Sons of Thunder, the words themselves lead me to think of explosive personalities. Last night, I heard the rumbles and some big booms of thunder. It was so loud you could not miss it. Thunder always follows lightning. Lightning is a very destructive force. Being called a Son of Thunder would conjure up thoughts of power and possibly destruction. People with this personality are so committed to a cause that they stand out among the crowd. They are those whose other attitudes and actions will not deter. They are focused and determined, and they make a lot of noise. These are the kind of people you want in your corner. You may know people you would label as sons or daughters of thunder, but when Jesus gives you that title, it means something. This is precisely what Jesus did in Mark 3:17.
Mark 3:17 “And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:”
James and John were brothers, and both were called by Jesus to be Apostles. They, along with Peter, were part of the inner circle closest to Jesus. There is speculation about why Jesus called them the “Sons of Thunder,” but most agree they had powerful personalities. They were full of zeal and passion for Jesus. They may have been called this for their response to Jesus being rejected by a Samaritan village in Luke chapter 9. In verse 53, the people did not receive Jesus, and in verse 54, James and John wanted Jesus’ permission to bring fire from Heaven to consume them. Our loving Savior turns and rebukes them, but I love their passion for Jesus.
Luke 9:53-56 “But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village.”
Their occupation before they met Jesus was fishermen. However, when Jesus called, they did not hesitate to answer. Their personalities were characterized by zeal. It is no wonder that Peter was in the inner circle with them. These character traits also fit him. Jesus did not do anything haphazardly. Everything had a purpose, and the main purpose was to get the gospel out and to give us examples to follow to spread the word.
What about you, what character traits do you exhibit that would cause Jesus to give you a nickname? Are you zealous for the cause of Christ, or lazy? Are you selfish or selfless? Are you like the disciples who wanted to stay close to Jesus, going where He went, listening intently to everything He said? To answer this, think about how much of your day is spent with Jesus, reading His word, and praying. How much time do you put into action what you learned from His word? These are all questions we need to ask ourselves. We must step back and look at the big picture of life to see that nothing matters except what we do for Christ. Please do not misunderstand, I am not saying you do not need to work. The Bible is clear that we need to take care of our families, but are you being a godly example at the workplace? Do you care enough about your coworkers to tell them about Jesus? Or, are you afraid you will be labeled a Jesus freak and not be accepted in “the group?” Whatever the reasons are that you are not consumed with living your life for Jesus, obeying His commands, and wanting everyone you know to know Him, you need to deal with it. One day we will stand before Him and give an account for our lives. At that time, all that will matter is what you did for Him.
Go out today and be a strong positive influence for Christ. Maybe you will be called a “Son or Daughter of Thunder” too.
