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[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James,_son_of_Alphaeus '''''James'''''] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jude_the_Apostle '''''Judas'''''] the sons of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alphaeus Alpheus], the twin fishermen living near [http://urantiabook.org/jesus_photos/kheresa.html Kheresa], were the ninth and tenth [[apostles]] and were chosen by [[James, the Apostle|James]] and [[John, the Apostle|John Zebedee]]. They were twenty-six years old and [[married]], James having three children, Judas two.
There is not much to be said about these [[two]] commonplace [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisherman fisherfolk]. They [[loved]] their Master and [[Jesus]] loved them, but they never interrupted his [[discourses]] with questions. They [[understood]] very little about the [[philosophical]] [[discussions]] or the [[theological]] [[debates]] of their fellow [[apostles]], but they [[rejoiced]] to find themselves numbered among such a [[group]] of mighty men. These two men were almost [[identical]] in [[personal]] [[appearance]], [[mental]] characteristics, and extent of [[spiritual]] [[perception]]. What may be said of one should be recorded of the other.
[[Andrew, the Apostle|Andrew]] assigned them to the [[work]] of [[policing]] the multitudes. They were the chief ushers of the [[preaching]] hours and, in [[fact]], the general servants and errand boys of the twelve. They helped [[Philip, the Apostle|Philip]] with the supplies, they carried [[money]] to the [[families]] for [[Nathaniel]], and always were they ready to lend a helping hand to any one of the [[apostles]].
The multitudes of the common people were greatly encouraged to find [[two]] like themselves honored with places among the [[apostles]]. By their very [[acceptance]] as [[apostles]] these mediocre twins were the means of bringing a host of fainthearted believers into [[the kingdom]]. And, too, the common people took more kindly to the [[idea]] of being directed and [[managed]] by official ushers who were very much like themselves.
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James,_son_of_Alphaeus James] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jude_the_Apostle Judas], who were also called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jude_the_Apostle#Possible_Identity_with_Thaddeus Thaddeus] and Lebbeus, had neither strong points nor weak points. The nicknames given them by the [[disciples]] were good-natured designations of mediocrity. They were " the least of all the apostles "; they knew it and felt [[cheerful]] about it.
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James,_son_of_Alphaeus James Alpheus] especially loved [[Jesus]] because of [[the Master]]'s [[simplicity]]. These twins could not [[comprehend]] the [[mind]] of [[Jesus]], but they did grasp the [[sympathetic]] bond between themselves and the [[heart]] of their Master. Their [[minds]] were not of a high order; they might even reverently be called stupid, but they had a real [[experience]] in their [[spiritual]] [[natures]]. They believed in Jesus; they were sons of God and fellows of [[the kingdom]].
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jude_the_Apostle Judas Alpheus] was drawn toward [[Jesus]] because of [[the Master]]'s unostentatious [[humility]]. Such humility linked with such [[personal]] [[dignity]] made a great [[appeal]] to Judas. The [[fact]] that Jesus would always enjoin [[silence]] regarding his unusual [[acts]] made a great impression on this [[simple]] [[child]] of [[nature]].
The twins were [[good]]-natured, [[simple]]-minded helpers, and everybody loved them. [[Jesus]] welcomed these young men of one [[talent]] to positions of [[honor]] on his personal staff in [[the kingdom]] because there are untold millions of other such [[simple]] and [[fear]]-ridden [[souls]] on the [[worlds of space]] whom he likewise [[wishes]] to [[welcome]] into active and believing fellowship with himself and his outpoured [[Spirit of Truth]]. [[Jesus]] does not look down upon littleness, only upon [[evil]] and [[sin]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James,_son_of_Alphaeus James] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jude_the_Apostle Judas] were little, but they were also [[faithful]]. They were [[simple]] and [[ignorant]], but they were also big-hearted, [[kind]], and [[generous]].
