22-Simon-A

And We Thought We Knew You:
Soul Journey With the Real Jesus

Vol. III: Hearts Afire

Simon the Zealot
EMPTY POWER

�� Okay, Jesus, you recruited those four fishermen and those utopians, and maybe you can make something of them.� But stop looking in Simon's direction.� He's nothing but trouble.� He's undisciplined, unrestrainable, and violent.� Wherever Simon is, a crisis occurs.� In fact, he's never satisfied unless he's got things stirred up.� Besides, he's a Canaanite, a prostelyte Jew, an outsider.� Make Simon, the zealot, one of your aides?� He'll destroy you. [1]

April, AD 27
Hideout in Galilee [2]

�� "Hey, men!" Simon declares sitting around a fire after eating one night.� "Did you hear where some guy threw the foreign money exchangers out of the Temple last week?"� He grins and jabs his dagger into the air.� That guy's got guts.� No one tried to stop him either.� Wonder who he was." [3]

�� "If it happened at all," someone mocks, tossing a live desert mouse into the fire.

�� "It happened all right," someone else adds.� I know the man's name."

�� "Well, spit it out."

�� "Jesus."

�� "Which Jesus?� There's hundreds of guys named Jesus."

�� "He's from Nazareth."

�� "I grew up in Nazareth.� Haven't been there in years.� But seems like there was a boy a little younger than me named Jesus that everyone claimed was really a bastard son of his mother.� Everyone thought his so-called father was a fool marrying his mother.� Come to think of it, seems like his father was a carpenter.� Yeah.� Named, uh, Joseph." [4]

�� "Well," adds Simon, "I say the man's worth watching ~ that Jesus.� Wonder when he'll form his army...."

�� "So what happened to John the Baptizer you were so excited about?� Not so hot after all?"

�� "No, I just can't figure him out."

�� Skirmishes and surprise terrorist attacks continue.� Commander Judas sends a few men out at a time to hole up in caves near major highways, then snipe at small groups of Roman soldiers as they patrol the area.

�� Little by little, the militia of terrorists feels it is gaining control.� Except Rome keeps replacing the dead. [5]

Late Spring, AD 27

�� "Well, what do you think of that hot-shot Jesus now?" a buddy demands of Simon during a break from maneuvers a month later.

�� "What do you mean?"

�� "He's a traitor to our cause."

�� "Spit it out!� What did he do?"

�� "Your great and powerful Jesus supposedly saved the life of Herod's palace manager's son in an instant.� Nothing but a traitor is what I say.� A traitor like all the other upstarts." [6]

�� "But that would make it a miracle."

�� "A trick.� That's all it was.� Just a trick.� Probably bribed the man to say his son was suddenly healed."

�� Another terrorist attack.� A very successful one.� Except two of Simon's buddies are killed in it.� The Roman soldiers are wiser now and more prepared for the snipers .� Simon is sure God praised his dead buddies for fighting for his eternal cause.

Two Weeks Later

�� "I'm outa here."

�� "Where are you in such a hurry to get," Simon replies.

�� "I'm going over to Capernaum."

�� "Fishing good tonight?" Simon laughs sarcastically.

�� "My brother just came and told me what's going on over there.� Jesus, that carpenter we heard about down in Jerusalem, is healing people.� Curing them instantly.� And just yesterday, he cast out a demon from some man."

�� Simon looks up from the sword he is cleaning and sharpening.� He stares at his friend.� But soon the seriousness on his face is replaced with a smirk.� "You don't believe all that garbage, do you?� I only believe what I can see," he says, slashing testing the sharpness of his sword on a piece of meat. [7]

�� "You can sit here and doubt if you want to.� I'm going to see him for myself."

�� "He doesn't have that kind of power.� Demons?� It's impossible.� He's a fraud.� A hoax."

