Sermon: Sons of Thunder
Thesis: The Sons of Thunder teach us the importance following Jesus. They demonstrate what it means to be a bold witness for Jesus and go all in for the Kingdom of God. Their lives show us how God can will transform us into what he wants us to be. Like when John became both the Son of Thunder and the Apostle of love.
Scripture:
Mark 3:16-19: 16 These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); 17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder); 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Luke 9:54: Samaritan Opposition
51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them, 56 and they went to another village.
Notice the name Sons of Thunder is born to highlight James and John!
The Transfiguration of Jesus happened before the incident where James and John wished to call down fire on the Samaritans. If you know about the Transfiguration, it’s where Jesus revealed his glory to Peter, James, and John on a mountain top. It is mentioned in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. They saw Jesus in all his glory radiant like the sun and having a meeting with Moses and Elijah.
Key Details:
The setting of the transfiguration of Jesus: Jesus takes three of his apostles, Peter, James, and John, up a high mountain to pray.
During the prayer time Jesus has a Transformation: Jesus is transfigured, his face shining like the sun and his clothes becoming dazzling white.
Appearances: Moses and Elijah appear and converse with Jesus.
Then they hear a voice from the Cloud: God the Father's voice comes from a cloud, proclaiming Jesus as his Son and commanding the disciples to listen to him.
Significance of this event is it reveals a Revelation of Jesus Divine Glory: The Transfiguration provides a glimpse of Jesus' true, divine nature and glory, which is normally veiled in his humanity.
Promise of the Kingdom: The event is connected to Jesus' previous statement about the kingdom of God coming with power.
See The Transfiguration
Matthew 17: 1-13: After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” 10 The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” 11 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.
The event where James and John sought to destroy the Samaritans, those who refused to give Jesus and the disciples hospitality, is recorded in Luke 9:51-56. The Transfiguration is generally understood to have occurred during the Galilean ministry of Jesus, while the incident with the Samaritans is part of Jesus' journey towards Jerusalem, which follows the Galilean ministry. So the incident with James and John happens after this supernatural event revealing the glory of Jesus and having a meeting with Moses and Elijah.
If you recall Elijah is famous as a being a prophet of God who challenges the false priests of Baal to a show down – in the showdown Elijah calls down fire on God’s sacrifice to God – he even puts water on it and God smites all the priests of Baal killing them:
In the Old Testament story of Elijah on Mount Carmel, Elijah calls down fire from God to consume the sacrifice, wood, stones, and water on his altar, demonstrating God's power and proving his divinity. This event takes place after the prophets of Baal fail to ignite their own altar with their calls to their god.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
The Contest: 1 Kings 18:24,36,38-39
1 Kings 18:24 New King James Version (NKJV)
Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD; and the God who answers by fire, He is God.” So all the people answered and said, “It is well spoken.”
I Kings 18:36 New King James Version (NKJV)
And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word.
See specifically - 1 Kings 18:38-39 New King James Version (NKJV)
Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!”
Baal's Failure: The prophets of Baal call upon Baal for hours, but there is no response and no fire.
Elijah's Prayer: Elijah prays to God, asking that He would be revealed as the true God.
The Fire: God sends fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice, wood, stones, and even the water that had been poured on the altar.
Recognition: When all the people see the fire, they fall on their faces and acknowledge that "the Lord, he is God".
This event is a powerful demonstration of God's power and authority, and it leads the people to abandon the worship of Baal and return to worshipping the Lord. The disciples James and John most likely talked about what Elijah did at the altar and this motivated them to do the same to the Samaritans.
Introduction:
Jesus had 12 disciples but out of the twelve 3 were closest to Jesus – Peter who we have talked about a few weeks back - Peter also known as The Rock” and James and John also known as the Sons of Thunder or (Bo-aner-gas)
It’s interesting to note that these three closest disciples to Jesus received names from Jesus while the others did not!
If you research name changes in the Bible – you discover Jesus and God in the Bible - have changed people’s names to reflect their character and their mission for the Kingdom of Heaven.
