"JAMES -- THE LIGHTNING BOLT!"

TEXTS:       Mark 3:17;   10:35-45;   Luke 9:51-56

INTRO:       If there is one thing that can keep a Christian from being a productive saint it is the beast we call a "TEMPER."  A quick temper has ruined more saints than many other sins, hence the many warnings in the Bible about the wrong use of “anger” such as “fighting” or "murmuring against one another" – or "disputing."  Anger that expresses itself in ungodly ways only creates more pain for those who unleash it as well as for those who are its object!

ILLUS:    A MAN BY THE NAME OF RALPH MILTON HAD A TEMPER PROBLEM.  ONE MORNING RALPH WAS AWAKENED AROUND 5 A.M. TO A CONSTANT SOUND LIKE A MACHINE GUN ON HIS ROOF.  IT WAS SO LOUD THAT HE COULDN'T FALL BACK ASLEEP.  THE LONGER HE LAID THERE THE ANGRIER HE GOT, FINALLY HE GOT UP AND WALKED OUTSIDE TO SEE WHAT WAS MAKING THIS CRAZY RACKET ON THE ROOF OF HIS HOUSE.  HE DISCOVERED A WOODPECKER ON HIS T.V. ANTENNA POUNDING ITS LITTLE BRAIN OUT TRYING TO POKE A HOLE IN THE METAL ANTENNA.  HE WAS SO MAD AT THE STUPID BIRD THAT HE PICKED UP A ROCK AND THREW IT AT THE BIRD, IT SAILED HIGH, BUT MISSED THE BIRD.  TRAVELING OVER HIS HOUSE THE STONE CAME DOWN ON THE OTHER SIDE WITH A CRASHING SOUND OF GLASS SHATTERING!  HE HAD HIT HIS CAR’S WINDSHIELD AND BROKE IT!  NOW ANGRY AT THE BIRD WHO CONTINUED TO PECK AWAY ON THE ATTENNA, AND NOW WITH A BROKEN WINDSHIELD, HE TOOK AND KICKED IN ANGER A NEARBY CLOD OF DIRT – ONLY TO REMEMBER TOO LATE THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY SHOES OR SOCKS ON!  THE PAIN SIGNALS RUNNING UP FROM HIS INJURED FOOT REMINDED HIM OF THE HIGH RPICE OF A QUICK TEMPER, AS DID THE PRICETAG ON THE NEW WINDSIIIELD! – SOURCE UNKNOWN

James was the "lightning bolt" of the group!  However, his quick temper and sense of superiority was tamed by God's Spirit, and the James who learned to be controlled by the Spirit of God instead of his own quick temper became one of the great leaders in the early Church!

PROP. SENT:      The Bible teaches us that God desires to tame our quick tempered spirit if we have a tendency toward one.  The fire of the "lightning bolt spirit" once channeled can be quite powerful, but if it strikes anywhere at a moment’s notice it leaves great scars and damage!

I.   FIERY DISPOSITION!     Mark 3:17

A.   Background    (selected passages by each sub-point)

1.   We can deduce some interesting things about “James the lightning bolt” – there is enough information to get a likely picture of his home life and upbringing:

a.   Father's name was Zebedee; his mother's name was Salome.  Tradition says his mother Salome was the sister of the Virgin Mary, thus making Jesus and James cousins.  (cf. Matt. 27:56 & Jn. 19:25 & Mk 15:4O where she is mentioned by name as having been with Mary at the cross)

b.   His family must have been rich or well off since it is mentioned that his dad had a boat with servants on it, perhaps he even had several boats.  Only the wealthier businessmen could afford servants on their boats – so we know he came from a family of wealth.

c.   It is also quite possible that Zebedee had a house in Jerusalem since John 18:15 clearly indicates that John was known by the high priest Caiaphas in more than just a casual way, his father's wealth may have meant a high social standing in this area and thus a friendship with Caiaphas.  His brother John was able to go right in with Jesus to Caiaphas – no other disciple did this.