�� But Simon is unsuccessful in changing his friend's mind.� He resumes his sword cleaning and sharpening.� Although other men around him are talking about their next skirmish, Simon becomes quiet.� Contemplative.�

�� Will nothing stop that Jesus?� No, he did not think that.� What's wrong with him?� He can't be taking Jesus seriously.� Jesus hangs around with weak people.� Well, other than those money exchangers he kicked out of the Temple.� But that was only once.� Mostly Jesus is weak.� All those sick people following him around.� Disgusting.� But still, if he can give their strength back....

�� That night he has trouble sleeping.� What if it is true?� What if that Jesus can control demons?

�� Two days later, Simon's friend is back.

�� "Well?"

�� "It's true!� I saw him with my own eyes!� People who couldn't walk began walking.� People with missing legs suddenly had them back.� It was amazing.� He's no pretender.� He's powerful."�

�� Simon thinks a minute.� "Where does he get power like that?"� He pauses, then speculates his own answer.� "They say he has political ambitions.� Plans to take over the country some day ~ be our priest-king.� If he can really cast out demons, he could just say the word and the foreign occupation government would turn to stone or disappear or drop dead."

�� "He's powerful, all right.� Maybe we should go over on his side."

�� ":Don't let Commander Judas get wind you're talking like that.� That's treason.� He'll have us executed on the spot."

�� The summer is busy.� That is when most of the fighting goes on.� Commander Judas sends men out in different directions.� Some to the other side of the Sea of Galilee toward Decapolis.� Some he sends down to monitor Roman soldiers in Perea Province and others to Judea Province to eliminate all they can without getting caught.� There's been some loss of life among the terrorists, of course, but that's to be expected.� They are soldiers of the Lord.� God will surely crown them with glory for killing Romans in his name.

Autumn AD 27

�� "Well, that Jesus has the money now to finance an army for the takeover."

�� "Money?" Simonrepeats to his friend.

�� "I saw my brother again and he said that Jesus recruited one of the richest tax agents in the territory."

�� "What tax agent?"

�� "His name is Matthew.� Lives in a big house over in Capernaum.� He's worth a fortune."

�� "Well, if Commander Judas sends anyone out to torch Matthew's house, I'll be the first to volunteer," Simon announces.

�� "I'm glad I didn't go over to his side after all.� He's bad news." [8]

�� "With all that power he's got?"� Simon's own words get hung up in his throat.� The words shoot through his mind.� Where does he get all that power?� One minute Jesus seems to be against the Romans, then he's for them.� He's so confusing.� Whose side is he on?� Where is he getting all that power?

�� The winter is dull.� Not much can be accomplished then.� The highways are not traveled as much. �Sometimes it snows.� Sometimes it sleets.� Sometimes the roads are washed out.� No one travels in winter if they can help it. [9]

�� It gives everyone time to think.� And plan their future.� And the country's future.� It gives Simon time to ponder his own.

Spring AD 28

�� Jesus is more and more the topic of conversation, not only in every province of Palestine, but also over in nearby countries.� People from everywhere beginning to go see Jesus for themselves. [10]

�� It is reported that recently he actually stood up to the Jewish leaders right there in Jerusalem.� They're all a bunch of hypocrites anyway.� They nearly excommunicated Jesus for performing a miracle ~ they called it working ~ on the Sabbath.� He stood up to them though, and they backed down.

�� Why is Jesus haunting Simon so much?� So unalike, yet so alike.� What is going on?

�� Now the Jewish leaders are getting really mad.� Commander Judas' spies have reported that some of them are actually having secret meetings with Herod's party, the Herodians.� There's talk of a merger.� Jews and Romans.� A merger with the enemy. [11]

�� Traitors!� Everyone's traitors!� Who can anyone trust these days?� Not even Commander Judas stands up to the Temple.� Only Jesus has stood up to them all.� Jesus, who are you?� What are you?

�� Now Jesus is back in Capernaum.� Everyone knows that because Judas now has spies checking on Jesus, and almost daily some family member of one of the zealots comes to the camp and gives a report.

�� Simon does not know who to talk to any more without being labelled a traitor himself.� He wants to be on the winning side.� For the sake of his country and his God.� For the sake of truth.

