The current climate in our nation has had me thinking a lot about two guys with radically different ideologies that Jesus invited to be part of his twelve disciples. First, there was Simon the Zealot. According to brittanica.com, “The Zealots were an aggressive political party whose concern for the national and religious life of the Jewish people led them to despise even Jews who sought peace and conciliation with the Roman authorities.”
This was a group in complete opposition to Roman imperialism and anyone connected to it. “Extremists among the Zealots turned to terrorism and assassination and became known as Sicarii (“dagger men”). They frequented public places with hidden daggers to strike down persons friendly to Rome.”
Then there was Matthew the Tax Collector. Tax Collectors “were reviled by the Jews of Jesus' day because of their perceived greed and collaboration with the Roman occupiers. “Tax collectors amassed personal wealth by demanding tax payments in excess of what Rome levied and keeping the difference” (Wikipedia.com). This was Matthew through and through. Can you imagine some tense conversations in the Twelve’s travels around Galilee? Did Simon still carry a dagger hidden in his clothes?
Our current cultural polarization is not that different from that of the 1st century. Whether it is COVID, racial equality, sexual identity, conservative or liberal ideas about government, or a myriad of other contentions, we find ourselves digging into our camps and lobbing grenades at the other side. But, just as Jesus called Simon and Matthew to a better way he is calling us to a better way. Christians are those who are called to follow Jesus as peacemakers and reconcilers.
I think there is a good chance that Matthew and Simon reconciled their differences and became peacemakers through their long conversations on the roads between ministry stops. As they got to know one another, and as they learned to surrender everything to the way of Jesus and the kingdom, they stepped into unity. They bore witness of the good news that Jesus was king, not Caesar and not Israelite nationalism.
My prayer is that we can be a church that models this. We are all united with one another in Jesus. We all put our hope ultimately in Jesus and his kingdom. Let’s walk alongside one another: getting to know one another, praying for one another, and bearing with one another as we look forward to Jesus’ return and his setting right of this fallen, broken world.