James & John: Sons of Thunder

​James and John had the tendency to be really angry. They were often zealous without a moral compass, as well as sinfully and selfishly ambitious. Their nickname, “Sons of Thunder” was a perfect fit.

After each thunderclap, Jesus didn’t toss them out of the group but called them to Himself. He lovingly rebuked, corrected, and taught them about ministry. Because of their fellowship with Jesus, James and John were radically transformed. As their eyes were opened to what ministry looks like, they saw the good work of The Good Shepherd.

Ministry does not look like frying your enemy’s faces off (John 9:54), being zealously angry all the time (Mark 9:38), or scheming for personal gain (Matthew 20:21). Because they drew near to Jesus, James and John came to understand that Jesus came to save lives, not to destroy lives. They saw that Jesus came to serve, not to be served. They observed that The Good Shepherd came to lay His life down so that others may live. 

James and John learned all this as Jesus loved and received them just as they were. But we know that Jesus loves us too much to leave us as He finds us. As He calls us to be with Him, He transforms us, too. Our zeal and ambition can be fantastic and fruitful qualities only when harnessed and focussed by Jesus so that our motives for ministry match The Good Shepherd.