�� "Do you think he'll really take over the country like he says ~ be our eternal king?" Simon asks a close buddy in almost a whisper.� Of course there is no answer.� Only speculation. After all, no one lives forever.

�� The next day, some shouts at Simon.� "Hey, you're from Canaan, aren't you?� You're that foreigner." [12]

�� Simon resents the reference to his nationality, but is curious what is going on over in his homeland.

�� A couple of old people from Canaan are looking for you.

�� "Where are they?"� Simon is convinced it must be his parents.

�� The man motions behind him, then goes over to talk to a fellow soldier.

�� Simon works his way through the men practicing their skills and talking politics until he spots his father.� But who is that woman he is supporting?� Simon is shocked.� For a moment he had not recognized his own mother.� So old and weak looking now.� He runs up to them and the three embrace.

�� "How have you been, son?" his father asks.� "We've been so worried about you."

�� "How'd you find me?" and in the same breath, " Mother.� What's wrong with her?"

�� "We don't know.� No one knows.� She is nauseated all the time, can't eat, but when she forces it, she vomits green stuff.� It's killing her...."

�� The old man fights off tears.� At his age it is harder.� He feels so weak and vulnerable.� Why cannot he help his beautiful Hulda?

�� "Look!� I've got some money from some of the Roman soldiers that...."� He stops.� Now is not the time to discuss such things.� It would only upset his parents.� Especially his mother.� "I've got nearly fifty talents of silver.� That should do plenty of persuading."

�� Quickly he devises the plan.� "It's too late in the afternoon to keep going.� We'll eat.� Then I'll take you to my cave.� I can kick the other guys out for just one night.� They'll manage.� I've done the same for them.� We'll leave first thing in the morning."

�� It is morning.� He has not slept well.� No one in the family has.� Hulda tossed and turned and groaned much of the night.� Simon and his father are up unhitching the donkey and getting it ready for the last leg of the journey to Capernaum.� Then Simon goes into the cave, picks up his frail mother in his arms, brings her out into the harsh sunlight, and gently places her on the animal.�

�� "Hold on, Mother.� We'll help you."

�� They leave camp, each man on one side of the animal to help support the infirm woman.� The trip is hard.� The road out of the hideout is rough and narrow.� Simon wonders how his parents made it this far.� Hulda is not doing well.

�� "I hate to do this to the donkey, but she can't make it otherwise."

�� Simon understands.� He supports his mother while his father climbs onto the donkey in front of her.� She lays her head on his back, and they proceed.� Closer and closer to Capernaum down by the sea.� Closer and closer to Jesus.� Closer to...to healing?� If only the miracle stories are true.� If only....� They are desperate.

Capernaum, Galilee

�� At the city gate, Simon inquires of the guards where Jesus might be.� They, as with all other visitors, are pointed in the direction of the shoreline along the east end of town.

�� "We're almost there, Mother," Simon whispers.

�� "Come on, sweetheart.� You're doing fine.� Just a little farther."� The old man weeps again, tears always so close to the surface.� How can he lose her?

�� "There they are!� I'm sure it's them!"

�� Once at the back of the crowd, Simon's father slips off the donkey.� Simon reaches up and his mother slides into his strong arms.� They leave the donkey unattended.� His father goes ahead of them trying to break through the crowd.

�� "Let us through!� Let us through!� She's dying!� Let us through!"

�� Finally they are there.� Finally they are before Jesus.�

�� Simon sets his mother down between him and his father.

�� Jesus looks at them as though he has been expecting them.� Mostly he looks into Simon's eyes.� He's looking at the wrong person.

�� "Heal my mother.� I'll do anything.� I'll pay you.� I've been, er, uh, saving it for years.� I'll volunteer for your army.� I'll die for you.� Just don't let my mother die."

�� Jesus stubbornly locks his eyes onto Simon.

�� "Don't you hear me?"� He turns to his mother to point her out.� And sees her!� Standing alone!� Grinning!� Her color back in her cheeks and looking as energetic as a young girl.

�� "Jesus?� Jesus?� You did this?"

