The hothead and the sneak

After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax-collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me”, Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. Luke 5:27-28

When morning came, Jesus called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. Luke 6:13-16

If you were asked to name Jesus’ twelve apostles, how would you manage? Probably with some difficulty, if you’re anything like me!

There are two main reasons for this: first, because in the different lists in the Gospels some of them have different names, which can be a little confusing; and second, because, apart from Peter, James and John, we simply aren’t told very much about them. (Bartholomew, for example: who was he, and why did Jesus call him?)

But never mind. What matters is that Jesus chose twelve special companions - “apostles” means “messengers sent out” – and they were obviously very important to him.

But what did they actually do? Yes, they accompanied Jesus as he moved from place to place, and on occasions they were entrusted with the task of preaching the kingdom of God, healing the sick and delivering people from demonic oppression (eg, Luke 9:1-6). But what would an “ordinary” day have been like for them? What about those hours on the road? What did they talk about? How did they relax in the evenings? Did they have equivalents of our board games? We surely shouldn’t imagine that every minute of every day was spent in prayer or ministry or listening to Jesus.

Did they always get on together? Were there ever arguments or even rows? Did Jesus sometimes have to calm them down? There must have been times of tension, that’s for sure – see, for example, Matthew 20:20-28.

Why all these questions? If God hasn’t chosen to give us the information we’re curious about, shouldn’t we just be content with that? Well yes, of course. And yet there are worthwhile things to learn even from these little-known names. Let’s focus on two shadowy individuals in particular…

First, the “tax-collector by the name of Levi”, whose call is reported in Luke 5:27-28 (presumably the same person as Matthew in Luke 6:13-16). Second, “Simon who was called the Zealot” (Luke 6:15).

The interesting thing about these two is that, if they hadn’t been with Jesus, we can only imagine that they would have been chalk and cheese, indeed, out-and-out enemies.

Tax-collectors were generally hated and resented by their fellow Jews, mainly because the people on whose behalf they collected the taxes were the Romans, the occupying power, but also because they had a reputation for pocketing a bit extra if they felt like it (remember Zacchaeus?). They were traitors, quislings, collaborators with the enemy.

And the “Zealots”? They were the Jewish revolutionaries, determined to get rid of the Romans once for all, by violent means if necessary. (It’s possible that Barabbas, the prisoner who had “taken part in an uprising” (John 18:40) and who was released from sentence of death rather than Jesus, was a zealot.) Just possibly Simon was called “the Zealot” as a friendly nickname – “hothead Simon” – but, whatever, he sounds like a person of strong views and fiery temperament.

By the time Levi and Simon met they had, presumably, fallen under the spell of Jesus and become changed men. But, as we all know from our own experience, conversion doesn’t transform us instantly, or totally. Our political allegiance, if we have one, may remain the same, like our loyalty to a particular football team. So, when plodding, grasping Levi and fiery Simon first met, they very likely felt a strong, instinctive mutual loathing – “What? I’m expected to treat this man like a brother? You can’t be serious, Jesus!” (Oh, but Jesus was!)

Any community of human beings, large or small, is bound to generate tensions and animosities, and Jesus’ self-picked band is no exception.

And neither is any church today, as many of us may be painfully aware. As we think about Simon and Levi, three obvious but easily forgotten lessons come to mind…

First, Conversion means change.

As I have said, we know next to nothing about Levi and Simon. But one thing we can be absolutely sure of: they weren’t the same people they had been before they met Jesus. For Levi, no more fraternising with the enemy and making yourself rich at the expense of your own people; and for Simon, no more revolutionary talk or action.

And for us? We can’t claim to follow Jesus while remaining the same people as before. It may take time, and this side of death it will never be complete - but the fact is that Jesus, by his Spirit, is engaged in the process of transforming us into his likeness. He is training us not only to act and speak differently, but to think differently, to view situations through new, fresh eyes. Paul puts it into powerful words in Romans 12:1-2, where he speaks of being “transformed by the renewing of your mind”.

Let’s ask ourselves if we, even if subconsciously, are carrying over into our Christian lives habits or attitudes which simply have no place in them. Isn’t our main motive to become like him? If not, why bother to call ourselves “Christians” at all?

I’m running out of space. Please join me next time for lessons two and three!

Lord Jesus, thank you for calling such a mixed group to be your first apostles. And thank you for calling even me to follow you. Help me to welcome gladly your work of changing me, even if it isn’t always comfortable! Amen.