2.   So, James probably came from a wealthy influential family that was well connected to the religious authorities.

a.   With his father having servants he was likely use to the good life also, being waited on and getting his way frequently.

b.   With his family being friends with the High Priest he was accustomed to having special privileges.  Perhaps this helps explain later the incident of Jesus being asked to give him and his brother John the privilege of being seated on Jesus’ right and left side when the kingdom was well established; after all, they were used to being next to the High Priest already!

c.   James and his brother John may have thus been accustomed to getting what they wanted, maybe even somewhat spoiled!

3.   This might help explain the "fiery" nature they often expressed, they were familiar in getting their own way, and if they didn't perhaps they threw a fit!

4.   They may came from a family that could throw their weight around in high circles, thus they were use to telling others what to do, they were probably in charge of the servants that worked for their father so they knew how to give orders.

5.   The successful business environment and prosperity they had grown up with and that they had experienced had also bred in them a hardworking ethic.  They were hard driving, hard working men.

B.   Bellicose    Mark 3:17

1.   We are introduced to them as disciples called by Jesus, and interestingly enough it is JESUS who gives them the name: "BOANERGES" which translated means: "Sons of Thunder!"

a.   Since Jesus is the one that gives them this name it is a sure bet that their personality trait in this area was the strongest when they first joined the disciples!

b.   Their reputation for having a quick temper was obvious to everyone, and so Jesus gives them their nickname!

2.   You can only guess how the family took these two boys dropping out of dad's business to follow Jesus, perhaps it resulted in some "fiery" exchanges between the parents and boys!

3.   How well do you think a couple of well connected rich kids did having them join a poor itinerant preacher that constantly demanded from them UNSELFISHNESS and SERVANTHOOD!?

a.   They must have had plenty of arguments with Jesus about how He did things and their boys’ position in the group!  (Matthew’s account tells us that their mom Salome puts them up to asking Jesus for the prominent positions of left and right chairs later!)

b.   They must have had their feathers ruffled many times in the beginning when Jesus expected them to serve others rather than have servants take care of them!

c.   When asked to do menial tasks they must have griped around some and threw some temper tantrums, especially if Jesus didn't do it their way!

4.   Jesus would not have given them a name that didn't apply!

5.   Guys like this often miss the bigger picture and so get mad at the wrong thing, they are so focused on seeing things only from their own context that they can’t see anything else.

ILLUS:    LIKE A WOMAN YEARS AGO IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.  IT WAS A HOT SEPTEMBER DAY WITH THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE HOVERING AROUND THE 100⁰ MARK.  A YOUNG WOMAN HAD ACCIDENTLY LOCKED HER NIECE IN HER CAR WITH ALL THE WINDOWS CLOSED.  HER NIECE WAS ONLY 10 MONTHS OLD SO SHE COULDN'T GET HER TO UNLOCK THE CAR BY TELLING HER WHAT TO DO.  THE BABY'S MOTHER AND THIS AUNT KEPT RUNNING AROUND THE CAR FRANTICLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO.  FINALLY A MAN NOTICED THEIR FRANTIC ACTIONS AND CAME OVER T0 SEE HOW HE COULD HELP.  A NEIGHBOR WHO HAD ALSO COME BY AND TRIED USING A COAT HANGER TO OPEN THE DOOR HAD NOT HAD MUCH LUCK AND SO THIS MAN TOOK ONE LOOK AT THE BABY AND NOTICED SHE HAD ALREADY TURNED PURPLE AND HAD STARTED FOAMING AT THE MOUTH!  HE GRABBED A HAMMER AND QUICKLY TOOK ACTION, SMASHING THE BACK WINDOW AND GRABBING THE LITTLE GIRL AND PULLING HER TO SAFETY!  EXPECTING JOY FROM THE MOM AND AUNT, HE HANDED THE BABY TO THEM, ONLY TO BECOME THE FOCUS OF THEIR ANGER FOR BREAKING THEIR CAR WINDOW!!!  – SOURCE UNKNOWN

a.   It must have been hard for these guys to be a part of an organization that rarely if ever had money or savings, always just barely paying the bills with nothing or little left over!

