What is a "Son of Thunder" anyway? Does it mean that James and John had loud booming voices? Does it mean that they showed up after the lightening strike? Does it mean that they were always rumbling or maybe they found themselves always surrounded by some storm? Maybe they had short fuses or were prone to excitement. I'm not really sure.
What I do know is Jesus picked them to be a part of The Twelve. I do know that Jesus changed their names. And when God changes a name there is always a reason and purpose. God changed Simon's name to Peter and Jacob's name to Israel and Abram's name to Abraham and Sarai's name to Sarah and Saul's name to Paul.
Whenever God calls us for a specific mission it usually involves a life change. God called Abram away from his home and family to give him a new land and make him the father of many nations. With that call came a new identity. So God gave him a name to match that identity. Perhaps that's why he changed James' and John's names to Sons of Thunder, to change their identity and image of themselves. The were fishermen by trade and now God was calling them to catch men, to proclaim the message of the Good News which would echo across the seas of time.
It's a basic principle. When you come and spend time with Jesus, He changes you. When you become a disciple of Jesus, your past character becomes irrelevant. It doesn't matter where you've been or what you've done, good or bad (ie. Paul with all his religious and personal credentials/achievements and or Rahab, the prostitute), God is able to transform and give you a new character and calling, a new life (2 Cor. 5:17).
When Jesus picked The Twelve, it doesn't look like an all-star list of the top CEO's of His day. In fact, it makes you wonder how Christianity got out of the first century and changed the world. But that's God's transforming power. If you're bummed out with your life right now, don't like where it's going, then try spending some time hanging out with Jesus. Study Him. Watch Him. Experience Him. Talk with Him. Listen to Him. Get alone with Him. Take Him to work with you or at least on your commute. I guarantee, you'll be changed. Who knows, He might even change your name.
God, I'm spending my day with you today. I just want to hang out with you. I want to experience your presence today. Thanks for inviting me to dine with you and walk with you and learn from you.
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