Friends of Jesus- James and John
Inner circle
Peter, James, and John were the disciples chosen by Jesus to be the three He would reveal the most about Himself and the Kingdom of God to, during His three years of ministry. These disciples were also the most colorful characters in His inner circle of confidants. These men were with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration and heard the audible, thundering voice of God, saw Jesus personage changed before their eyes, and they would be vital to the transmission of the gospel down through the ages by writing the books of I & II Peter, James (possibly), John, I, II, & III John, and The Revelation.
What’s in a name?
James and John were most likely cousins of Jesus; sons of Zebedee and Salome (sister to his mother, Mary). They may have actually been the playmates of Jesus while growing up in Galilee. Thus the familiarity of Jesus as He nicknamed James and John, “sons of thunder” (Boanerges) or sons of God’s voice. Thunder is how God’s voice is described throughout Scripture. Like Simon, nicknamed Peter, these brothers were fishermen who dropped everything to follow Jesus. Just what about these men earned them this nickname? We see glimpses of their personality rise at times. They wanted to call down fire from heaven (Luke 9:54) and they were like Moses in proclaiming the Word of God. Sons of thunder: impetuous, fervent, prone to anger, and fiercely loyal. These are personality traits God takes and molds into useable spokesmen for the kingdom.
Wanting more
James and John knew they were special to Jesus but were not satisfied. They approached Jesus asking for additional privilege in the next life to come by sitting on His left and right hand (places of honor, power, privilege, and prestige). They even got Mom, Aunt Salome, involved in the requisitioning. Little did they know, they were asked to give their lives for the sake of the gospel. James would be the first of the disciples executed and John “the beloved” not “the baptizer” would be the last to die and he would die old and in exile on a lonely island. Both perished in service to the Master: their cousin, their rabbi, their friend. (We pray God will use our children and grandchildren and then He does. But, not how we expected or wanted! He allows situations in their lives to grow them, prune them, shape them, break them, and then He wants them to be trekkies ( “to boldly go where no man has gone before”). Buckle up! The ride is more real than any roller coaster.)
Disciple to rabbi
Scholars believe these men were in their late teens to early twenties when Jesus called them to be his disciples. Jesus, Himself had just turned 30: the age of becoming a rabbi. The normal way for a young man to become a disciple was for them to seek out a rabbi and ask to follow them. If the request was denied, then following in the trade of their father was expected. To have a rabbi seek out young men would have been an honor indeed. The average time frame for training was three years and then the student would become a teacher. These men were family turned friend and student. As such, these friends of Jesus were willing to learn, and then pass on the lessons with confidence and conviction.
Confidence by Sanctus Real
Scriptures: Matthew 17:1, 20:20-24, Mark 1:19-2, 3:17, 10:42-44, Luke 5:1-11, 9:54
Psalm 18:13, 29:3-4, 77:18, 104:7, Job 37:4-5, 40:9, Revelation 6:1, 14:2.
Suggested reading:
The Forgotten Jesus by Robby Gallaty
Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus and Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus by Lois Tverberg
