This is the last of the group about which not much is written. As I have stated about the other two, not saying much, says a lot. We know that Christ appointed Simon the Zealot. In Luke’s list in 6:15, he is called the zealot. In Matthew and Mark, he is referred to as the Cananite, but this does not refer to the land of Canaan or the village of Cana. Cananite is a Hebrew word, and it means to be zealous.
Luke 6:13-16 “And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealote, And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.”
Now, we have a little glimpse into his personality. In Jesus’ time, there was a sect of people known as the Zealots. They were a political group. Simon bore this name to distinguish him from the other Simon in the group, Simon Peter. The Zealots were known for their zealous temperament. The Zealots were hoping for a Messiah who would lead them in overthrowing the Roman government and restoring the kingdom to Israel. They believed that paying tribute to a Roman King was an act of treason against God. It was almost like an outlaw group that many feared, and he may have been a part of that group. After all, it does not matter to Jesus what we are before salvation; what matters is what we become after salvation.
It is interesting that Matthew was a tax collector for the Roman government, and on the opposite spectrum was Simon the Zealot. Simon would have hated Matthew, but surrendering to the authority and accepting the love of the Savior changed everything. They were now family, a family sold out for the purpose of worshiping the Savior and telling everyone they could about Him.
In John chapter 6, Jesus taught the crowd many things about eternal life and following Him, but they did not understand. When he taught that he was the bread of life, many left to follow Him no more. In verse 67, he asks the twelve if they, too, will go away. Simon Peter answered for the group of disciples, of which Simon the zealot was one, and said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.”
Joh 6:67–68 “Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.”
These men had sacrificed everything to gain eternal life. They were following the one that every Jew had been waiting for. There was no turning back. Simon the Zealot had believed the truth Jesus was teaching, and there is no evidence in scripture of the thought of turning back. Many historians believe that after the destruction of Jerusalem, Simon the Zealot, like many others, went to other areas to spread the gospel. This loyal servant is thought to be the one who went north and preached to the British Isles. We do not know from the Bible where he went, but we do know that there is no record of him ever returning to life as it was before Christ. He stayed the course.
He, along with the others, gave up everything to follow Christ. Peter was speaking for all of them in Luke 18:28 when he said, “Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.” Simon the Zealot was part of this group, which left family, jobs, and even friends to follow Jesus. Jesus called, and they responded.
What about you? Are you half in and half out? No one wants to admit that they are not fully committed because, according to Jesus, there are no half-in’s, but what do your actions and choices say about you? Do family affairs come before attending church services? Do things take precedence over giving to the work of the Lord? What are you sacrificing to follow Jesus? I am not talking about working so we gain some kind of special favor with God. I am asking you, do you love Him enough to forsake everything you know to follow Him? Are you willing to deny yourself?
Eleven of these men whom Jesus called stayed faithful through the ups and downs, the fears and triumphs, and many were martyred for their faith. They are great examples. We were given them to learn from and obey. They were not given so that we would have more to read, but to mimic.
Luke 9:23 “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”
