II – IMPORTANCE IN THE LIFE OF JAMES AND THADDAEUS 

     We learned everything from our previous study concerning these two men James the son of Alphaeus and Thaddaeus as “little known” apostles. James the son of Alphaeus and Thaddaeus were not potential leader like Peter and did not stand out like John, the son of Zebedee among their fellow apostles. Possibly, they were men could be characterized who were slow to speak and very quiet men, that is why the writers of the four gospel books pass these two unknown apostles almost silently.

     When we say that these two men were “little known apostles”, in fact most of the apostles were “little known.”

• We know a much information about Peter and John
• We know much less records about Andrew and James
• We know much lesser about Philip for mentioned only in few recorded writings.
• We know nothing about Bartolome (Nathaniel) without the small information from the gospel of John
• We know nothing about Thomas without the small information from the gospel of John
• We know nothing else about Matthew without the record when Christ called this tax collector
• We know nothing about Simon except he was called Zealot as mentioned by Luke (Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13).

These are evidence that seven out of twelve apostles were considered as “little known apostles.”

     We wish there were someone today who would write on each of the twelve apostles, and if it happens, those Gospel writers would probably write much details and more informative records on each of the twelve apostles. But, by the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, this is not what the four gospel writers did. Four writers of the four gospel books, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John said very little about some of the apostles of Christ. One thing we should learn that the Gospel writers did not write much information of some of the little-known apostles is because the Apostles of the Lord Jesus were not the theme of the Gospel book they had written. The theme and main subject of the Gospel writers was the Lord Jesus Christ. For these Gospel writers, the Lord Jesus Christ was their Hero. The writers of the Gospel books stared or look fixedly at Jesus Christ who was the Sun of Righteousness (Malachi 4:2).

Malachi 4:2 “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.”

And because of the brightness of God’s righteousness on the Lord Jesus Christ, these four Gospel writers lost sight of some of the world’s well liked, well received, sought after personalities and possessions.

     If there are leaders, there must be followers. Some need to be a willing and faithful follower because not all men can be able to be leaders. If these group of Christ apostles were composed of twelve Peter types of apostles, this would create a lot of problems among themselves. So, in balance, little known apostles are needed as well as great leaders and stand out apostles.

     We should always remember that being great does not always mean being “popular” “superior” or “recognized.” Let us learn on the teaching of Jesus on the subject of Greatness. When the Lord teach His disciples a lot of lesson about greatness, would you know who shall be great by knowing the missing words in Matthew 20:26-27?

Matthew 20:26-27 “But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your __________; ²⁷ And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your ___________:”

The word in verse 26 “minister” means “servant.” In Greek “diakonos” primarily denotes a "servant," whether as doing servile work, or as an attendant rendering free service, without particular reference to its character. The word is probably connected with the verb dioko, "to hasten after, pursue" (perhaps originally said of a runner). In the New Testament, it occurs as describing types of servants in relation to particular purposes. In our text in Matthew 20:26, the word “servant” or “minister” is used for the followers of Christ in relation to one another. Diakonos is, generally speaking, to be distinguished from doulos, "a bondservant, slave;" diakonos views a servant in relationship to his work; doulos views him in relationship to his master.

     Servants usually may not get the attention unlike others who may get most of the attention because servants are just faithfully and willingly doing their works and serving others that is why servants are not especially recognized or regarded as special person or even appreciated.

     Read Matthew 18:3-4 and know what must a person do in order to find the true greatness? ____________________

Matthew 18:3-4 “And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Did you observe that little children are not getting special recognition or often noticed? If you read the newspaper, how many little children do you read that is in the headlines? So, these little-known apostles that we had discussed should not forget what Jesus teaches in Matthew 19:30.

Matthew 19:30 “But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.”

     Read Luke 16:10 and learn what God is looking for.

Luke 16:10 “He that is faithful in that which is __________ is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.”

Faithful in what? God is looking for men and women who are faithful on the little things of life, even the little things that no one else seems to notice. God is looking for faithfulness. Are you faithful in God and in God’s Word and in God’s work?

     Read Luke 1:15 describing John the Baptist and complete the verse to find out who are those God is looking for?

Luke 1:15 “For he shall be great in the __________ of the ________,”

God is looking for men and women who are great in the sight of the Lord and not necessarily great in the eyes of men.