What is in name or nickname:
Example from my own life: I have a nickname that most of you have never heard! It was given to me by my fellow teammates at my Judo club after I fought in several Randori’s or matches. I had a certain pattern in my fighting matches which stood out to everyone. So, my teammates started calling me “Chui.” The name stuck – everyone at the club knew me by Chui and not Mike! Chui in the martial art world of Judo is what the referee’s called a penalty point – when you do something illegal or not permitted the ref would yell “Chui!” I received so many “Chui’s” my teammates named me Chui. The truth is if you went with me to the Judo club I would come in and everyone would call me Chui – that’s the name that stuck for me there. It reflected who I was and my character at the time! It did become an issue because in my fights or matches with other opponents they would cheer me on saying my name “Chui” which confused the ref because they thought they saw something I did illegally, and he missed it. In my defense for attaining this nickname was because when I started fighting in Judo – I had always been a street fighter so if I started losing mt match I would do things that were considered illegal – to win – it just was my reaction in the fight to do what I needed to do to hinder my opponent from winning! But the result I lost from receiving too many penalty points.
So, names are important because they paint a picture of the person you are looking into in Scripture: Names covered callings and ministry focus in the Bible.
Most of you know my name is Michael. After I got saved Chui faded away and I focused on my real name.
The name Michael, which is of Hebrew origin, translates to "who is like God?" or "gift from God". It's a name with strong religious associations, particularly in Christianity, where it's the name of an archangel.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Hebrew Origin: The name Michael is derived from the Hebrew "Mikha'el," which combines "mi" (who) and "el" (God).
Meaning: The translation "who is like God?" is a rhetorical question, implying no one can compare to God.
Religious Significance: In the Bible, Michael is a prominent archangel, often depicted as a powerful warrior and protector of the Kingdom.
Names are important – do you know what your name means? Do you desire a new name from God? You are going to receive one in the future!
In Revelation 2:17, the promise of a "new name" is given to those who overcome. This name is symbolic of a new identity, a new nature, and a new relationship with God. It is a name that is unique to each individual and known only to them, representing their personal relationship with God.
Revelation 2:17: This verse states, "He who overcomes, I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except he who receives it."
Let’s explore our disciples who Jesus named the Sons of Thunder:
1. James – The Son of Thunder
a. The Apostle James, often referred to as "James the Greater (means older)," was the brother of Apostle John and the son of Zebedee. He, along with John and Peter, were part of Jesus' inner circle of disciples and witnessed key events like the raising of Jairus daughter from the dead and the Transfiguration of Jesus' but also, they were with Jesus in the agony of Gethsemane.
i. James was also known for his fiery, evangelical zeal and was given the nickname "Son of Thunder" by Jesus.
1. We will explore this name Jesus gave them! Because names are significant within the Kingdom of Heaven.
b. He was reportedly the first of the apostles to be martyred see Acts:
i. Acts 12:1-2
1. It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. (NIV)
2. Herod had James killed but failed to do the same with the other disciples with James.
a. We don’t have as much on James as John due to his martyrdom being so early in the rise of the church.
c. Apostle James
i. Also Known as: James of Zebedee; Nicknamed by Jesus “Boanerges” or “Son of Thunder.”
1. In our text today, we read of the label that was given to James and John: “James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them Jesus gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder)” Mark 3:17. Most preachers (including me) have read this Sons of Thunder “nickname” and have come to the conclusion that this meant that James and John were angry and judgmental men - headstrong, impetuous, intolerant and overbearing. It was as if this label “Sons of Thunder” pointed to a character flaw in these men. But I’m not sure that I think that anymore. And there’s a couple reasons I’m changing my mind.
a. Jesus gave James and John their nickname. It was Jesus, wasn’t it? “To them JESUS gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder.” Jesus gave them their new “LABEL – their mission for the Kingdom.” And then I noticed something else - God renamed a few other people in scripture and, whenever God renamed someone in the Bible that new name was based upon what He saw that they could be, rather than what they were when He chose them. He renamed Abram… ABRAHAM; He renamed Sarai… SARAH; and He renamed Jacob… ISRAEL. And each time, the new name that God gave was a declaration that God had a plan for their lives.
