Read it: Luke 9:51-55, Mark 3:17, 1 John 3:11;14-15
Live it:
Wow! John and his brother James were ready to call down fire from heaven to consume a Samaritan village when they were less than hospitable toward Jesus and His disciples. What kind of temper is that? In today’s culture, we would send them to anger management classes.
In Mark’s account of Jesus choosing from among his disciples, the twelve whom He would call to be apostles, the parenthetical says Jesus nicknamed John and his brother James “Sons of Thunder.” I wonder what kind of disposition one has to have to be called a “Son of Thunder.” My guess is one might be bombastic in speech and demeanor, be ready to fight at the drop of a hat, or even be hateful towards people with whom you disagree. Just some guesses.
But look at the completely different tone, when later in life, John penned the words in the 1 John passage. Look at what he has to say about the power of love and how necessary it is for Christians to demonstrate love towards one another. Let’s heed John’s words and love one another.
Ps. Rod