And how [[gratefully]] [[proud]] were these [[humble]] men on that day when [[the Master]] refused to accept a certain rich man as an [[evangelist]] unless he would sell his goods and help the [[poor]]. When the people heard this and beheld the twins among his [[counselors]], they knew of a certainty that [[Jesus]] was no respecter of [[persons]]. But only a [[divine]] [[institution]]—the [[kingdom of heaven]]—could ever have been built upon such a mediocre [[human]] [[foundation]]!
Only once or twice in all their [[association]] with [[Jesus]] did the twins venture to ask questions in [[public]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jude_the_Apostle Judas] was once [[intrigued]] into asking [[Jesus]] a question when [[the Master]] had talked about [[revealing]] himself openly to the world. He felt a little [[disappointed]] that there were to be no more [[secrets]] among the twelve, and he made bold to ask: " But, Master, when you do thus [[declare]] yourself to the world, how will you [[favor]] us with special [[manifestations]] of your [[goodness]]? "
The twins served [[faithfully]] until the end, until the [[dark]] days of [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_184 trial], [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_187 crucifixion], and [[despair]]. They never lost their [[heart]] [[faith]] in [[Jesus]], and (save [[John, the Apostle|John]]) they were the first to [[believe]] in his [[resurrection]]. But they could not [[comprehend]] the [[establishment]] of [[the kingdom]]. Soon after their Master was [[crucified]], they returned to their [[families]] and nets; their [[work]] was done. They had not the [[ability]] to go on in the more [[complex]] battles of [[the kingdom]]. But they lived and died [[conscious]] of having been [[honored]] and [[blessed]] with four years of close and [[personal]] [[association]] with a [[Son of God]], the [[Creator Son|sovereign maker]] of a [[Local Universe|universe]].
==See also==
*'''''[[The Apostles]]'''''
*'''''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James,_son_of_Alphaeus Wikipedia article on James, the Apostle]'''''
*'''''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jude_the_Apostle Wikipedia article on Judas, the Apostle]'''''
[[Category: Religion]]
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James,_son_of_Alphaeus '''''James'''''] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jude_the_Apostle '''''Judas'''''] the sons of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alphaeus Alpheus], the twin fishermen living near [http://urantiabook.org/jesus_photos/kheresa.html Kheresa], were the ninth and tenth [[apostles]] and were chosen by [[James, the Apostle|James]] and [[John, the Apostle|John Zebedee]]. They were twenty-six years old and [[married]], James having three children, Judas two.
There is not much to be said about these [[two]] commonplace [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisherman fisherfolk]. They [[loved]] their Master and [[Jesus]] loved them, but they never interrupted his [[discourses]] with questions. They [[understood]] very little about the [[philosophical]] [[discussions]] or the [[theological]] [[debates]] of their fellow [[apostles]], but they [[rejoiced]] to find themselves numbered among such a [[group]] of mighty men. These two men were almost [[identical]] in [[personal]] [[appearance]], [[mental]] characteristics, and extent of [[spiritual]] [[perception]]. What may be said of one should be recorded of the other.
[[Andrew, the Apostle|Andrew]] assigned them to the [[work]] of [[policing]] the multitudes. They were the chief ushers of the [[preaching]] hours and, in [[fact]], the general servants and errand boys of the twelve. They helped [[Philip, the Apostle|Philip]] with the supplies, they carried [[money]] to the [[families]] for [[Nathaniel]], and always were they ready to lend a helping hand to any one of the [[apostles]].
The multitudes of the common people were greatly encouraged to find [[two]] like themselves honored with places among the [[apostles]]. By their very [[acceptance]] as [[apostles]] these mediocre twins were the means of bringing a host of fainthearted believers into [[the kingdom]]. And, too, the common people took more kindly to the [[idea]] of being directed and [[managed]] by official ushers who were very much like themselves.
