Sermon: John Sons of Thunder 2 by Pastor Michael McCartney
Summary of sermon: This sermon titled "Sons of Thunder" emphasizes the significance of following Jesus, showcasing the transformation of the disciples James and John from being known as the "Sons of Thunder" to embodying the qualities of love and humility as leaders in the early church. The document explores their journey, underscoring the importance of being bold witnesses for Christ and the potential for growth in every believer.
Thesis: The Sons of Thunder teach us the importance following Jesus. They demonstrate what it means to be a bold witness for Jesus. Their lives show us how God can and will transform us into what he wants us to be. Like when John went from Son of Thunder to 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 on 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 thema?” 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them, 56 and they went to another village.
1 John 4
Introduction:
Jesus had 12 disciples but out of the twelve 3 were closest to Jesus – Peter who we have talked about a few weeks ago - 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.
Summary from last week’s sermon on James the Son of Thunder 1
I. James the greater (older) a Son of Thunder
i. The name Son of thunder:
1. 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
a. It seems like – every time thunder was mentioned in Scripture, it was a display of the power of God.
b. In fact, Job 40:9 says “Do you have an arm like God’s, and can your voice thunder like His?”
2. It’s like the voice of THUNDER, was the VOICE OF GOD.
a. 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?
b. You will become the VOICE of God; You will become men who will declare the POWER of God.
ii. James was probably the older of the two brothers because he was always mentioned first.
iii. 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).
1. 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.
2. 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.
iv. Application of the Apostle James lessons on life:
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Despite his initial weaknesses and rashness, James' faith strengthened after Jesus' resurrection, ultimately leading him to proclaim the gospel and endure martyrdom.
a. 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.
1. John – The other son of Thunder – He is known as Thunder and Love.
I. We see in Scripture that John was not a dominant figure among the three apostles closest to Jesus – Recall the 3 are Peter, James and John.
i. But we know James and John together received the name ‘Sons of Thunder” because of their volatile passion for Jesus and wanting to call down the fire of Heaven for the in hospitable Samaritans.”
1. Most likely their aggressive zeal for Jesus and His message is what earned them this name.
2. For the most part John is in the background led by his older brother James or doing ministry with Peter in the background as spoken of in Acts. There is only one place in Scripture where he is mentioned as the one addressing Jesus about a man casting our devils in Jesus’ name without being a part of the elite 12.
a. Mark 9:38-41: Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us: 38“Teacher,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” 39“Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40for whoever is not against us is for us. 41I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.”
b. John is one who brings this to Jesus who then Jesus rebukes him!
i. He wanted to John to know that we who claim Christ are in this together – we are not enemies but allies in the battle against evil.
ii. Jesus made sure John knew his displeasure to associate others bearing and preaching his name are as much as the Kingdom of Heaven as they are.
ii. THE APOSTLE JOHN IS more FAMILIAR TO us because he wrote so much in 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.
1. 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.
a. 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.
T.S. – John’s writings teach us a lot about his ministry and his character.
II. John’s writings in the New Testament were dominated by speaking absolutely about Truth and Love.
i. He speaks frequently about truth and emphasizes how black and white it is in knowing truth.
1. He uses the word Truth 25x in the Gospel of John and in his three Epistles 20x.
a. John is second only to Jesus in speaking so much about truth.
2. MacArthur states this about John’s focus on truth: “John's zeal for the truth shaped the way he wrote. Of all the writers of the New Testament, he is the most black and white in his thinking. He thinks and writes in absolutes. He deals with certainties. Everything is cut-and-dried with him. There aren't many gray areas in his teaching, because he tends to state things in unqualified, antithetical language.”
a. For example, in his Gospel, he sets light against darkness, life against death, the kingdom of God against the kingdom of the devil, the children of God against the children of Satan, the judgment of the righteous against the judgment of the wicked, the resurrection of life against the resurrection of damnation, receiving Christ against rejecting Christ, fruit against fruitlessness, obedience against disobedience, disobedience, and love against hatred. He loves dealing with truth in absolutes and opposites. He understands the necessity of drawing a clear line.
b. MacArthur, John F.. Twelve Ordinary Men: How the Master Shaped His Disciples for Greatness, and What He Wants to Do with You (pp. 97-98). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.
ii. But John also wrote the most about Love giving him the name “Apostle of Love”
1. John mentions love 80x in his Gospel and Epistles.
2. John wrote more than any other New Testament author about the importance of love — laying stress on these subjects:
a. 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.
i. He listened to Paul in 1 Cor. 13:
1. Real love- does not rejoice in iniquity (sin), but rejoices in the truth.”
3. The theme of love flows through his writings. But love was a quality he learned from Christ, not something that came naturally to him. In his younger years, he was as much a Son of Thunder as James but age and the Spirit helped to balance him out.
a. 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
4. 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.
a. We all need to learn this lesson of the balance of Truth and Love. It’s the equilibrium we need to become mature Christians!
b. I have met to many unbalanced professing Christians.
i. TRUTH Hammers:
1. They speak truth with harsh, judgmental attitudes and demeanors. They beat people up with the Bible and feel God is with them. I see in these individuals a lack of love and empathy for others and usually a self-righteous spirit with them. The Pharisees were like this!
ii. LOVE cupids:
1. They speak about love all the time and flutter around shooting their arrows of love into others. But their concept of love is not a biblical love. It’s a demeanor were God is love and no one will be judged or go to Hell. This out of balance love makes excuses for people who willingly choose to sin against God’s Word and even rewrite the Word of God and have these out of balance individuals telling you are good just the way you are.
5. John learned from Jesus – that you have to declare equally Truth and Love – and maintain the balance Jesus did in confronting evil in this world.
a. I recall what God said at the mountain of transfiguration when Jesus turned white and glowed and meet with Moses and Elijah and John, James and Peter witnessing the true glory of Jesus heard the voice of God say “Listen to my son!”
i. John listened and he wrote about what he learned from Jesus!