i. Adapted from https://sermoncentral.com/sermons/sons-of-thunder-jeff-strite-sermon-on-revelation-265685
2. Jeff adds the following:
a. “And I think that was what was happening with James and John. God renamed Abram/Sarai/Jacob & Simon because God something saw in them. And I think that’s true of James and John as well! And if that’s true (if this nickname for James and John was a declaration of what they could become) the question is: what could “SONS OF THUNDER” mean? Well, I looked up “thunder” in the Bible, and I was a bit surprised by what I found.”
b. When God brought the 10 plagues upon Egypt… the 7th plague was this: “When Moses stretched out his staff towards the sky, the LORD sent THUNDER and hail, and lightning flashed down to the ground. So the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt… (and Pharaoh pleaded) Pray to the LORD, for we have had enough thunder and hail. I will let you go; you don’t have to stay any longer."
c. Moses replied, "When I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands in prayer to the LORD. The thunder will stop and there will be no more hail, so you may know that the earth is the LORD’s.” Exodus 9:23, 28-29
d. When God gave Israel His law on Mt. Sinai it says: “On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled…When the people saw the THUNDER and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance. Exodus 19:16 & 20:18
e. And then in Revelation it says that in the throne room of God: “From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of THUNDER. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.” Revelation 4:5
f. It seems like – every time thunder was mentioned in Scripture, it was a display of the power of God. In fact, Job 40:9 says, “Do you have an arm like God’s, and can your voice thunder like His?”
g. The name Sons of Thunder mean:
i. It’s like the voice of THUNDER, was the VOICE OF GOD. So, could it be that when Jesus renamed James and John the “Sons of Thunder” it was HIS way of saying --- THIS is who you’re going to become? You will become the VOICE of God; You will become men who will declare the POWER of God.
ii. What is James known for: James followed Jesus as one of the 12 chosen disciples. This apostle James (for there were two) was the brother of John, and a member of Christ’s inner circle of three, along with Peter and John. He proclaimed the gospel after Jesus' resurrection and was the first apostle to be martyred for his faith.
1. He stepped out leading the way for the spread of the Kingdom in the book of Acts which in turn got him killed with the sword!
iii. Bible References: The apostle James is mentioned in all four Gospels, and his martyrdom is cited in Acts 12:2.
iv. Father: Zebedee
v. Mother: Salome (Mother’s make a difference with their children spiritually)
1. THEIR MOTHER, SALOME, WAS A TOP CHRISTIAN:
a. Salome, their mother, was one of the pious women who followed Christ and "ministered unto him of her substance."
i. She financially supported the ministry!
b. Salome was at the crucifixion: “Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome” Mark 15:40, Mt. 27:56.
c. Salome was at the Tomb on Easter morning: “When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body” Mark 16:1.
d. So, Salome wasn’t just another disciple, she was one of the most involved and persevering of Jesus’ followers.
e. She was beside her sons in the spread of the Gospel!
vi. Brother: John
vii. Hometown: He lived in Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee.
viii. Occupation: Fisherman, disciple of Jesus Christ.
ix. Strengths: James was a loyal disciple of Jesus. He apparently had outstanding personal qualities that are not detailed in Scripture because his character made him one of Jesus' favorites.
x. Weaknesses: With his brother John, James could be rash and unthinking. He did not always apply the gospel to earthly matters.
d. James was probably the older of the two brothers because he was always mentioned first.
e. Three times James, John, and Peter were invited by Jesus to witness events no one else saw: the raising of the daughter of Jairus from the dead (Mark 5:37-47), the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-3), and Jesus' agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-37).
f. But James was not above making mistakes. When a Samaritan village rejected Jesus, he and John wanted to call down fire from heaven upon the place. This earned them the nickname "Boanerges," or "Sons of thunder." The mother of James and John also overstepped her bounds, asking Jesus to grant her sons special positions in his kingdom.
g. James' zeal for Jesus resulted in his being the first of the 12 apostles to be martyred. He was killed with the sword on order of King Herod Agrippa I of Judea, about 44 A.D., in a general persecution of the early church.
h. Apostle James lessons to learn from his life:
i. James the apostle was part of Jesus' inner circle, alongside Peter and his brother John. witnessing the raising of Jairus' daughter, the Transfiguration, and Jesus' agony in Gethsemane.