�� Jesus turns his attention to someone else needing healing.� That's it?� No payment?� No bribes?� No nothing?

�� The three leave.� Fighting their way back through the crowd.� They find a small, dingy inn.� It's one of the few left in town not already full.

�� Simon paces.

�� "What's wrong, Son?"

�� "That Jesus!� I don't understand him."

�� "You don't have to," his father responds.

�� "Yes, I do!"

�� Simon's parents, although they have had a delightful evening of planning exciting things to do in the future, decide to go to bed.� Simon stays up.� And paces still.� While checking in at the inn, he heard talk.� He wonders....

�� Suddenly he's out on the street.� He stops two men sharing a wineskin in the shadows.� This is not a safe time to be out, but Simon can take care of himself.� He's got his sword (don't a lot of good Jews carry swords these days?) and a hidden dagger.� He asks the men, "Is it true Jesus lives here in Capernaum now?"

�� "Jesus who?"

�� "You know, the healer."

�� "Oh him.� Yeah, he lives here.� But you'll never get in.� He's got several aides who guard him.� You'll never make it through the front gate." [13]

�� "I have ways.� Just tell me where he lives."

�� Simon follows the stranger's directions.� Soon he is pounding on an unassuming gate near the shore.

�� "Let me in!� Jesus, I know you're in there!� Let me in!"

�� No one answers.

�� "Do I have to bust the gate down?� I've done it before!� I can burn it down to force you out!� Don't think I won't!"

�� Still no answer.� He pulls out a rope with a hook on the end and throws it up to the flat roof.� He scales the outside walls of the house until he reaches the top.� Quickly he descends the stairs to the courtyard below.� Several men are there waiting for him.

�� "All right!� Which one of you is Jesus?"

�� A man not much older than Simon stands and walked toward him.

�� "You're him ~ the one who healed my mother.� I've got to talk to you!"

�� Jesus directs him to a nearby room with a table.

�� "Are you really going to take over the country?"

�� The whole world, actually. [14]

�� "The whole world?� Man, you've got to have an army to even think it.� Where's your army?� These wimps you've got around you?"

�� "You're blessed when you're persecuted..." [15]

�� "Oh, I am, Jesus.� But I'm not afraid of them.� I'm stronger than them.� We all are if we stand up to them.� I'm not afraid to stand up to my persecutors."

�� "...because you did good, because you'll be part of the new kingdom of God." [16]

�� "I'm on the right track, Jesus.� I'm not afraid to stand up for right against our enemies.� Sounds like you aren't too afraid of them either, from what I hear."

�� "Anyone who even gets mad at his enemies has committed murder in his heart..." [17]

�� "Well, yes.� You're probably right.� I visualize the rioting and it gets my blood boiling.� I see the enemy dead in the street and it excites me."

�� "...and will be found guilty of murder." [18]

�� "Yeah, but murder for a cause.� We can't let 'em get by with all their murders.� Eye for an eye.� That's what I always say.� Moses said it himself." [19]

�� "But I'm telling you not to resist the enemy. [20]

�� "Woah there, Jesus!"

�� "If they hit you, turn your cheek so they can hit the other." [21]

�� "You're out of your mind!"

�� "If they order you to give them the tunic off your back, you give them your cloak too." [22]

�� "Never!"

�� "If the enemy forces you to go ten furlongs with him, you go twenty if they need you that far." [23]

�� "They're the enemy, Jesus!� You're nuts!� You're a crazy man!"

�� "You've always heard you're supposed to love your friends and hate your enemies.� I'm ordering you to love your enemies too!" [24]

�� "You're ordering me to do what?" Simon is growing uneasy. Did he make a mistake coming here?

�� "Pray for this foreign occupation government, the Romans." [25]

�� "Not in a thousand years!"

�� "That will make you a son of God!" [26]

�� "What's one have to do with the other?" Simon is up pacing now.

�� "Doesn't God cause it to rain on the good and bad equally?" [27]

�� "Well, yeah, but...."

