LIFE SCRIPTS

Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
Matthew 10:4 KJV

These last two of His disciples are interesting. Simon who’s also a Canaanite and Judas Iscariot, the infamous betrayer of Christ. Simon the Canaanite is also referred to in other texts as Simon the Zealot. The Zealots were a group of political agitators who opposed Roman rule. Some of them had gone to the extent of taking up arms and inciting people to rebel against Rome. In our modern day society they could have passed for political activists who are all too familiar with the walls of a prison cell. But just imagine this kind of a choice for a disciple. It must have been received very interestingly by the Roman rulers as well as the local Jewry. Besides, imagine putting together a political activist like the Zealot with a loyalist like Levi the tax collector on the same table to forge towards a common goal. The gospel unites us as opposed to dividing us. So whether we have different occupations, are living under different economic realities or see things different politically, we are defined by our knowledge of Christ. Also as we know from the Old Testament, Judas Iscariot was prophesied as the disciple who would sell Him to the multitudes for crucifixion. Yet He still admitted Him as His disciple. He still invited him to the dining table of the Father. He still gave him a very elevated place in His kitchen cabinet. Christ being God knew what he would do. But he still mercifully accepted him as he is. Make no mistake, He did not accept his actions but accepted him as who he is because it is the intention of Christ that ALL will see heaven. Isn’t that the same for us? When we deliberately choose to sin, God still accepts us back. When deliberately choose to disobey, God is still gracious enough to us. There is little difference between the betrayal acts of Judas and those of Peter. For Judas, he was seeking a financial reward. For Peter, he was seeking escape from being targeted. However, the big difference came after the sin was committed… Peter sought forgiveness, Judas succumbed to his own guilt disregarding the grace of God. This message is for all of us. It’s a message from the book of John chapter 1. If we say we’ve not sinned, we deceive ourselves and truth is not found in us. However, if we confess our sins to God, He’s faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness. We’re all sinners in this story. However, will we choose the Judas way or the Peter way?