1. He strived to be close to Jesus and in close relationship with Jesus!
ii. Known for his zeal and dedication, James was the first of the 12 apostles to be martyred, a sign of his commitment to his faith.
1. He was a leader in the beginning of the spread of the Kingdom of Heaven.
iii. Despite his initial weaknesses and rashness, James' faith strengthened after Jesus' resurrection, ultimately leading him to proclaim the gospel and endure martyrdom.
1. The above from https://www.learnreligions.com/profile-of-apostle-james-701062
T.S. – James is considered greater because he was the first of the disciples to be martyred and he was part of the inner circle with Jesus. Greater also designates someone older. John, his younger brother, became more famous than James because he outlived all the other disciples and wrote a lot of the New Testament. John lived to 93 years old. Let’s explore John’s contribution to the kingdom of Heaven / God.
2. John – The other son of Thunder 2
a. THE APOSTLE JOHN IS FAMILIAR TO us because he wrote so much of the New Testament. He was the human author of the Gospel of John and three epistles that bear his name, as well as the book of Revelation.
i. Aside from Luke and the apostle Paul, John wrote more of the New Testament than any other human author. Scripture is therefore full of insights into his personality and character.
1. The above from MacArthur, John F.. Twelve Ordinary Men: How the Master Shaped His Disciples for Greatness, and What He Wants to Do with You (p. 95). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.
b. Both Scripture and history record that John played a major role in the early church. Of course, he was a member of the Lord's most intimate inner circle, but he was by no means the dominant member of that group.
i. He was the closest of all the disciples to Jesus!
1. Crosby writes this about the circle of relationships around Jesus:
a. He states, “Consider the rings of relationships that gravitated around Jesus as he walked this planet. I call them the “Rings of the Lord” or the “Circles of Christ.” An overview of the Gospels shows there were at least six identifiable groups around Jesus:
i. the Crowds
ii. the Five Thousand
iii. the Seventy (or some versions translate this as the Seventy-two)
iv. the Twelve
v. the Three
vi. the One
1. Each group represents a circle or ring of relationship to the Lord, six stages or areas in relationship to Jesus Christ. They represent places to which people came and experienced him.”
2. Crosby, Robert (2014-03-24T23:58:59.000). The One Jesus Loves: Grace Is Unconditionally Given; Intimacy Must Be Relentlessly Pursued. Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.
b. Crosby shares about the One – “THE ONE. Ultimately only one person bears the distinction of having been the closest person to Christ during his earthly ministry. I like to think of this person as the One, the closest One. The One sat right next to Jesus at the Last Supper. The One listened closer to Jesus’ words than anyone else and, as a result, recorded more of them than anyone else. The One was the go-to man when Jesus’ disciples had a question they wanted to ask him. The One spotted Jesus on the shore when no one else in the boat recognized him. The One followed Christ to at least one place no other among the Twelve would go.”
i. Crosby, Robert (2014-03-24T23:58:59.000). The One Jesus Loves: Grace Is Unconditionally Given; Intimacy Must Be Relentlessly Pursued . Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.
ii. John became the closest to Jesus out of the 12 – we all should strive for this position with Jesus – Crosby words it this way:
1. “Our desire for God is a gift we must regularly open and engage if we are to fully realize and enjoy it. While salvation is an unconditional gift of God’s grace, some intimacies with God come only with a relentless pursuit of him.”
a. John did that his whole life!
b. John zealously stayed in relationship with Jesus on and in Heaven – regularly meeting with Jesus through prayer in the spirit.
