Thunder And Love Series

Sermon: Thunder and Love:

Thesis: Exploring the life of John, one of the Sons of Thunder. Jesus renamed these two for their zeal, passion, defense and proclamation of Jesus and The Word.

Mark 3:16-19: The disciples James and John named as “Sons of Thunder.”

Luke 9:51-56: The Samaritan Opposition – James and John in this incident inherited their name from Jesus!

John was a zealous as his brother James was – We have the encounter John had with a person preaching Jesus and casting out demons:

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.”

John is one who brings this scenario to Jesus who then rebukes him!

Introduction:

The name thunder reveals what Jesus saw James and John becoming for the kingdom of God:They would be Son’s of Thunder!

* It seems like – every time thunder was mentioned in Scripture, it was a display of the power of God. We see on Mt Siani when Moses received the law, we see it around the throne in Heaven from Revelation. We see it, in Job 40:9 says, “Do you have an arm like God’s, and can your voice thunder like His?”

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.

These two men would declare the truth of God – by speaking with the voice of God (His Word) and because it was the Word of God power came to back it up from on high. People were healed, people were delivered, they spread the Gospel and planted churches!

• Sons of Thunder – Sons of the voice God!

• Sons of Thunder – Power of God manifest through their lives!

• Sons of Thunder – Voicing the Word of God with power!

• Sons of Thunder – proclaiming the Truth of God with authority!

T.S. – The thunder of God is the voice of God – the word of God - which brings the power of God.

I. John’s 2nd most talked about subject was the subject of Truth – We could ask the question “What is truth?” Many people are asking this question today!

a. Pilate even asked this question to Jesus.

i. Yes, Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, did ask Jesus, "What is truth?". This question is recorded in the Gospel of John.

1. John 18:36-38:

a. Jesus Before Pilate … 36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.” 37“Then You are a king!” Pilate said. “You say that I am a king,” Jesus answered. “For this reason, I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.” 38“What is truth?” Pilate asked. And having said this, he went out again to the Jews and told them, “I find no basis for a charge against Him. 39But it is your custom that I release to you one prisoner at the Passover. So then, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

2. What is truth – Jesus did answer this question during his ministry here on the earth. John picked up on this topic of Jesus and he wrote about it in the Gospel of John and other writings.

a. John 14:6: “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

i. Note this is a absolute statement – no exceptions! Jesus is the only way to Heaven. There is no other way – none!

ii. Jesus is the only person revealed in Scripture who spoke more on truth than John!

b. John 8:32: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

i. Jesus is the door to truth and His truth will set you free from sin and condemnation! Jesus is the only one who can set us free.