�� "If you love only those who loved you first, you never do anything to get a commendation for.� The tax collectors that you hate do that much." [28]

�� "No way!" Simon objects.

�� "If you welcome only people you like, you're not any better than people who don't believe in God at all." [29]

�� "Man, I don't understand you, Jesus." Simon sits back down.

�� "Don't be mediocre.� Rise above everyone else.� Love is stronger than hate.� Love is perfect.� Love is God.� When you love, you are in a sense perfect.� So love and become a son of God." [30]

�� "I believe in God!� That's who I'm defending when I war against those atheists who took control of our country!� It's God's war!"

�� "You hypocrite!� You don't act any better than those atheists do.� If you're going to be on God's side, take the ceiling beam out of your eye.� Then maybe you can look for the sawdust speck in their eye." [31]

�� "You're saying they're better than us, Jesus? You're out of your mind!" Simon is pacing again.

�� "Act toward them the way you want them to act toward you.� You be stronger.� You be the example." [32]

�� "Hey, I go to synagogue as much as anyone, and I read the scriptures."

�� "The road to heaven is very narrow.� Don't follow the crowd.� They're going down the wide and smooth road, the easy road, but it's headed for hell." [33]

�� "Well, no one knows this, but I'm in the militia of Commander Judas.� You know.� The one that pops up at unexpected moments and slaughters the enemy?� He's got God on his side.� I'd give my life for that man."

�� "Watch out for people claiming God is guiding and blessing them.� What kind of fruit are they bearing?"[34]

�� "Well, we don't have peace in the nation yet.� But it's a matter of time and we'll have all those foreigners out of here.� We pray every morning before drills.� And we pray before each attack.� God has given us many victories.� God is blessing us.� We've driven out the enemy in more than one place.� We're getting stronger."

�� "On the judgment day, many will brag to me about all the things they did in my name.� And I will tell them outright that I never heard of them; just get away from me." [35]

�� "But Commander Judas has done so much good for the country."

�� Simon looks at Jesus waiting for a reply, but it does not come.� His reply is the silence.� Simon is thinking.� Simon is questioning.� Jesus' arguments are strange.� He's got nerve saying all that.� Simon tries to fight it.� But somehow he thinks Jesus might be right.� Is he going out of his mind?� Maybe, for the first time, he's discovered it. After all, Commander Judas has hardly made any inroads, though Simon will never say this aloud.

�� "Uh...when are you guys leaving again?� I mean, for your next tour?"

�� "Soon."� It's not Jesus' voice.� "By the way, my name is Judas too, just like your commander's.� You've got fortitude.� You're brave.� You would understand the strategy of the enemy."

�� "I must be crazy saying this, but I'd like to learn more about your movement.� I want to make sure I'm on the right side," Simon replies to the well-dressed man who has joined them.

�� "You'd be in on the ground floor," Judas replies.� "A great opportunity." [36]

�� Another man walks in and reaches out his hand.� Obviously they had been out in the courtyard listening in.� Simon takes his hand.

�� "Hi!� My name is Matthew.� I'm one of the traitors you don't approve of."

�� Instinctively, Simon pulls back his hand and wipes it on his robe in disgust.� Matthew grins.

�� "Yeah, I know what you mean.� There was a time I felt the same about the likes of you.� Why don't you spend the night with us?� We can talk some more.� Are you hungry?"

�� Simon's not believing his ears.� Matthew knows Simon would just as soon decapitate him as look at him.� But Matthew is offering him dinner?� And trusting him in the same house with him when all the lights are out?� Is the guy nuts?� Simon stays.� Out of curiosity he stays.� With his dagger under his pillow.

�� Moments before the last lights are snuffed out, "You mean this is going to be a peaceful takeover?" Simon asks.

�� "Yes, you could say that," one of Jesus' aides replies.

�� "And he's going to rule, not only Palestine, but the whole world?"

�� "Right."

�� "He can do that?"

�� "Have you seen him perform a miracle?"

�� "Yes, my mother."

�� "There's more ahead.� And you're welcome to witness it with us.� Jesus has invited you to join us and travel with us."

