Learn Religions, Apr. In this story, Jesus sees the invalid lying by the pool of Bethesda and asks him, "Do you want to be healed?" Their one and only goal was to overthrow the Roman government and their occupation of Israel. By the time the Gospels mention Simon (e.g. St. Simon the Zealot - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online That said, this is an adaptation and that means it's their telling of these stories, so I won't be too bummed if they've taken reworked this relatively minor story. In a post-GOT world, however, audiences are more willing than they once were to engage with a broad cast of well-developed characters. The backstory prologues gives us a thumbnail sketch of the pride and arrogance that Nathanael is prone to as a result of his great skill and intelligence. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. He may have belonged to a Jewish sect known as the Zealots, who were bent on revolution and looking for a Messiah to violently overthrow Rome. Some Jewish people might have believed this was because God had blessed these places, but others believed that these healing centers were connected to pagan gods like Asclepius. The Chosen creatively connects these two characters in order to make a point. Who Was Simon the Zealot? The Beginner's Guide - OverviewBible Both Kananaios and Kananites derive from the Hebrew word qanai, meaning zealous, although Jerome and others mistook the word to signify the apostle was from the town of Cana, in which case his epithet would have been "Kanaios", or even from the region of Canaan. You are the King of Israel! Jesus answered him, Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? (Plots & Theme), Episode 2 Guide: Philip, Nathanael, & Matthew, Episode 3 Guide: Life Among the Disciples of Jesus, Episode 4 Guide: Simon the Zealot & the Man at the Bethesda Pool, Episode 5 Guide: Mary's Demons & the Destiny of John the Baptist, Episode 8 Guide: Judas, Matthew, & the Sermon on the Mount, Episode 1 Guide: Mary Magdalene, Lilith, and the Redeemer, Episode 2 Guide: Mary Magdalene, Nicodemus, and Shabbat, Episode 3 Guide: Depicting Jesus in Art, Film, and TV, Episode 4 Guide: When Jesus Met Simon (Peter), Episode 6 Guide: Jesus, Shmuel, & the Pharisees. He discovers that Jesse has been healed by Jesus. Liberty, the Law, and/or the Lord. In The Chosen, during Season 2, Episode 4, Simon the Zealot is reunited with his brother, Jesse, after years of separation. as members of a sect called the Zealots.. Like Nathanael, Simon the Zealot's skills and personality are tied to his past vocation. At the time when he was healed, he had been paralyzed for thirty-eight years. Who Was Herod? Of course, within the frame of the narrative itself, Jesus appears to be demonstrating his super-human knowledge - a common theme in the Gospel of John. In Episode 6 of The Chosen Season 1, Jesus faced opposition from a Pharisee in Capnernaum. As a former assassin, he is the most physically formidable of the disciples. Some scholars believe Josephus exaggerated the Zealots to keep the peace, blaming the war on a small Jewish sect and some bad Roman leaders. One popular theory is that he was martyred. "Meet Simon the Zealot: A Mystery Apostle." "And when they had entered, they . In Episode 2 of The Chosen Season 2, Jesus encountered a man who had his career crumble all around him. . And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. In Islam, Muslim exegesis and Quran commentary name the twelve apostles and include Simon amongst the disciples. In a smaller ensemble, it's common for character abilities to fall into basic archetypal patterns like. Season 1 of The Chosen was able to unfold the pre-Jesus backstory of its primary characters gradually over the course of an episode (in the case of Mary) or more (in the case of Matthew, Simon Peter, Andrew, and Nicodemus). Nathanael's vices are tied to both his longings and his gifts . Following Jesus leads to salvation and heaven. According to St. As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, called Peter and his brother Andrew. Perhaps your quiet time will generate an idea that you can turn into something beautiful! Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Again, I doubt that Simon the Zealot will be as central to The Chosen as Mary Magdalene or Matthew, but by establishing these key traits in his initial appearances, the show ensures that he can play a role and be recognized by audiences, even when he isn't driving the plot of the show. Each of the apostles was chosen for a specific reason. Omissions? Jesus then simply tells him to get up and walk and he's healed. How did Jesus meet Simon Peter? His kingdom is eternal. Nothing further is known about him from the New Testament. One such offshoot of the Zealots was the Sicarii, or daggermen, a group of assassins who tried to cast off Roman rule. The Zealots were associated with violent uprisings (including, later, the First Jewish-Roman War), and expected the coming Messiah to overthrow Rome using force. A common interpretation of the title "Zealot" credited to Simon is that before he became a disciple of Jesus, he was a member of or affiliated with the radical Jewish group called the Zealots. Or he may have simply been zealous for the Mosaic Law. Berean Standard Bible Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus. But humans are complex creatures. Wait There Were How Many Herods?! Moreover, in addition to being a compelling story, The Chosen Season 2 Episode 4 offers several interesting themes that will be worth exploring with your youth group. In the gospels Simon the Zealot is not identified with Simon the brother of Jesus mentioned in Mark 6 :3: Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. Verse Concepts. We don't see any signs of Jesse responding to his healing in a sketchy way in Episode 4 of The Chosen Season 2. In the place of the pool, what does he discover is a much better hope? Some have suggested that Jesus is cryptically alluding to the fig leaves of Genesis 3. