“Son of Thunder- the One Loved by Jesus” Luke 9:53-55; John 13:23
CONVERSION- In our skeptical world, there are many skeptics to what belief in Jesus can do for a person. Perhaps because some have abused conversion, and have said they have repented when they have not. But that does not discount the reality behind the abuse, and more than abuse of a loved one doesn’t mean there is such a thing as real love. As a minister, I have heard many a story of a changed life, and my life has been changed as well. One fellow told me a story at a Christian retreat center above Asheville that changed my life. The guy lived in Columbia, his name was Kenny, and he told me how his life had changed. He was a handsome guy and all the girls seemed to ogle him. He had a really nice car, which as a teenager really appealed to me. He seemed to be really happy. But he said there was a time in his life he was totally miserable. He told me that he had moved to Atlanta, had a black belt in karate (which was very popular at the time), had too many girlfriends, and all the money he wanted. He grew up wealthy. He had a very nice house, a nice car, and a nice motorcycle. He had been doing drugs, and even selling drugs. He could beat people up, and he did. He had ridden with the Hell’s Angels. In a rebellious teen’s eyes, this guy had it all! But he said what he didn’t have was any peace, any hope, any meaning in life. He said that the world said he should be happy, but he was miserable, to the point of wanting to take his own life. Then someone invited him to try Jesus, and that really helped him. His life changed rapidly. He reconciled with those he had hurt, he found meaning in love instead of hate. He invited all of us there to try Jesus. So I did, and you know the rest of the story. I am not the same rebellious teenager that I was then. I am a walking testimony that Jesus can change someone.
Something happened to John the Apostle. He began his ministry like John the Baptist whom he followed. John the Baptist was a hell-fire and brimstone tell-it-like-it-is preacher. The Baptist told people to repent, and told people the kingdom was at hand, and they’d better straighten up. John, also was a tempestuous guy. He was out to blow the unrighteous away.
The story is that the Samaritan people didn’t welcome Jesus because he was Jewish. How can you not welcome God in the flesh? John and his brother James were furious! They were going to call down lightning from heaven and zap these people. Haven’t you ever felt like that? Haven’t you ever felt like, “God, why don’t you just zap that guy who is beating up his wife? Why don’t you just zap that woman who is having an affair? God if you are there, why don’t you just zap those rebellious atheists who are turning people away, or those heretics who steer people away from the faith.
See the Samaritans were heretics who believed in the God of the Bible, but also believed and offered sacrifices to the Babylonian and Assyrian gods. Yahweh was one God among many in their pantheon. There was real animosity between them and the Jews.
Jesus rebuked John for wanting the lightning to fall on the Samaritans. God rebuked Jonah for wanting the city of Ninevah to be destroyed. God, bless Him!, is much more patient than we are. Jesus called John a “son of thunder.” Now John’s father was named Zebedee (which meant “gift of Yahweh”). But Jesus changed his name to “Boanerges” (which means “sons of thunder”). John had a storm of a temper in those days- but times changed and John changed.
In another story, recorded in Mark (9:38-41), John wanted to stop anybody from doing miracles in Jesus’ name who wasn’t a part of the twelve. Jesus rebuked him for that too saying no one who does a miracle in my name will speak bad of me right after that. John wanted to can the power of Christ. He believed in the power of Christ- he was an eyewitness. Faith was not his problem. But selfishness and judging were his problem. There are people who have strong faith today, but their faith seems shallow because it is wrapped up in what God can do for them. They are seeking an “us versus them” mentality everywhere they turn. That was John. I have heard people say that their church is the only Christian church going to heaven. I have heard people try to list those who are not going to heaven. It doesn’t work, even when they are sincere.
John was a revenge maker. He was judgmental—maybe even mean. He probably was a spoiled rich kid- raised by godly parents, turned selfish. John knew the high priest, and was able to get into the courtyard to watch the trial of Jesus. His family was influential and wealthy enough through the fishing business to have servants and influence in Jerusalem.
The other story- maybe the saddest story, is that at the end of Jesus’ ministry, John and his brother James asked Jesus for the highest place in heaven with him. After all that time with Jesus, they wanted honor and fame for themselves. Their mother pushed them to ask, and it was a pushy question that has gone down in infamy: “Can we sit at your right hand in your kingdom?” You would think that after three years with Jesus, and seeing his humility, his sacrifices, his example of love, that they would have learned the lesson. But Jesus had to teach them at the end- if you want to be great, you must be the servant of all.
The amazing thing to me is that though John was a spoiled rich kid, judgmental- wanting to call fire down on the Samaritans, he was chosen by Jesus. Jesus chose John as one of his first disciples. John responded by dropping his fishing nets and following him. Jesus chose John to be one of the three special disciples- James and Peter. Together these three went up on the Mount of Transfiguration, he was there with James, Peter and Jesus at the raising of Jairus’s daughter, and also stayed with Jesus at the Garden of Gethsemane before his arrest.
Jesus, in some ways, had a very special love for John. John calls himself, in the book that bears his name, “The disciple whom Jesus loved.” This is quite a title! How would you like to call yourself, “the one loved by God.” John was not embarrassed of that. He knew it, and in the end, that knowledge changed him. It also is a humble title, for it does not mention his name, but it mentions his confidence John was the one sitting next to Jesus at the Last supper (no it wasn’t Mary Magdalene- 13:23). John ran with Peter to look at the empty tomb. But one of the signs of Jesus’ trust in John was he told John to take care of his mother (19:26,27). Yes, John was selfish and judgmental in his religion, but Jesus knew he could change—and he did.
Wesley wrote- “A Caesar’s title less my envy moves than to be styled the man whom Jesus loves.”
There is strong historical and textual evidence that the same John who wrote the gospel of John is the one who wrote I John. I John is perhaps the most gentle, kind, unpretentious book in the Bible.
There is a story told by Clement of Alexandria of John that he visited a church, and pointed out a young man to the local bishop. He told the bishop to guard that man’s soul and left for many years. The Bishop took his charge seriously, and taught him, and baptized him. But the young man had some friends who influenced him to leave the faith behind and go after luxury. He ended up a robber, leading a band of robbers. One day John came back to the church, and asked about the deposit he entrusted the bishop with. The bishop became saddened when he thought of the man, and said that the man was dead. But John asked around, and went to a bad area and he was taken captive by robbers and led to the man, now grown. When the robber saw John, he wept and ran away, for he was ashamed and felt there was not hope for him. John , despite his old age, ran after him, asking him why he was running from an old unarmed man. He kept telling him that he had hope, and that Christ had sent John to get him back. John prayed for him, and brought him back to church where he eventually became bishop. Here we see a changed John, not condemning another, but seeking them out with love and pleading. John changed, and we can be changed too!
There is strong tradition that John died an old man in Ephesus. He was the only disciple not martyred, but he did spend years in exile, and definitely suffered for his faith. It is said that the elders in Ephesus would carry John in each Sunday. When he would come, he would end the worship service with the words, “Dear children, let us love one another.” Some became tired of hearing the same words over and over. They asked him, “Master, why do you always say this?” He replied, “It is the Lord’s command. If this alone be done, it is enough.” John changed over the years because he knew Jesus loved him- from a son of thunder to a gentle man. I invite you to let the love of Jesus change you as well. It may be immediate (as with Paul) or it may be gradual (as with John), but let the love and presence of God into your life and make you a better person.