Men Jesus Called: James the Less, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot

James the Less, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot (Men Jesus Called – Part 6) by Mike Campagna on Vimeo.

This is supplement #6 to the Bible study: “Men Jesus Called.”

James the Less, Thaddaeus and Simon the Zealot. They are number nine, ten and eleven in the list of the disciples.

What does it mean to be number nine, ten and eleven in the list of the disciples?

To be number nine, ten and eleven means you’re after Peter and James and John.

You’re after Andrew and Philip.

You’re after Bartholomew.

You’re after Matthew.

You’re after Thomas.

You’re after number one, two, three, four, five, six, seven and eight when you’re number nine, ten and eleven. Right?

You’re at the end.

Of course, Judas comes next, but we’re not talking about him.

You’re at the end in the list of the disciples when you’re number nine, ten and eleven.

You’re last in line.

And there are at least three reasons proposes as to why James the Less is referred to that way.

The first reason is it was a way of distinguishing him from James, one of the two Sons of Thunder.

The second reason is he was younger than James, John’s brother.

And then third, he was of “little stature” physically is proposed as a reason for the James the Less reference.

And so it just lends emphasis, I think, on all three of the last in line disciples. For James it may have been physically, too, but for all three, they’re all of “little stature” in comparison to the rest.

You hardly hear about James the Less, Thaddaeus and Simon the Zealot in the record of Scripture for one thing.

And yet they each play a significant role despite being at the end of the list of the twelve, despite being of “little stature.”

Jesus needed them. Jesus chose them. They were crucial to His cause.

And we would rather be somebody else. Isn’t it true?

We would rather be somebody else who’s of “great stature.”

Some of us spend the better part of our lives fantasizing about it.

Others of us are actually in the process of being like whoever that somebody else is, whether it’s an older brother or sister or mom or dad or sports star or Hollywood actor or actress or famous Pastor or Bible Teacher. You name it.

And I guess James the Less, Thaddaeus and Simon the Zealot could have fallen in this trap, too. I know they were part of the back and forth over who was “top dog” with the other disciples. (Luke 9:46)

And could their part in it have been since they didn’t get first billing like Peter and Matthew and Thomas, etc? Possibly?

But Christ didn’t need another Peter and Matthew and Thomas, etc. He needed a James the Less, a Thaddaeus and a Simon the Zealot.

And God doesn’t need another Rick Warren, Beth Moore or whoever tickles your fancy either.

He needs of “little stature” you!

Quit trying to be somebody else.