Sons of Thunder

Jesus calls 12 men to be His apostles. Among them are…James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means "sons of thunder")  Mark 3:17.   This is the only place in Scripture that mentions the Sons of Thunder (FYI:  It was also the name of a intramural football team I played on in college)

Here’s how it happened….when the people in a village of Samaria were not responsive to the message of Jesus…  “…they asked, ‘Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?’” Luke 9:54.   Hey after all…after all they were showing disrespect for the Son of God.

If James and John had been from Texas, they would have worn those shirts that say, “Don’t Mess with Texas.” I love these guys, because they are completely human, and completely honest. “Sons of Thunder”, It sounds like the name of a motorcycle gang… I can see the name emblazoned across the backs of their leather jackets and tattooed on their arms. But that wasn’t the only reason they had that name. 

Jesus was telling them about His own impending death, how he would be betrayed and then handed over to the soldiers to be mocked, spit upon, scourged, and ultimately killed, James and John blurted out, "Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask. . . . Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory" Mark 10:35, 37.  Was that a good time to bring this up? It would be like saying, "Really? Could I have your car?" to someone who just found out they had one week to live. These guys just said what they thought. And they were just like us: hopelessly human and remarkably unremarkable.

But still Jesus saw more and He has a purpose for everything He does, James was the first apostle to be martyred. And John became known as the apostle of love. He was the author of the Gospel of John as well as the epistles of 1, 2, and 3 John. God made James and John into different people than they were before—and He can do the same for us.

The question that comes to us today is, “How do we treat those who reject our faith and beliefs?” Are you going to put on your “Sons of Thunder” jacket and call down fire from heaven on them? Do you want to lay a little “Shock and Awe” on them, just to let them know that they can’t mess with Jesus?  As he did with James and John that day on the road, Jesus gives us a rebuke and says to us, “I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:44-45. Love and Pray them into submission, and let the true “Shock and Awe” of God take care of things.  But it’s still a cool logo and name!

John the Disciple

FUN THOT:  (from the supernatural mysterious God that can do all things)
We know of two guys that did not see death and went to heaven
Enoch: “He was not; for God took him”.
Elijah:   “Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven”
The Bible does not give us the exact details of the disciple John's death. Could John still be alive?

INFO:

• John is the one closest to Christ… the one whom Christ loves…. John 21:19
• John was one of Son’s of Thunder…Mark 3:17
• Christ Jesus is the one who suggests the option that John may still be alive “if I want him to remain alive…” John 21:22
• Some believe that  Jesus may have been telling Peter that he had to be crucified, but he did not say that of John
• It is traditionally believed that John was the youngest of the apostles and survived them
• It is a popular Mormon belief that John is still alive

SCRIPTURE:

• Matt 16:28 (KJV) Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
• John 21:21-23 (NIV) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”  Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
• Revelation 10:11 (ESV)  And I was told, “You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.”

HISTORY & TRADITION

• The 1910 Catholic Encyclopedia says that John spent his last days in Ephesus.
• Justin Martyr wrote that John spent his remaining days in Ephesus until he died somewhere around 100 A.D.
• One ancient source stated he fell asleep at Ephesus, where his remains were sought for, but could not be found.
• Foxe's Book of Martyrs says that the apostle John, as punishment for being a believer in Christ, was thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil and that all in the audience of  the colosseum were converted to Christianity upon witnessing this miracle.
• Another source:  The Emperor Domitian sent John to the island of Patmos (which is near the coast of Asia Minor and the city of Ephesus). It was during his time on the island that John, likely around 95 A.D., wrote the book of Revelation. When Emperor Nerva came to power he released John from his island imprisonment. John seems to have been the only one of Jesus' original twelve apostles who escape a violent death.
• Easton's Bible Dictionary writes that John 'retired' to Ephesus after writing Revelation. The aged apostle likely outlived just about all his friends and his many acquaintances made over the years. 

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“How is Elvis and have you seen him lately?”  Ghostbusters 1984

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.   Hebrews 13:2

So if a new (old) guy comes to your church….
 

Helmet of Salvation

What the Helmet of Salvation does…

Identifying… Marks you as:

• A warrior
• What side you are on
• On duty-at your post-on the wall
• Prepared and ready to fight
• Called out  - Separate– different  - Our way of living and even of thinking should differ from the world's.