b.   It must have been hard for them to see Jesus make commitments to do things that would cost more than they had on hand!

c.   How many times they must have questioned Jesus' leadership skills and choices to minister to people who were considered the "scum" of society, they must have thought Jesus would do better to court the high society folks, the ones who have power and influence!

d.   They must have questioned the game plan of Jesus, if they even thought he had one!  They might have thought, "Why are we just wandering around preaching parables, what's the goal here, where are we going, where should we be going?" etc.

II.  FRUSTRATED DISCIPLE    Mark 10:35-45;   Luke 9:51-56

A.   Behavior    Mark 10:35-45

1.   Here we may have a classic example demonstrating James and his brother's disposition and spoiled background, they are asking Jesus for the seats of honor and prestige – the right and left seats when Jesus begins His rule!

a.   Matthew's account of this story tells us that their mother Salome put them up to this request, this may tell us where they got their lightning bolt personality from!

b.   Notice their request, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask."  (Does this sound like a couple of spoiled rich kids who are use to getting their own way and being waited on?)

c.   This statement alone speaks volumes about their personality!

d.   These were guys use to getting what they wanted, and if they didn't you can easily guess how they might have reacted, angrily!

2.   Not only were they demanding, a trait of hot headed personalities, but they were also arrogant!

a.   Notice that when Jesus explained to them the sacrifice and pain that will come to those who get such a privilege they responded to Jesus' question of "do you guys think you can drink from this cup?" their quick response: "WE CAN."

b.   They weren't really thinking about what "CUP" Jesus meant; the only thing going through their mind was “privilege” and “power” – not “persecution!”

3.   As expected, their arrogance ruffled the feathers of the other 10 disciples, read 10:4 – thus a real fight broke out between James and John and the other 10 guys!

a.   This is the other side of a quick temper; it alienates other people by appearing to be superior to others.

b.   "Sons of thunder" often have low tolerance for those they perceive to not be as aggressive as them!  Thus they are pushy and arrogant, which only drives others even further away!

4.   It is noteworthy that Jesus quickly takes charge of the group to heal the rift that was quickly developing; you can almost hear the guys fighting:

a.   "Look you guys; it is me (James) and my brother John who are in the inner circle of Jesus' confidants!"

b.   "If you guys think you should have those seats then how come we do all work around here?"

c.   "WE know how to run a business better than you guys."

5.   Jesus' response to the twelve at this point was to explain to them real power in the kingdom – SERVANTHOOD!

a.   Jesus' appeal was based on His own example, even He came to serve and not to be served!  Thus He addresses James’ and John's arrogance and superiority, and also teaches them all how position and power is achieved in HIS kingdom!

b.   The real place of honor awaits those who set themselves aside and seek to help others first!

c.   This had to be humbling to James and John!  You can imagine that they might have been highly critical of the other guys at times, certainly another symptom of a "son of thunder" personality!

6.   It is not critics however that will build the kingdom of God, it will be construction workers!

ILLUS:     A YOUNG MUSICIAN HAD GIVEN ONE OF HIS FIRST CONCERTS AND IT WAS POORLY RECIEVED AND HIGHLY CRITICIZED.  THE CRITICS HAD TORN APART HIS PERFORMANCE.  HOWEVER, THE FAMOUS FINNISH COMPOSER, JEAN SIBELIUS CONSOLED THE YOUNG MAN BY TELLING HIM THAT WE WOULD ALL DO WELL TO REMEMBER, HE SAID TO THIS YOUNG MAN, "REMEMBER SON THERE IS NO CITY IN THE WORLD WHERE THEY HAVE ERECTED A STATUE TO A CRITIC!"  – SOURCE UNKNOWN

B.   "Brimstone"   Luke 9:51-56

1.   Even as we near the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry, after years of being with Jesus, James and his brother John can still show that their "sons of thunder" personality can still rule!

a.   Jesus was in a hurry to get back to Jerusalem in time for the feast of Tabernacles, so they were going to pass through Samaria – the land of people that hated the Jews.

b.   The Samaritans took great pleasure in denying food and housing to Jews that were traveling to Jerusalem since they felt that Mount Gerizim was the proper place to worship God and not Jerusalem!

c.   Remember the argument of the Samaritan woman with Jesus in John 4?

d.   The hostility was fueled by each side racially hating the other!