T.S. – Let’s look deeper into 1 John 4 a classic example of John his character, his message and his writings.
III. I want us to turn to 1 John 4 and read for ourselves the balance we must have between love and truth – love and thunder maybe another good word to insert here for truth – it’s the voice of God and the power of God!
i. 1 John 4 is a prime example of John’s writing’s where he emphasizes his two main themes: Truth and Love: Johns favorite themes!
1. Test the Spirits: 1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. 4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
2. God’s Love and Ours: 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.13 We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
a. The Holy Bible: New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984), 1 Jn 4:1–21.
ii. Yes, John preached the most in the New Testament about love – Yes at the same time of being aggressive with the Gospel speaking about truth he spoke on love too. This is how John becomes known as the “Apostle of love.”
1. 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. His close relationship with Jesus taught John the importance of truth and love!
iii. John 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 (1 John 1:1, 5-6).
1. This is the balance of Truth and Love!
a. Quote by MacArthur “Truth without love has no decency; it's just brutality. On the other hand, love without truth has no character; it's just hypocrisy.”
b. MacArthur, John F.. Twelve Ordinary Men: How the Master Shaped His Disciples for Greatness, and What He Wants to Do with You (p. 106). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.
iv. John never compromised the truth and that is why his second most written about topic was truth!
1. 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).
2. This should be our mission too! Proclaim truth and walk in love.
a. But love does not compromise truth – why because truth is God’s Word – thunder – the power of God.
b. When we love God first we maintain His truth – love compels us to do this – if we undermine God’s truth with compromise then we show we do not truly love God.
3. John strongest condemnation was for those who perverted the truth and led others astray, especially if they claimed to be believers (1 John 2:4).
a. I hear some preachers today compromising the Truth – The Word of God to appease people sin and they think this is the way of love but that not what I read in Scripture!
b. John’s 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).
v. The third word most talked about subject in his writings was the word “witness” referenced about 70 times!
1. He refers to the witness of John the Baptist, the witness of Scripture, the witness of the Father, the witness of Christ, the witness of the miracles, the witness of the Holy Spirit, and the witness of the apostles. In each case, these were witnesses to the truth. So his love for the truth remained undiminished.
2. Witnesses put a spotlight on truth – on God’s Word on the miracles of God – not on sin or tolerance of sin.
a. MacArthur, John F.. Twelve Ordinary Men: How the Master Shaped His Disciples for Greatness, and What He Wants to Do with You (p. 116). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.
i. I have learned that time does this for many people who serve the Lord – perspective changes as we age, judgmentalism starts to move into balance with, love which comes to the forefront. The two become in equilibrium with each other.
vi. 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!
1. 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!
2. John impresses me – he started strong and finished strong – Revelation reveals his love for Jesus as He is the spirit on the Lords Day and Jesus appears to Him in all his glory! John gets a vision to spread throughout the persecuted church!
a. Yes, John goes through maturing in 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 (did you catch this emphasis in my message) 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. But love and truth need to maintain a healthy balance.
i. I had to do the same thing in my walk with the Lord – Jesus taught me how to love but yet remain rooted in truth.
1. My first sermon was love! Read quotes out of it!
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.
c. John became the closest to Jesus out of the 12 – we all should strive for this position with Jesus.
i. John was the only apostle at the Cross and his closeness to Jesus is highlighted when Jesus gives his mother Mary to John to look after!
ii. John 19:25-27:
1. 25Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” 27and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
d. Crosby words it this way:
i. “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.”
1. John did that his whole life!
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.
vii. Remember - John was the youngest of the 12 most likely 17-20 when he started following Jesus – but recall he had been following John the Baptist prior to Jesus!
1. 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.
a. 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.”
viii. Application: 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?”
1. 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.
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!
1.
Conclusion:
What do we learn from this message?
John, the younger brother of James, is depicted as evolving from a passionate disciple to the "Apostle of Love." His writings in the New Testament emphasize truth and love, showcasing his growth in understanding the balance between zeal for truth and compassion for people. The sermon discusses how his close relationship with Jesus helped him learn the importance of humility and love, culminating in his legacy as a beloved figure in the early church.
John's life serves as a reminder that zeal for truth must be balanced by love for people. His transformation from a Son of Thunder to the Apostle of Love teaches us the importance of humility, compassion, and a steadfast desire to serve and represent Jesus.
James, known for his fiery zeal, was the first apostle to be martyred, illustrating the cost of discipleship. His commitment to Jesus and the early church is noted, alongside his transformation from a "Son of Thunder" to a figure of dedication and faith
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 disciple’s 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!
i. Growth through Correction: The importance of learning from mistakes and being open to correction is emphasized, as both disciples were teachable and grew through their experiences with Jesus
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 live.
i. It’s a balance we all need to strive for within the Kingdom.
3. What do we need to do?
a. John's journey of transformation is a powerful testament to the potential for growth and change in every believer. His initial impulsive nature was refined through his close relationship with Jesus, leading him to become a compassionate and loving leader in the early church. His writings continue to inspire and guide Christians in their faith journey, emphasizing the importance of love, truth, and humility.
b. 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.
c. Balance of Truth and Love: The need to balance zeal for truth with compassion for others is highlighted, encouraging believers to reflect the humility and grace of Jesus in their witness
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.
b. In summary, the transformation of the Sons of Thunder serves as an encouraging reminder of the potential for growth in faith and character, urging believers to strive for a balance of boldness in proclaiming the gospel while embodying love and humility in their interactions with others. Their journey reflects the overarching theme of the sermon: that through Christ, anyone can become a powerful witness for the Kingdom of God.