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James,_son_of_Alphaeus James] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jude_the_Apostle Judas], who were also called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jude_the_Apostle#Possible_Identity_with_Thaddeus Thaddeus] and Lebbeus, had neither strong points nor weak points. The nicknames given them by the [[disciples]] were good-natured designations of mediocrity. They were " the least of all the apostles "; they knew it and felt [[cheerful]] about it.
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James,_son_of_Alphaeus James Alpheus] especially loved [[Jesus]] because of [[the Master]]'s [[simplicity]]. These twins could not [[comprehend]] the [[mind]] of [[Jesus]], but they did grasp the [[sympathetic]] bond between themselves and the [[heart]] of their Master. Their [[minds]] were not of a high order; they might even reverently be called stupid, but they had a real [[experience]] in their [[spiritual]] [[natures]]. They believed in Jesus; they were sons of God and fellows of [[the kingdom]].
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jude_the_Apostle Judas Alpheus] was drawn toward [[Jesus]] because of [[the Master]]'s unostentatious [[humility]]. Such humility linked with such [[personal]] [[dignity]] made a great [[appeal]] to Judas. The [[fact]] that Jesus would always enjoin [[silence]] regarding his unusual [[acts]] made a great impression on this [[simple]] [[child]] of [[nature]].
The twins were [[good]]-natured, [[simple]]-minded helpers, and everybody loved them. [[Jesus]] welcomed these young men of one [[talent]] to positions of [[honor]] on his personal staff in [[the kingdom]] because there are untold millions of other such [[simple]] and [[fear]]-ridden [[souls]] on the [[worlds of space]] whom he likewise [[wishes]] to [[welcome]] into active and believing fellowship with himself and his outpoured [[Spirit of Truth]]. [[Jesus]] does not look down upon littleness, only upon [[evil]] and [[sin]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James,_son_of_Alphaeus James] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jude_the_Apostle Judas] were little, but they were also [[faithful]]. They were [[simple]] and [[ignorant]], but they were also big-hearted, [[kind]], and [[generous]].
And how [[gratefully]] [[proud]] were these [[humble]] men on that day when [[the Master]] refused to accept a certain rich man as an [[evangelist]] unless he would sell his goods and help the [[poor]]. When the people heard this and beheld the twins among his [[counselors]], they knew of a certainty that [[Jesus]] was no respecter of [[persons]]. But only a [[divine]] [[institution]]—the [[kingdom of heaven]]—could ever have been built upon such a mediocre [[human]] [[foundation]]!
Only once or twice in all their [[association]] with [[Jesus]] did the twins venture to ask questions in [[public]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jude_the_Apostle Judas] was once [[intrigued]] into asking [[Jesus]] a question when [[the Master]] had talked about [[revealing]] himself openly to the world. He felt a little [[disappointed]] that there were to be no more [[secrets]] among the twelve, and he made bold to ask: " But, Master, when you do thus [[declare]] yourself to the world, how will you [[favor]] us with special [[manifestations]] of your [[goodness]]? "
The twins served [[faithfully]] until the end, until the [[dark]] days of [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_184 trial], [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_187 crucifixion], and [[despair]]. They never lost their [[heart]] [[faith]] in [[Jesus]], and (save [[John, the Apostle|John]]) they were the first to [[believe]] in his [[resurrection]]. But they could not [[comprehend]] the [[establishment]] of [[the kingdom]]. Soon after their Master was [[crucified]], they returned to their [[families]] and nets; their [[work]] was done. They had not the [[ability]] to go on in the more [[complex]] battles of [[the kingdom]]. But they lived and died [[conscious]] of having been [[honored]] and [[blessed]] with four years of close and [[personal]] [[association]] with a [[Son of God]], the [[Creator Son|sovereign maker]] of a [[Local Universe|universe]].
==See also==
*'''''[[The Apostles]]'''''
*'''''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James,_son_of_Alphaeus Wikipedia article on James, the Apostle]'''''
*'''''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jude_the_Apostle Wikipedia article on Judas, the Apostle]'''''
[[Category: Religion]]
