 14:23: Christ will manifest Himself to anyone who loves Him. James, Simon, Judas The Least Known Apostles

JUDAS THADDAEUS LEBBAEUS The Internal Kingdom vs. the External KingdomJesus would win the world one heart at a time. The kingdom resides in the heart of every believer.James, Simon, Judas The Least Known Apostles

INTRODUCTIONName and Early HistoryBefore the Betrayal The Betrayal His Death

Theories Joined the Apostles to Betray Jesus Foreordained to Be a Traitor Betrayal the Result of Gradual Development JUDAS ISCARIOT The Traitor

THE TRAITORHis Infamy His Call His Disillusionment His Greed

His Hypocrisy His Betrayal His Death The Moral of His LifeJUDAS ISCARIOT The Traitor

HIS INFAMYJudas stands as a warning about spiritual carelessness, wasted opportunities, sinful lusts and hardness of heart.Judas never increased in faith like the rest.We learn two things about Judas:It is possible to live closely with Christ and still become hardened by sin.No sinful man (or even spirit) can thwart Gods purposes. Even the betrayal worked in Gods favor. JUDAS ISCARIOT The Traitor

HIS CALLHe was willing to follow Jesus. When less devoted disciples deserted Jesus, Judas remained (Jn. 6:66-71). While Jesus had his life, it is apparent that Jesus did not have his heart.He probably followed Jesus hoping for an earthly restoration of Israel. He followed Jesus for many wrong reasons as we shall see. He kept following until the end. Why?JUDAS ISCARIOT The Traitor

HIS CALLWe see the tension between divine will and human choice. (Ps. 41:9; Jn. 13:18; Ps. 55:12-14; Zech. 11:12,13; Mt. 27:9,10) When Jesus chose Judas, Jesus knew he would betray Him. But Judas was not coerced into doing what he did.There is no contradiction between these two facts: Judas betrayal was foreknown by God Judas acted of his own volition.JUDAS ISCARIOT The Traitor

HIS CALLJudas was the evil-hearted person that God knew would be there to betray Christ. Judas did it for evil and God made it work for good. Judas was given ample opportunity to repudiate his sin, but decided not continue in sin anyway. JUDAS ISCARIOT The Traitor

HIS CALLHe heard these lessons (that we know of):the parable of the unjust steward the message of the wedding garmentpreaching against the love of money preaching against greedpreaching against pridethey had been warned that one of them was the Devil and the betrayer would meet a certain doomJUDAS ISCARIOT The Traitor

HIS DISILLUSIONMENT Judas must have been expecting more from Jesus.Jesus was not fulfilling Judas personal expectations and ambitions. As time passed, the rest of the Apostles caught on to what the true Messiah was all about. Judas kept his true feelings in the closet as he looked for a way to get some money out of his three-year investment. JUDAS ISCARIOT The Traitor

HIS GREEDMt. 26:6; Jn. 12:2,3- Mary anoints Jesus with the costly perfume.Jn. 12:4,5- According to Judas this ointment was worth a years wages.But Judas response was a ploy on his part. His real thinking is revealed by John (Jn. 12:6,7). Pure greed! JUDAS ISCARIOT The Traitor

HIS GREED

Jesus rebuke seems rather mild, but it seemed to up Judas resentment of the Lord. This is the first time Judas has exposed himself for what he really was. The mild rebuke from Christ seemed to have set Judas in motion. JUDAS ISCARIOT The Traitor

HIS HYPOCRISY Jn. 13:1-30Judas becomes the tool of Satan. (vv. 1-4)Jesus washes the Apostles feet (vv. 5-7)Peter was ashamed (vv. 9,10)Jesus says one is not clean. (vv. 11-17)vv. 18-20 (Ps. 41:9)A more explicit prediction of the betrayal (vv. 21-35) (Mt. 26:22)vv. 23-30JUDAS ISCARIOT The Traitor

HIS HYPOCRISY Only after Judas leaves does Jesus institute the Lords Supper. (1 Cor. 11:27-32)John tells us Jesus was in a troubled mind throughout this episode. Judas was the cause; his ingratitude, his rejection of Jesus kindness; his hatred of the Lord and the presence of Satan in him all contributed to Jesus unrest. JUDAS ISCARIOT The Traitor

HIS BETRAYAL Judas went straight to the chief priests from the Upper Room. This was a premeditated act; he had already taken the money for it. Lk. 22:6 tells us he had been seeking an opportunity to betray Jesus in the absence of the multitude. He feared the crowd and what they would do to him and what they might think of him. JUDAS ISCARIOT The Traitor

HIS BETRAYAL Jn. 18:2 indicates that Judas knew that the Lord would go to the Garden to pray. Jn. 18:1-12The Judas Kiss. (Lk. 22:48) What a misuse of a mark of love, affection, tenderness, respect and intimacy. Jesus graciously addresses him as friend.Judas profaned the Passover, the Lords Supper, a place of prayer, and the Son of God that night. JUDAS ISCARIOT The Traitor

HIS DEATHWhen the betrayal was complete, Judas conscience kicks in. (Mt. 27:3,4).Remorse does not equal repentance. His sins had ended unsatisfactorily.The chief priests could not care less about Judas and his feelings. (Mt. 27:4)Judas was in a self-made hell. Sin brings guilt and misery. His suicide shows that his remorse was not repentance. (Mt. 27:5) He could have thrown himself on Gods mercy.JUDAS ISCARIOT The Traitor

HIS DEATHMt. 27:6-8: The Field of Blood. Acts 1:18,19: purchased with the wages of his iniquity. The last words in scripture concerning Judas, his entrails gushed out. Mk. 14:21: "The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had never been born." JUDAS ISCARIOT The Traitor

THE MORAL OF HIS LIFE First lesson: Judas as a tragic example of lost opportunity. Second lesson: Judas as the embodiment of wasted privilege. Third lesson: The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Tim. 6:10).Fourth lesson: Judas as an example of the ugliness and danger of spiritual betrayal. JUDAS ISCARIOT The Traitor

THE MORAL OF HIS LIFE Fifth lesson: Judas as proof of a patient, forbearing, good and loving Christ. (Ps. 145:9)Sixth lesson: Judas as a demonstration of mans inability to thwart Gods sovereign will. His betrayal actually signaled Satans utter defeat. (Heb. 2:14; 1 Jn. 3:8)Seventh lesson: Judas as an example of the deceitfulness and fruitlessness of hypocrisy. JUDAS ISCARIOT The Traitor

CLOSING THOUGHTSMatthias (Acts 1:16-26)Thats all we know of Matthias. So another perfectly ordinary, common man is chosen to fulfill the role of apostle.JUDAS ISCARIOT The Traitor