2.   Jesus sent the "boys" into the Samaritan village to make preparations, and of course they were badly treated and rejected, something that "hot heads" don't take well!

a.   Their reaction is typical of a "son of thunder" personality!

b.   "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?"

c.   They weren't going to put up with people who treated them like this!

d.   They wrongly assumed that this would make Jesus just as mad as it made them, they may have thought, "Jesus won't put up with this either!"

3.   Jesus' response to them is quite different from what they thought it would be; Jesus rebukes them instead of the enemy!

a.   And then Jesus instructs them to take another way home rather than stand and fight!

b.   They might have thought this was the wimpy way out, how could Jesus do this?

c.   Jesus could see past immediate anger however, He knew there were much bigger issues to fight than just this local situation!

d.   James and John wanted to wipe them off the face of the earth!  They couldn't see past their immediate feelings, they had no control over their expressions of anger!

4.   It is amazing what people will fight over and how we can fail to see the bigger picture in times of anger – "sons of thunder" get lost sometimes in their immediate feelings and just react without thinking of consequences or the bigger picture!

ILLUS:     A YOUNG BOY ONCE ASKED HIS FATHER THIS QUESTION, "DAD, HOW DO WARS BEGIN?"  HIS FATHER RESPONDED, “WELL SON, TAKE THE SECOND WORLD WAR; THAT GOT STARTED WHEN GERMANY INVADED BELGIUM.”  IMMEDIATELY THE MOTHER JUMPED IN THE CONVERSATION AND SAID, "TELL THE BOY THE TRUTH, IT BEGAN BECAUSE SOMEONE WAS MURDERED: NOT FROM GERMANY'S INVASION OF POLAND FIRST!"  THE HUSBAND DREW HIMSELF UP IN HIS CHAIR AND SNAPPED BACK AT HIS WIFE, "ARE YOU ANSWERING THE QUESTION OR AM I, HE ASKED ME, NOT YOU!"  HIS WIFE THEN TURNED AROUND IN A HUFF AND WALKED OUT OF THE ROOM AND SLAMMED THE DOOR SHUT AS HARD AS SHE COULD!  ONCE THE DISHES STOPPED RATTLING IN THE CUPBOARD FROM THE SLAMMED DOOR AN UNEASY SILENCE FOLLOWED, BROKEN AT LAST BY THE YOUNG BOY WHO SAID TO HIS FATHER, "DAD, YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL ME ANY MORE HOW WARS GET STARTED, I NOW KNOW!"  – SOURCE UNKNOWN

5.   It is noteworthy that in the passage just before this one John (and perhaps James too) had attempted to stop a man from driving demons out of others in Jesus' name simply because the man didn't belong to the elite group of disciples, Jesus corrects John for his arrogant attitude!

6.   They were still learning to channel their fire correctly, yet we must also note that "sons of thunder" are not discarded by the Lord, quite to the contrary, Jesus had in His inner circle of three disciples two sons of thunder!

a.   Obviously there is something about this kind of person Christ sees with great potential!

b.   Fire can be tremendously destructive or tremendously constructive, the secret is control!

C.   Beneficial

1.   Once brought under the control of the Spirit after Pentecost James and John emerge as great leaders of the Church.

2.   Once their "thunder" was guided it gave power to the work of God, Jesus saw this and knew that once this energy was properly brought under control they would be powerhouses for Christ!

a.   Fortunately Jesus sees beyond just what we are right now, and sees what we can be in Him!

b.   Some of the great powerhouses for God have been men with "sons of thunder" personality, although usually their ministry didn't work well until it came under the control of the Spirit of God!

