Blog
“Simon's Son”
Categories: fathers“When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.” — Genesis 5.3
My son is my image passed down to the next generation. He was brought into the world with great anticipation and hope. As a man holds his baby boy, he sees energy to direct, power and potential, endless possibilities.
Sons can make or break a father.
A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother. (Prov 10.1)
A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him. (Prov 17.25)
A foolish son is ruin to his father (Prov 19.13)
The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding, but a companion of gluttons shames his father. (Prov 28.7)
Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart. (Prov 29.17)
Holding our little baby, we have only sweet thoughts of his great achievements, brilliant mind, and generous heart, but as he matures and falls to sins (just as have we—but we forget), that little boy can tear us up.
I imagine Simon felt sweet, swelling emotions as he held his little son for the first time, saw his precious wrinkled face, and showed him off to his friends. “This is my boy!”
Was Simon still alive when his son joined a band of followers who travelled all over Galilee and Judea with a new Rabbi? Did Simon think well or ill of his son’s decision to throw in his lot with Jesus? Perhaps he was conflicted, wondering how it would turn out but glad his son was doing something positive and possibly great. Perhaps Simon told his wife, “I have my concerns, but let’s see where this takes him.”
Was Simon still alive when everything fell apart for Jesus and His disciples on that consequential Passover night? Did he receive the news from some of the other disciples about what had happened to Jesus…and what had happened to his son? Did John later show Simon what he had written?
During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him… (John 13.2)
For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.” (John 13.11)
I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ (John 13.18)
After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” (John 13.21)
Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night. (John 13.26–30)
I don’t know how Simon raised Judas, but my heart goes out to him, especially if Simon learned later of the great forgiveness of Christ and that his boy could have repented and been restored to the Lord. Instead of reconciliation, Judas’ story ended in bitter suicide.
What a tragedy! I do not want my father to be in the same place as Simon, and I strongly hope none of my sons puts me in that place. Tragedies stand as warnings; they show us what to avoid. It would have been better for Simon’s son had he never been born. But he was born, and he lifted his hand against the most magnanimous friend, the most powerful Lord, the most generous King.
Lord, protect us from an end like Simon’s son!
