(This first appeared April 23, 2009.)

We know little about Simon the Zealot.

I mean, we can read about the Zealots as a political movement in first century CE Israel. We can read about their desire to throw Rome out, to take Israel back.

But we know little about him other than that he is listed with the twelve disciples every time they are listed.

As a result, it is pure speculation that he went on a two-man short-term missions project with Judas Iscariot.

It isn’t speculation, of course, that all twelve were given the authority to do great things. It isn’t speculation that all twelve were sent out, in pairs, to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of heaven. It isn’t speculation that all twelve were told to travel light, that they were told about the challenges they would face, that they were told about the rewards of following.

No, the speculation is that Simon and Judas worked together. (I’m making the inference with some support, from the list in Matthew 10:2-4 where the 12 are put into pairs.)

Why bother to talk about this?

Because Judas was with someone. Judas was given authority. Judas spent time watching and listening and working and preaching. Judas had a partner who laughed with him and struggled alongside him and even went into towns and said, “the kingdom of heaven is at hand” with him.

And Judas had a partner who was listed as part of the apostles after the resurrection, who wasn’t scolded or condemned for what Judas did.

We spend much effort taking responsibility for the actions of other people. We spend much time wondering “what if.” We spend much energy blaming.

We waste much effort and time and energy.

When you are called, come. When you are sent, go. Encourage each other. Be responsible for yourself.