{Disciples} THREE OTHERS_
Faithful to the end
The Gospel writers give us the names of three other disciples, but not much more!
If these men ever asked Jesus a question or had an extended conversation with him, Scripture doesn’t record it.
But we do know that they were chosen by Jesus to be in the band of his closest followers, and like the others, these three had left their old lives behind to follow him. They served, went out and preached, and witnessed Jesus’ miracles like the others.
They were faithful to Jesus but were not major players in the Gospel record.
[Group discussion starter] Do you know a Christian who serves the Lord sacrificially and faithfully, but quietly and out of the spotlight?
Without necessarily naming them, talk about that person to the group.
James, the son of Alphaeus is the ninth name in Luke’s list of the Twelve (Lk 6:14-16). He’s the second man among the Disciples named James; the other is James, the brother of John, son of Zebedee. In Mark 15:40 he is referred to as “James the less” or “James the younger” or “Little James”. In Mark 2:14 Levi/Matthew is also called “the son of Alphaeus”. This could just be a common regional name or it could be that James was the younger brother of Matthew. If this is the case, this would make them the third set of brothers among the Twelve – Peter & Andrew, Big James & John, and now Matthew & Little James.
Along with two men named James, there were also two men named Simon among the Twelve – Simon Peter and a man called Simon the Zealot in Luke 6:15. Simon at one time had been a member of the political movement known as ‘the Zealots’, one of the best-known and most-feared political groups of Jesus’ day. The Zealots hated the Romans, and their single objective was to force the Roman overlords out of Israel.
That was Simon’s background. Coming into contact with Jesus changed him. Simon’s zeal became focused on a different kind of kingdom, a kingdom of justice and righteousness.
There were two men named Judas in Jesus’ Twelve too – Judas Iscariot and Judas son of James (Lk 6:16). This man is also called Thaddaeus (Mt 10: 3). Judas/Thaddaeus asks only one question of Jesus (at least that’s all that is recorded about him!). In John 14:22 he asks: “Lord, why do you intend to show yourself [reveal your true nature] to us and not to the world?”
It wasn’t a rebuke or a challenge, just a question.
Even though we don’t have much written in the Gospels about these men, they are included in some of the scenes that involve all of the disciples – like the day that Jesus told a rich man to sell all of his possessions and give the money to the poor...
[Read Luke 18:18-30]
What would have been the response of most people to a rich man who wanted to be involved in their ministry?
In verse 18, what does the ruler’s question tell you about his view of eternal life?
What is Jesus’ view on the subject (verse 27)?
The man claims to have obeyed God’s commands since his boyhood. What was Jesus trying to get him to realise by asking him to sell his possessions?
How do you think that you would respond if Jesus made the same request of you?
In verses 24-25 why is it hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God?
Peter speaks for all of Jesus’ disciples when he says, “We have left all we had to follow you!” Do you think that Peter’s statement was true?
What specifically had the disciples left?
What promises does Jesus make to those who leave anything behind (or who put other relationships in second place) to do God’s will?
How have you experienced those promises in your life?
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