Luke 9:55-56
“But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of, for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” And they went on to another village.”
Two of Jesus’s first disciples were James and John. He gave them the name, Boangerges, which means, “Sons of Thunder.” As we read in Luke chapter nine, Jesus and the disciples were weary traveling to Jerusalem. They needed a place to rest entering a village of Samaritans. The Samaritans rejected them, because they were usually treated badly by Jews. When James and John saw this, they said,
“Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”
We see Jesus’s response in Luke 9:55-56.
I have to say as I read this I could so relate to the immediate response of James and John. They responded out of their flesh, which comes natural to sons and daughters of thunder. When we do things our way leaning to our own understanding we destroy lives and relationships. If we react according to the Holy Spirit living inside of us we bring life and save others. His ways are always higher. To follow Him we must deny our will for His in our daily lives.
In Matthew 20:20-23 you find the mother of James and Jesus going to see Jesus and asking for Him to command in His kingdom that these two sons of her may sit one on His left, and one on His right!
Perhaps you like me see yourself in all the disciple’s weaknesses. I love the total honesty of scripture. It gives me hope, as I see what these two disciples became. James was the first disciple to be martyred and gave us a great book in our Bible. John wrote several books in the Bible including Revelation. He is known as a disciple of love. In losing their lives, they gained them. Let us follow their example. All things are possible following Jesus!
In His love..
Teresa Roberts
Masterpiece Fitness
One of the most beautiful sunrises I have ever seen captured on Topsail Island, NC, being captured even in the waves with a sea gull flying over and a shrimp boat in the background. I spent many mornings running in solitude listening to the waves crashing realizing from the glory of creation itself, “All thing are possible with Him!”