2. Crosby adds:
a. “Make no mistake, there is one place and one place alone to which Christ wants you to be when it comes to him, and that is closer. Remember . . . followers of Jesus refuse to follow at a distance; if you’re not moving closer, you’re moving away.”
i. Crosby, Robert (2014-03-24T23:58:59.000). The One Jesus Loves: Grace Is Unconditionally Given; Intimacy Must Be Relentlessly Pursued. Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.
c. John was the youngest of the 12 most likely 17 when he started following Jesus – but recall he had been following John the Baptist prior to Jesus! So, he had become a believer in his teen years! His heart was connected To God and when John the Baptist identified Jesus as the Lamb of God and Jesus called him to follow him – John and James dropped their nets and became 100% committed to following Jesus.
i. MacArthur, “He was the younger brother of James, and although he was a frequent companion to Peter in the first twelve chapters of Acts, Peter remained in the foreground and John remained in the background. But John also had his turn at leadership. Ultimately, because he outlived all the others, he filled a unique and patriarchal role in the early church that lasted nearly to the end of the first century and reached deep INTO Asia Minor. His personal influence was therefore indelibly stamped on the primitive church, well into the post-apostolic era.”
1. Can I ask you a question: “How big of imprint with your life do you want to make in annuals of Heaven – How many people do you want to influence with the Gospel?”
a. MacArthur, John F. Twelve Ordinary Men: How the Master Shaped His Disciples for Greatness, and What He Wants to Do with You (pp. 95-96). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.
d. John changed over the years from being The Son of Thunder (very aggressive for guarding the name of Jesus and the mission) to the Apostle of Love. I have learned that time does this for many people who serve the Lord – perspective changes as we age, judgmentalism starts to move into the background, love comes to the forefront, I think it is what the Bible calls gaining wisdom with age. You learn to look at people differently. We also look at ourselves differently too!
i. I have learned to look at people who fall short or fall into sin with the reality thought – All but for the grace of God I could fall too – it’s having an eternal mindset and a heart with empathy for others – it’s understanding the more I know, the more I understand I don’t know!
ii. John impresses me – he started strong and finished strong – revelation reveals his love for Jesus as He is the spirit of the Lords Day and Jesus appears to him in all his glory – with a vision for John to write down and spread throughout the persecuted church!
iii. John goes through a maturing OF the spirit as he ages. How do I know – you hear him wanting to smite people with the power of God – but then later in life he writes a lot about love! John wrote more than any other New Testament author about the importance of love—laying particular stress on the Christian's love for Christ, Christ's love for His church, and the love for one another that is supposed to be the hallmark of true believers. The theme of love flows through his writings. But love was a quality he learned from Christ, not something that came naturally to him. He had to learn how to love the unlovable! He had to learn to walk and immerse himself in love.
1. The above is adapted from MacArthur, John F.. Twelve Ordinary Men: How the Master Shaped His Disciples for Greatness, and What He Wants to Do with You (p. 96). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.
2. Can I ask another question?
a. How have you aged or matured in Jesus? Have you matured in Jesus? Are you the stuck and have not grown closer to Jesus? Many people get stuck in their spiritual growth – reasons that cause this are – unforgiveness- pride- apathy-drifting from Jesus and His Word!
e. The following from https://www.gotquestions.org/life-John-Apostle.html
i. The Apostle John is the author of five New Testament books: the gospel of John, the three short epistles that also bear his name (1, 2, and 3 John) and the book of Revelation. John was part of Jesus’ “inner circle” and, along with Peter and James, John was given the privilege of witnessing Jesus’ conversation with Moses and Elijah on the mount of the transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9). His importance in the twelve grew as he matured, and after the crucifixion, he became a “pillar” in the Jerusalem church (Galatians 2:9), ministered with Peter (Acts 3:1, 4:13, 8:14), and finally was exiled to the island of Patmos by the Romans, where he received from God the majestic visions that comprise the book of Revelation.
1. This is a summary of Johns life – of 60 plus years of serving Jesus through hardship, persecution, and determination to promote the message of the Kingdom of God.