     Often men are looking for people to be popular and that all their achievements and accomplishments will be long remembered. But in contrast, God surely sees and notices greatness of someone even in many little things that you may do that others ignore and may never recognize. Indeed, men do not always see greatness the way God does.

Read Hebrews 6:10 did you think that God forget those things that are done toward His name? ________________

Hebrews 6:10 “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”

     Read Acts 1:13 and find out where these little-known apostles after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Acts 1:13 “And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.”

We learn that the disciples of Christ ascended up into heaven, they were in the upper room and they were just doing what they should have been doing and they were in the right place where they should have been as God expected them to be. These little-known disciples, not recognize and not well accepted by the world, were faithful unto God. We can find that they were assembled faithfully praying.

Acts 1:14 “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.”

     These disciples of the Lord were waiting for the promise of the Holy Spirit as God had commanded them to tarry into the place where God told them to stay.

Acts 1:4-5 “And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. ⁵ For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”

These unpopular and not even noticed by the world are not making big noise to get attention and be recognize but they were just doing what God wanted them to do. Faithful followers of the Lord.

     The Bible says that God is not unjust so as to forget who are faithfully serving Him. As a matter of fact, we do not know very much about the 12 apostles but God knows all of them very well.

     Read Matthew 19:28 know if there was a promise of reward in the future will be given to each of the 12 apostles? _____

Matthew 19:28 “Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world,^[b] when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” 

Do you think this promise of reward will be given by the Lord includes these two little known apostles James the son of Alphaeus and Thaddaeus? _______

     Read Revelation 21:14, it is wonderful thing to know that the names of the twelve apostles will be engraved forever in the heavenly city.

Revelation 21:14 “And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.”

Do you think that the names of James the son of Alphaeus and Thaddaeus who are little known apostles will also be included on the engraved names? God rewards faithfulness. Be faithful unto the Lord even though you are never noticed and not well talked about of the people.

     Another example is about the twelve sons of Jacob. The Bible gives us much informative records regarding these sons of Jacob such as Joseph and Judah who have a major roles and impact in the nation Israel. In Contrast, with regards to other sons we know very little such as Naphtali and Issachar. Anyway, no matter how a lot or a little details mentioned about these 12 sons, each of these 12 sons of Jacob played a very important role in the history of the nation Israel.

Revelation 7:4-8 “And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. ⁵ Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. ⁶ Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nephthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. ⁷ Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. ⁸ Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.”

Revelation 21:12 “And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:”

     There are some great men who made a historical mark and have not been forgotten after many long years as recorded in the history of church, namely Martin Luther, Adoniram Judson, David Brainerd, John Calvin, Martin Luther, George Whitefield, Hudson Taylor, William Carey, D.L. Moody and John Wesley. However, there have also been lot of men who have not been well remembered throughout past centuries in the history of the church. The names of these men who are not famous but faithful, whose names have not been recorded in the history books, although unrecognized were faithful to the Lord in little things. If men forgotten them, but the Lord will not forget their faithful work and labor of love, because God noticed what they did and what they said. When we get to heaven someday, probably there might be some surprises as far as who really are the great and who are really not as great as we thought. It would be possible that those we thought are great in God’s sight actually are not and those we thought are not great, are on the other hand were the real great in God’s sight. The Omniscient God is the only One who can measure appropriately, exactly and perfectly the greatness in each believer.

     Read I Corinthians 12:22-24, and know if there are people in the church who are little noticed and little appreciated?

I Corinthians 12:22-24 “Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: ²³ And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. ²⁴ For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.”

Did you think that these people who are weaker and less honorable and less presentable are important?  How about those parts of your physical body who are not admirable or not noticeable are very important to you? The same is true, that every believer in the body of Christ is equally important to God and to the body of Christ which is the Church.

     Think of some ways that you can be faithful everywhere in everything even in little things.

     To be recognizable and noticeable or to become famous is the important thing in the sight of God. The important thing is to please God not man even in the little things that we do each day.

     It is not bad to be unfamous, unnoticed. Faithfulness is what matters unto the Lord and may God help us to be like James the son of Alphaeus and Thaddaeus and the other little-known disciples of Jesus Christ. Faithfulness to God is the important thing in the lives of James the son of Alphaeus and Thaddaeus.