3.   What a "son of thunder" needs to do is to take notice of where he is heading without that control and make a quick change in the right direction:

ILLUS:      LIKE THE MAN WHO WAS ALWAYS BROADCAST ON THE BEGINNING OF ABC'S WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS.  REMEMBER THE GUY WHO THEY SHOWED GOING ALL OVER THE PLACE ON SKIS, CRASHING OFF THE JUMP AND THROUGH THE CROWD AND FENCE!  THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY THE WORDS, "THE THRILL OF VICTORY AND THE AGONY OF DEFEAT."  THE SKIER LOOKED IN GOOD FORM COMING DOWN THE CHUTE, AND THEN SUDDENLY OFF HE GOES TWISTING AND TURNING THROUGH THE AIR WITH A GREAT CRASH AND TUMBLE.  WHAT VIEWERS DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THAT FALL IS THAT IT WAS NOT ACCIDENTAL!  THE MAN WAS NOT SERIOUSLY HURT, (THAT'S WHY THEY SHOWED IT) THE WORSE HE GOT FOR THE EXPERIENCE WAS A BAD HEADACHE AND A FEW BRUISES.  HE EXPLAINED THAT AS HE WAS COMING DOWN THE CHUTE HE REALIZED THE SURFACE WAS TOO FAST AND THAT IF HE HAD CONTINUED ON TRACK THAT HE WOULD HAVE TRAVELED TOO FAR PAST THE POINT OF SAFE LANDING AND WOULD HAVE LIKELY DIED.  HE WAS OUT OF CONTROL, INSTEAD HE CHOSE TO FALL IN ORDER TO SAVE HIMSELF DOWN THE CHUTE FURTHER WHERE HE WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE RECEIVED SEVERE INJURIES OR DEATH!  HE REALIZED THAT A CHANGE OF COURSE NOW MIGHT SAVE HIS LIFE FROM BEING OUT OF CONTROL AND CONTINUING THE SAME PATH TOWARD DEATH!  THIS IS WHAT A "SON OF THUNDER" MUST DO IN ORDER TO "SKI ANOTHER DAY" – CHANGE COURSES!  – SOURCE UNKNOWN

4.   History records the successful transformation of these two "sons of thunder."   These are the kind of saints that once they are brought under the control of the Spirit become some of the most dedicated Christians whose commitment and perseverance is envied by others!

5.   Indeed, when Herod Agrippa in Acts 12:1-2 wanted to scare the Church into breaking up he took James and put him to the sword in hopes that James’ death might frighten the other less committed disciples – this happened in A.D. 44 (we know that Agrippa died shortly thereafter so it had to be before this date)

a.   James thus served God about 17 years.

b.   He was the second recorded martyr, coming after Stephen’s death, but he was the first Apostle murdered for his faith!

c.   This probably proved his leadership in the early Church, the very reason Agrippa picked him out to kill first; kill the leader and you scatter the flock.  In Acts 12 the second man seized by Agrippa was Peter, but God delivered Peter from his attempted execution!

d.   James died as an example of leadership, control, strength; an example of one of God's finest saints!

6.   Being a "son of thunder" doesn't mean the end of all things; it just means you need control.  God needs you "sons of thunder" and so does the Church!  It is best however when your thunder is under His control!

CONCLUSION:   James the "lightning bolt" was the typical "good news-bad news" person.  He was great in drive; a fire drove him to deep commitment and action.  The bad news was the quick trigger he showed for anger, which damaged relationships at times.  Once God's Spirit channeled this "fire" James became one of the great leaders of the early Church.  He died by the sword in AD 44, the second martyr of faith!  Acts 12:1-2.  If you are a "son of thunder" is your anger under the control of God’s Spirit?