2. No wonder Scripture references John as the One Jesus Loved! By the way John identified himself that way - John uses this self-identification to distinguish himself from John the Baptist, who is also mentioned in the gospel.
a. Can I ask do you identify yourself as “The one Jesus loved?”
ii. John and James - Both brothers were characterized by zeal, passion and ambition. In his early days with Jesus, at times John acted rashly, recklessly, impetuously, and aggressively. We see him in Mark 9 forbidding a man to cast out demons in Jesus’ name because he was not part of the twelve (Mark 9:38-41). Jesus gently rebuked him, saying no one could cast out demons in Jesus’ name and then turn around and speak evil of Him.
1. Jesus was about spreading the Kingdom – and that ability to spread the Kingdom message was greater than any 12 or even greater than one. Jesus made it clear others are being raised up to set people free and bring the good news of Jesus to the mass!
iii. We have referenced Luke 9:51-54, were we see the brothers wanting to call down fire from heaven to destroy the Samaritans who refused to welcome Jesus. Again, Jesus had to rebuke them for their intolerance and lack of genuine love for the lost.
1. But can I say it – The disciples were teachable and received rebukes from the Lord and grew through those failures or wrong choices! Do you grow through your mistakes – Do you take rebuke well – are you honest with yourself?
iv. James and John along with their mother Salome – In the beginning did not understand what servant leadership was all about – but were looking for prominent positions in the Kingdom - John’s zeal for Jesus was also influenced by his natural ambition, as seen in his request (through his mother) that he and his brother be seated on Jesus’ right and left hands in the kingdom, an incident that caused a temporary rift between the brothers and the other disciples (Matthew 20:20-24).
1. This caused arguments among the disciples as to who was the greatest- missing the point of Jesus teaching of servant leadership.
v. Got questions makes this observation: “In spite of these youthful expressions of misdirected passion, John aged well. He began to understand the need for humility in those who desired to be great. John’s is the only gospel that records Jesus washing the disciples’ feet (John 13:4-16). Jesus’ simple act of servanthood must have impacted John greatly.”
1. We could all learn this spiritual lesson – we are not greater than those around us – we need to learn to die to self and be servant leaders. The Lord taught me this lesson years ago!
a. I thought I was a great spiritual leader and discovered I was egotistical and missing the message of Jesus – I repented and asked God to be patient with me and give me mercy and grace. Why because pride was slipping in – and pride is the beginning of destruction!
b. We need to serve – to sacrifice like Jesus did for us!
vi. When we look at John being with Jesus for 3 years or so – we find John as one of the only disciples at the cross – yes he is at the crucifixion!
1. The others had fled for their lives or denied Jesus but there is John at the cross!
a. Notice this lesson - Jesus had enough confidence in the young man to turn the care of His mother over to him, a charge John took very seriously. From that day on, John cared for her as if she were his own mother (John 19:25-27).
i. What an honor for John – think about it! Taking care of Mary!
b. We see John changing from his rash request for special honor in the kingdom of Heaven!
c. The reckless pursuit of honor, recognition, and a position in the kingdom had given way to compassion and humility that would characterize his ministry in his later life.
i. The apostle of love was emerging – and Jesus saw it rising to the top – He saw John learning to deny himself and serve the Kingdom in love and with sacrifice.
d. Please note this truth John remained courageous and bold; his ambition was balanced by the humility he learned at Jesus’ feet.
i. Got questions note this about John: This willingness to serve others and suffer for the sake of the gospel must have enabled him to bear his final imprisonment on Patmos where, according to reliable historical sources, he lived in a cave, cut off from those he loved, and was treated with cruelty and reproach. In the opening of the book of Revelation, which he received from the Holy Spirit during this time, he referred to himself as ‘your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus” (Revelation 1:9). He had learned to look beyond his earthly sufferings to the heavenly glory that awaits all who patiently endure.
