Son's of Thunder!















Jack Higgens, author of the successful novel The Eagle Has Landed, was asked what he would like to have known as a boy. His answer: “That when you get to the top, there’s nothing there.”

Those called personally by Jesus to follow His way, His life find there’s much more to life, than you could ever dream. There is in fact everything you could want or hope to find, when you know the Lord!

Yet it’s not always Happiness and Hallelujahs!

The Apostles, men set aside by Jesus, and commissioned to carry His message around the world , were typical humans, they (Like Us) ran cold, and hot…sometimes zealous, other times intimidated…the personalities of their past….the old nature, frail, undisciplined would often rush to the for-front of an event.

How very evident is the humanity of James, and his brother, John…James was the oldest “Son of Thunder” So named I believe because of their zealous, passionate personalities!

The following event from the life of these two brothers, illustrates the struggle we all face trying to live as Children of the King, in this present world.

As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them[a]?" 55But Jesus turned and rebuked them, 56and[b] they went to another village. (Luke 9:51-56).(NIV)
As this drama unfolds we see...

A Village Rejection

A Village Suggestion

The Lord’s Rebuke


In the Scripture passage we just read, Jesus sets a prime example of obedience for us. Luke tells us that Jesus resolutely set out from Galilee to Jerusalem.

He was determined to offer His life for all who would believe, nothing would or could deter Him from His desire to follow the will of His Father, even though it would include the cross!

Our Lord would experience a short lived acceptance, in Jerusalem as the crowds cheered him, soon to be followed by people jeering him, accusing him, hating him, beating him, trying him, rejecting him! Our Lord's Jersualem drama is soon coming!

In the passage before us today Luke tells us the reason they rejected Jesus(In this Samaritan Village)was because he was going to Jerusalem.

This was offensive to the Samaritans because they had their own shrine for worship at Mount Gerizim. They felt they could worship there, and they refused to acknowledge Jerusalem as the valid center for worship.

Remember the words of the Samaritan woman Jesus met at the well: “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” (John 4:20).

This sets up the response by James and his brother John.
This Village rejection, this willful disregard, and coldness shown to Jesus infuriated these two brothers, nicknamed “ Son’s of thunder” all because…. the people who lived there said they would not welcome Jesus.

When this report was given, James and John quickly stepped forward and offered a Village Suggestion

"Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them"
(Luke 9:54).

*Immediately prior to this journey toward Jerusalem, James and John had witnessed the transfiguration. They'd been living as citizens of the kingdom of heaven. But they held two passports, dual citizenship. As these Jewish men passed into Samaritan territory, the habits and prejudices they carried deep in their own DNA surfaced in a flash, triggered by the Samaritans' deep-seated prejudice against them.

The offense sparked a militant response from James and John, Jewish citizens, and they grabbed for the big guns from the armory of their other kingdom. Which showed, perhaps, that they didn't truly understand the power of that other kingdom at all
.*theparablelife.blogspot.com

Jesus demonstrated the way His kingdom's weapons are meant to be used.

Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they went to another village. (Luke 9: 56).

This incident in the life of Jesus as He was making His way to Jerusalem, is in fact a glimpse into the lives of two of His most faithful followers.

When Jesus is not welcomed, they desire to right that wrong…..with blazing judgment!
That desire to call in an “air strike” when things are not going the way we think they should, can damage more than villages it can wreck lives.

Emotions unchecked, can lead to impulsive actions, critical comments, and hateful conduct that will leave you living a life of regret!

Is there a place for “Holy Anger” ? Theologians refer to it as Righteous Indignation, and Jesus exampled it when he threw money changers from the temple area…they had made His Fathers house, a den of thieves, rather than a house of prayer!

In the passage today, the Lords rebuke comes not because he is not a just God, not because He will not eventually judge all who reject Him, but because James and John’s hearts were not right. Vindication is best left up to God.

Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. (Romans 12:19).

The message Bible reads this way:

Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."(Romans 12:19).

We can trust Jesus to watch over us, and to provide wisdom for how to deal with those who reject us , who keep us at arms length.

We especially when pressured ...need to follow the example of Jesus and not that of the ..."Son's of Thunder"

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