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. In his commentary on Matthew, Jerome mistakenly interpreted kananaios as an indicator that Simon was from Cana, which led to other errors: He was surnamed Peter to distinguish him from another Simon who is called the Cananean, from the village of Cana of Galilee, where the Lord turned water into wine.. This site uses cookies to analyze traffic and ensure you get the best experience. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. Nathanael said to him, Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him, Come and see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit! Nathanael said to him, How do you know me? Jesus answered him, Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you. Nathanael answered him, Rabbi, you are the Son of God! Samuel, Cain, & the Queen Mother (Tragic Old Testament Stories that Need a Film/TV Adaptation), The Chosen: 9 Good Friday & Easter Episodes ***Season 3 Update***, The Rings of Power, LOTR, and Bible Adaptation, Amazon Prime's The Rings of Power & The Challenges of Biblical Adaptation, In Defense of The Chosen and Other Christian Movies, Books, & Media (Part 1), In Defense of The Chosen and Other Christian Movies, Books, & Media (Part 2), Thomas and Ramah in The Chosen & Scripture (Adapting Biblical Characters), Yussif, Jairus, & Shmuel in The Chosen (Adapting Biblical Characters), Ears to Hear (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 7 with Youth or Small Group), The Chosen Season 3 Episode 7 & Episode 8: Recap, Review, & Analysis, The Feeding of the 5,000 (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 8 with Youth or Small Group), Pontius Pilate & His Wife in The Chosen (Adapting Biblical Characters), Intensity in Tent City (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 6 with Youth or Small Group), Clean Part 2 (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 5 with Youth or Small Group), Clean Part 1 (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 4 with Youth or Small Group), Physician, Heal Thyself (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 3 with Youth or Small Group), 2022 BY THE BIBLE ARTIST. The second century Epistle of the Apostles (Epistula Apostolorum),[20] a polemic against gnostics, lists him among the apostles purported to be writing the letter (who include Thomas) as Judas Zelotes. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Why do you think The Chosen made Simon the Zealot and Jesse the Invalid brothers? He made disciples of men who had been fixed on the things of this world and changed their lives to focus on things that last forever. A boy named Simon is bitten by a snake in his hand; he is healed by Jesus, who told the child "you shall be my disciple". Or, he may have simply been zealous for the Lawor even zealous for Jesus or his teachings. Statue of St. Simon in the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran by Francesco Moratti. Click here for my affiliation policy. I hope you enjoy them! Simon the Zealot - Wikipedia In Season 2, Episode 5, Simon seeks out Jesus and joins the disciples. After seeing his brother healed by Jesus, do you think he will continue to hope in violence to bring salvation? Apparently the titles may have been an attempt to distinguish him from the apostle St. Simon Peter. The moniker "the Zealot" comes from the Greek word zlts, which the Apostle Luke used in both his gospel and Acts to distinguish this Simon from Simon Peter. So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed. But he answered them, The man who healed me, that man said to me, Take up your bed, and walk. They asked him, Who is the man who said to you, Take up your bed and walk? Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. [13] However, Moses of Chorene writes that he was martyred at Weriosphora in Caucasian Iberia. In the context of the New Testament, the Zealots were a party zealous for Jewish independence and throwing off Roman rule. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. The Bible does not describe how Simon the Zealot met Jesus. The connection between the two figures is invented in order to add depth to Simon's character and suggest thematic connections between their stories. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. To begin your discussion, ask your youth group: What stuck out to you about this episode? Those who take the former view think Jesus may have chosen Simon, a member of the tax-hating, Roman-hating Zealots, to counterbalance Matthew, a former tax collector, and employee of the Roman empire. I hope you enjoy them! Moses: The Old Testaments Greatest Prophet. Invalids - people with debilitating sicknesses, injuries, or birth defects - would often congregate around these miraculous places like Bethesda in hopes of having their sicknesses healed. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. In the Bible there is no indication that Simon the Zealot was related to the paralyzed man at the Pool of Bethesda. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. When did Simon Peter first meet Jesus? In the King James Version and New King James Version, he is called Simon the Canaanite or Cananite. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Simon is the name of one of Jesus brothers (Mark 6:3), whos traditionally believed to have succeeded James as head of the church in Jerusalem. At first glance, this may seem like a rather minor structural detail. The show also is also trying to distinguish his personality from the other disciples - his role as an architect suggests precision, intelligence, and creativity, while his encounter with Jesus suggests that he is honest and candid. How did Jesus meet Simon Peter? Community formation does take precedence over the individual encounters in Season 2 of The Chosen, but individual encounters continue to be a source of great interest for the show. Scripture tells us almost nothing about Simon. The connection between the two figures is invented in order to add depth to Simon's character and suggest thematic connections between their stories. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. In the cultural context of the time, the idea of a stairway between heaven and earth would have evoked the image of a Babylonian ziggurat - one of the architectural wonders of the ancient world. Meet Simon the Zealot: A Mystery Apostle - Learn Religions He may have suffered crucifixion as the Bishop of Jerusalem. Older adaptations of the Gospels tended to depict Simon the Zealot and Nathanael in this way, if they depicted them at all. Like many of the apostles, its hard to conclude exactly which tradition (if any) can be trusted: Like many of the lesser-known apostles, most of Simon the Zealots life and identity remains a mystery, and the few details the Bible gives us has led to centuries of speculation, little of which can be confirmed or denied. With a group as large as the twelve + disciples, however, the gifts and personality of each character needs to be more specialized. The Pool of Bethesda was specifically known to heal people only at a specific time - when the waters had been stirred up. But what we do know is this: he passionately believed in . Jesus said to them, Children, do you have any fish? They answered him, No. He said to them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some. So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. Most scholars today believe kananaios comes from the Aramaic word qanan, meaning zealous one, which effectively makes Simons moniker the same in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Acts. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The Zealots were a political movement among Jews who sought to overthrow the occupying Roman government. What has Jesse the Invalid put his hope in to bring salvation? Often asked: How Did The Apostle Simon The Caananite Die? By making Nathanael an architect, The Chosen has assigned his character a unique (albeit rarely needed) skill (building/design). Apostle Simon The Zealot Facts - The Holy Apostles Jesus Christ transcends political causes, governments, and all earthly turmoil. While there are some variations in the order the apostles appear and even the names they went by, Simon is listed in all of them. Simon is mentioned occasionally in early church writings, but centuries after the gospels were written, Saint Jerome and others mistranslated Simons title, believing that Matthew and Mark referred to him as Simon the Cananite or Simon the Cananaean. To overcome his vice, Simon needs to recognize that there is a greater justice at work in the world - a Chosen King who has come to make things right not through the sword but through healing - and he needs to reorient his discipline and zeal around Him. How could you relate to Simon the Zealot and/or Nathanael, as they were depicted in The Chosen? As it has been suggested that Jude is identical with the Apostle Thomas (see Jude Thomas), an identification of "Simon Zelotes" with Thomas is also possible. Simon was powerless to prevent it. The sketchiness of the invalid is further highlighted by how his healing in John 5 is closely mirrored by the healing of the man born blind in John 9 and the much more faithful response of the blind man. During his three years of ministry with Jesus, Simon the Zealot matured into an apostle empowered to spread the gospel in truth and love to all nations. Jesse initially hopes that the Pool of Bethesda will save him from his injury but ends up disappointed. By the time the Gospels mention Simon (e.g. The Bible does not describe how Simon the Zealot met Jesus. The Bible mentions Nathanael less frequently than Simon the Zealot; he only comes up twice in the Gospel of John [although he may correspond to Bartholomew, who is mentioned in the list of Jesus' disciples (e.g., Matthew 10:3)]. The first is the more substantial: Commentators throughout history have puzzled over the significance of Jesus telling Nathanael that he saw him while he was sitting under the fig tree. Verse Concepts. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, It is the Lord! When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. Poorly-made religious films make the mistake of boiling down the diverse longings that lead people to God into a single uniform desire (usually a desire for love or for forgiveness). New Living Translation Simon (the zealot), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him). Simon was a man of intense loyalties and warm personal devotions, and he did profoundly love Jesus. The Chosen introduces Simon the Zealot and Nathanael (as well as Judas) in similar ways, using teaser segments/prologues. FYI: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. The failure in ancient manuscripts to distinguish formal nouns allows for differing interpretations regarding the use of the term zealot. It seems clear, however, that Jewish and Christian writings of the period refer to a wide variety of offenses against which private individuals or groups might act in zeal on behalf of the community, some of these actions being revolutionary and others not.. In The Chosen, during Season 2, Episode 4, Simon the Zealot is reunited with his brother, Jesse, after years of separation. But its unclear when exactly this group started going by this name. Were there any scenes that you found interesting or moving? In the Bible, when Jesus says he saw Nathanael under the fig tree (. Simon the Zealot and Nathanael in The Chosen (Adapting Biblical Characters) There are nine people named Simon in the New Testament. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, Do you want to be healed? The sick man answered him, Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me. Jesus said to him, Get up, take up your bed, and walk. And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. 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Since the Apostle Simon is only listed among the apostles (and hes completely absent from the Gospel of John), theres not much we can say about him. This is supplement #6 to the Bible study: "Men Jesus Called." James the Less, Thaddaeus and Simon the Zealot. (John 5:10-16 ESV), The ending of this story in the Gospel of John seems to suggest that the invalid, after getting healed by Jesus, turns into a snitch, reporting Jesus to the Pharisees. As foreign conquerors imposed their pagan ways on the Jewish people, the Zealots sometimes turned to violence. As The Chosen has showed us at various points, the Romans were hated by most of the Jews, who viewed them as oppressive enemies. If thats what the Zealot refers to, then like Matthew the Tax Collector, the Apostle Simons presence among the Twelve represents a powerful picture of the gospel. Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you. The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. What emotions do you imagine you'd feel? ; Western feast day October 28, Eastern feast day June 19), one of the Twelve Apostles. Logos Bible Software 10 review: Do you REALLY need it? What kinds of things do people today put their hope in? This statement agrees with the writings of Hegesippus. Simon the Zealot, one of Jesus Christ's twelve apostles, is a mystery character in the Bible. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, called Peter and his brother Andrew. On Pauls third missionary journey, Jews and Jewish Christians who were zealous for the Law wanted to kill Paul (Acts 21:20; 23:1214). While The Chosen Season 2 Episode 4 closes on a happy note, with Jesse joyfully dancing on his new legs full of gratitude to Jesus, the original account of this story in the Gospel of John ends much more ambivalently: The ending of this story in the Gospel of John seems to suggest that the invalid, after getting healed by Jesus, turns into a snitch, reporting Jesus to the Pharisees. Nothing further is known about him from the New Testament. Episode 7 Guide: Did Nicodemus Follow Jesus? In Luke 22:38, the disciples tell Jesus, "See, Lord, here are two swords." After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. By engaging with Scripture creatively, you'll allow your imagination to be unconsciously shaped and formed by the images, metaphors, and patterns of the biblical story. Simon is remembered (with Jude) in the Church of England with a Festival on 28 October. Matthew 10:2-4These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Another tradition, doubtless inspired by his title "the Zealot", states that he was involved in the First JewishRoman War (6673 AD).[7][8]. Episode 1: What do we do when we are scared? Its also unclear whether they were a serious threat, or just convenient scapegoats. by Ryan Nelson | Aug 7, 2019 | Bible characters. (John 5:4, KJV). Jesus' kingdom was not about politics but salvation. 16. The Shocking Truth About Simon the Zealot's Past Before Meeting Jesus Josephus identifies three main Jewish sectsthe Essenes, the Saduccees, and the Pharisees. Now that day was the Sabbath. The Bible does not describe how Simon the Zealot met Jesus. Simon the Zealot must have been shaken by the violence of Jesus' crucifixion. Explain that this episode of The Chosen Season 2 will be exploring many of these questions imaginatively, filling in the details that the Bible leaves us to wonder about. For the most part, I just clarify who characters are and occasionally I briefly explained a reference or allusion that is confusing to my youth. Matthew 10:4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus. They were also known to target Jews who were sympathetic to Rome. Muslim tradition says that Simon was sent to preach the faith of God to the Berbers, outside North Africa. Matthew and Mark give him the title kananaios, which most scholars believe comes from the Aramaic word qanan, meaning zealous one.. What do you think it would have been like to be a person who waited around pools like Bethesda in hopes of having a sickness or disability healed? Western tradition is that he preached in Egypt and then went to Persia with St. Jude, where both suffered martyrdom. Jesus frequently clashed with the Pharisees over their strict interpretation of the law. . James the Less, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot (Men Jesus Called - Part 6) by Mike Campagna on Vimeo. To overcome his vice, Nathanael needs to recognize what happens when he trusts too much in himself and his skill and he instead needs to learn how to entrust himself to the greater architect, Jesus, and find hope for meaning and purpose in humbly submitting to the guidance of someone wiser. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. This version is the one found in the Golden Legend. When Simon joins the Zealots, we understand that he is being driven by his longing for justice. The Bible gives us very little information about Simon the Zealot and Nathanael - two of the more significant disciples The Chosen introduces in Season 2. In a smaller ensemble, it's common for character abilities to fall into basic archetypal patterns like the power trio (the logical brain, the emotional friend, and the balanced hero) or the five-man band (the charismatic leader, the edgy anti-hero, the brain, the tank, and the token girl). ~65 or ~107 place of death disputed. A Pharisee named Simon invited Jesus over for dinner, where a sinful woman famously poured perfume on Jesus feet (Luke 7:40).