�� "Why?� Why me?"

�� "He apparently sees potential in you."

�� "I'm nothing but a rebel!� I like giving people pain.� Frankly, I like killing."

�� "Kill them with kindness."

�� "Get off it! That's so cowardly!"

�� "Haven't you been following the news?� Who's got the most followers?� Your Commander Judas or Jesus?"

�� "Well...."

�� "You want to be on the side of God and right and country, don't you?"

�� "You better believe it."

�� "Then come along with us.� Watch Jesus.� Listen to Jesus.� Experience Jesus."

�� "But I'm not like him.� I'm not like the rest of you guys."

�� "Well, we agree.� You are not like us at all.� Well, except for Peter.� He carries a sword.� But he's also married and settled down.� But most of us are a lot different from each other.� Jesus saw some kind of strength in each of us, and he must see some kind of strength in you too."

�� Simon softens with the reminder that the number of Judas' followers is falling.� "Well, I don't think I've been getting anywhere with Commander Judas.� I'll go back over to the inn at daybreak and talk to my parents."

�� Simon does, indeed, go with Jesus and his special aides.� He hears him speak.� Watches him do the impossible:� The proof he's got God's approval.

�� Simon never returns to the hideout.� There's a bounty on his had put out by Judas.� Simon's now the one labeled a traitor.� But Simon's got what it takes.� Jesus knew that before Simon did.�

�� Not too much later Jesus selects Simon to be one of his twelve apostles.� Simon now knows he's sided with the right person.� The person who has proven he's from God.

�� Soon thereafter, Jesus repeats much of what he told Simon in private, but this time to a multitude.� People began calling it his "Mountain Top Speech."

�� Speech after speech.� Amazing the crowds.� Calling forth courage like Simon never saw demonstrated before.� Jesus willingly stands against the political and religious leaders both.� He's his own man.� Actually, Simon has begun to believe he's not just a man at all.� Simon has begun to believe Jesus has God in him too.

�� Eventually Jesus is executed under the indirect command of Procurator Pilot.� Simon wonders if he made a mistake after all.� But then the surprise.� The astonishment.� Jesus comes back to life.� Right out of the grave.� Been buried three days.� He declares he is God.� Simon knows power when he sees it.� He falls down and worships him.

�� Shortly thereafter, Procurator Pilot will recalled by Rome, fired, and banished. [37]

�� Simon will spend the rest of his life invading countries with the news about Jesus.� He will declare bravely that Jesus is stronger than any army.� He will know this for a fact.� Will he create crises everywhere he goes as he did in his youth the Commander Judas?� Indeed he will, albeit spiritual crises.� He works his way west across all of North Africa.�

�� Then in AD 43, Caesar will conquer Britannia and Simon will take advantage of the new peace to preach there too.� But the timing will be bad, for the Welch will fight the Romans for six years, and other Britons will fight against their invaders.� Full Roman conquest will occur in AD 60 so Simon will return. �But with the conquest will come a British revolt that will kill 70,000 Romans before they are subdued by Roman Governor Seutonius. [38]

�� He will be angry at and distrustful of anyone who he thinks is on the side of the Britons.� He will include Simon among them.� The following year there will be a mock trial, Simon will take advantage of it to talk about Jesus.� They will crucify him. [39]

�� Then, with head held high, Simon will continue his march right into heaven.� There he will proudly salute his eternal commander, Jesus.

�� LIFE APPLICATION

�� 1.� Everyone has a stubborn streak.� But, if people agree with what you're being stubborn about, they consider it loyalty.� In what way can you and will you turn a negative stubbornness in your personality into a positive trait?

�� 2.�� Many people mistakenly think Jesus was a weakling.� But he bravely stood up to people in the religious world who were doing wrong until they had him executed to get him to shut up.� How will you stand up to people in the religious world who are teaching or doing wrong?

�� 3.�� The Apostle Paul said in Romans 12:20, "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.� In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."� Think of something good you can do for someone who is your enemy.� How do you think they will react?� How will you react?

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