2. John never compromised the truth as a matter of fact his most second written about topic was truth!
a. John was passionately devoted to the proclamation of truth. No one in Scripture, except the Lord Jesus, had more to say about the concept of truth. His joy was proclaiming the truth to others and then watching them walk in it (3 John 4).
b. His strongest condemnation was for those who perverted the truth and led others astray, especially if they claimed to be believers (1 John 2:4).
c. His passion for truth fueled his concern for the sheep who might be deceived by false teachers, and his warnings about them take up much of 1 John. He had no qualms about identifying as “false prophets” and “antichrists” those who tried to pervert the truth, even proclaiming them to be demonic in nature (1 John 2:18, 26, 3:7, 4:1-7).
d. John preached truth and love – Yes at the same time, John is also called the “apostle of love.” In his own gospel, he refers to himself as “the one whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23, 20:2, 21:7, 21:20). He is depicted as the one leaning against Jesus’ breast at the last supper. His brief second epistle is filled with expressions of his deep love for those in his care. He addresses his first epistle to a group of believers “whom I love in the truth” and exhorts them to “love one another” by walking in obedience to Jesus’ commands (2 John 1:1, 5-6).
3. John’s life serves to remind us of several lessons which we can apply to our own lives.
a. First, zeal for the truth must always be balanced by a love for people. Without it, zeal can turn to harshness and judgmentalism. Conversely, abundant love that lacks the ability to discern truth from error can become gushing sentimentality.
i. As John learned as he matured, if we speak the truth in love, we, and those we touch, will “in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ” (Ephesians 4:15).
b. Second, confidence and boldness, untempered by compassion and grace, can quickly turn to pride and smugness. Confidence is a wonderful virtue, but without humility, it can become self-confidence, which can lead to boasting and an attitude of exclusiveness. When that happens, our witness of the grace of God is tainted, and others see in us exactly the kind of person they wish not to be.
i. Like John, if we are to be effective witnesses for Christ, our demeanor should be one that reflects a passion for the truth, compassion for people, and a steadfast desire to serve and represent our Lord by reflecting His humility and grace.
c. John is known as the disciple “whom Jesus loved.” (John 13:23)
i. John was one of Jesus’ closest disciples and was present for some of the critical moments of Jesus’ time on earth – witnessing the Transfiguration and the raising of Jairus’ daughter, and accompanying Jesus the night before His crucifixion in the garden of Gethsemane. He was also the only disciple to be present at Jesus’ crucifixion. During the Last Supper, John is described as having his head resting on Jesus, in a posture customary of the Eastern dining tradition and indicative of their close friendship.
d. John was the only disciple to pass away peacefully rather than in martyrdom.
i. John the Apostle: 100 AD (died at age 93) place unknown, probably Ephesus.
Conclusion:
What do we learn from this message?
1. What do we need to know?
a. We need to know that names matter – Jesus and God changed names to reflect their mission and their future character in the Bible.
b. The disciples were far from perfect leaders and followers – but Jesus saw their potential – he saw them through the eyes of the Creator – he saw what they would become!
c. Jesus therefore renamed these two Sons of Thunder not as a negative name but a quality he wanted highlighted about them – they were zealous, passionate, and all in to preach the word and proclaim the name of Jesus.
d. When they crossed the line Jesus rebuked them to guide them into what it means to be a servant leader with the Kingdom of God.
2. Why do we need to know this?
a. I have discovered that pride and ego hinder people from learning through their mistakes. Instead of listening to rebukes or corrections they seek to dishonor the one trying to help guide them.
b. Correction is necessary for us to grow into the person Jesus wants us to be! We must learn to fail forward = grow through mistakes.
c. We all need to be known as Sons of Thunder proclaiming the truth of God’s word but also at the same time known as the Apostles of love.
i. It’s a balance we all need to strive for within the Kingdom.
3. What do we need to do?
a. We need to choose to lose to the Lord and choose to lose to self and let the Holy Spirit draw us closer to Jesus.
4. Why do we need to do this?
a. We choose to learn from the Sons of Thunder and the Apostle of love we too will see the Kingdom of Heaven grow and change 1,000 lives.