Knighting:  It is a valuable gift from God – that He alone gives – for the believer alone

When you think about the King of all creation giving you a helmet
Almost like a knighting ceremony….  Kneeling down, humble
Almost bestows, like there should be a ceremony, like a doning of a crown
It is a privilege and honor

Familiar Picture

When Paul wrote to the Ephesians about the helmet of salvation, some of them may have found the analogy to be very familiar.

Protection: "'A simple helmet would have saved his life,' said Lansing fire public information officer."

 

Satan will direct attacks at the believers believer’s security and assurance in Christ….discouragement and doubt that can come from any direction.  And once the head is mush….then….

Putting on the helmet of salvation DOES NOT save you. The only ones who can take up any piece of God’s armor, and the only ones who are in the army, on the team, in the family, are the one that are already saved, involved in this supernatural struggle

Protection from the unknown
Matthew 13:22  Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

Without the helmet of salvation, we will be unprotected from the “cares of this world" that bombard our thoughts and feelings. Imagine not knowing what the future ultimately holds. The worries and problems produced by living in this world would overwhelm us!
 

Confidence

Philippians 1:6  being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Comfort
When the helmet of that hope is in place, we can have some feeling of ease and enjoy the ride and others are at ease at least while for a little while knowing that a greater joy awaits

Attitude
We can receive tremendous hope and comfort by focusing on the incredible sacrifice Christ gave to save us and the amazing Kingdom that is the goal of our salvation. This hope works like a helmet to protect our minds from the discouragement and despair in this world.

How do I keep the helmet secure?

Psalm 3:8 Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah.

We are to develop the mind of Christ

• Stay in the Word – read, learn, study, memorize, share
• Stay close to the Savior
• Stay close to His church – bride – people
• Stay in service
• REAL:  Roman soldiers had ceremonial helmets – decorated, brightly colored but offered no protection.  A real one worn correctly NOT a ceremonial helmet

Thoughts, Conclusions and Applications
In many ways comparing a motorcycle helmet vs warriors helmet breaks down pretty fast
Battle helmet is a powerful picture:  Protection in the battle more constant attacks and danger and warfare
Football helmet illustration works better than motorcycle…even a bicycle helmet…Anyways…
However;  I may not always wear a motorcycle helmet but I do understand the benefits and I am aware of the dangers – risks without it. 
As a Christian, as a warrior, called-recruited, enlisted, it is NOT an option, this is NOT an off duty, even at night, even at home

Motorcycle or Salvation Helmet…Either one if I am to wear it

• Wear it well
• Wear a good one (best, cost, fit)
• Wear it correctly
• Wear it proud

Helmet

Reasons to wear or not to wear a motorcycle helmet…

NOT

• Hear better
• See better - More peripheral vision
• More weight for neck injuries
• Freedom
• Sort of rebellious spirit
• Wind
• Matt up your hair
• Sweaty hair
• Not a guarantee of salvation
• Like the feel, feeling..
• What to do with when I go somewhere (inconvenience)

SHOULD

• Might help protect head in a crash
• Protection from bug and debris
• Some have visors for ease and more protection for face
• Protection in rain
• Keeps head warm on cold days
• Communication 2 way radio
• Family and friends feel a little bit better about you out riding
• Maybe you are more confidant or feel safer
• Many different kinds to match occasion or bike or wearer
• Some places it is the law
• May be more easily noticed

Next post … the helmet of salvation….

Three Monkeys

See No Evil…Hear No Evil…Speak No Evil

Great protecting words and picture to live by
But what would the opposite sound like?
We need both versions however the Christians and the church are often criticized as being too much the first

Seeing Through the Eyes of Christ
Do we look for the lost like Jesus did?
We need to have Jesus’ eyes and look and see those who are harassed and helpless
We need to pray
We need to look for opportunities to serve
We need to notice God @ work around us through others, His church and creation

Speaking the Words of Christ
We need to be the voice of Christ
We need to share the gospel
We need to go anywhere in the world the Lord leads
There are still many places in the world where the gospel has not been heard
We need to speak uplifting positive words
The world needs to hear them from us

Hearing the Words of Christ
We need to be in church
We need accountability
We need to be reminded

Being the Hands of Christ
Instead of our hands just covering to protect our eyes, ears, and mouth
How about them acting upon what we have seen, heard, and spoken
Caught – Taught … let your life match your words
Actively ready to go…serve…be…do…respond…give…help