2024_11_06 Insight Post- Rusty Coram
This week’s reading- Mark 1:16-19, Mark 6:35-43, Mark 3:17, Luke 9:51-56, Matthew 17:1-14, Matthew 20:30-38, Mark 10:35-45, Matthew 26:36-46, Acts 12:1-3
According to the Online Etymological Dictionary (I use this tool a lot!) the word nickname literally means “an additional name.” It is often used to describe a specific characteristic of a person (and at times derisively) or to distinguish someone for clarity. For instance, I had a friend in college named Mike, but we all called him Tucson because of his AZ roots. Another friend got the name “trainwreck” because of his five divorces. [To clarify, he agreed, and it was among the men who nicknamed him trainwreck that he discovered and accepted Jesus!]
The two brothers we are reading about this week had the distinction of being nicknamed by Jesus. James and John were of a similar nature – strong-willed, confident, outspoken, and quick to react. We see this play out several times as we read about them. Jesus did, too, so much so that He chose to distinguish them as “the Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3:17). We don’t know how the brothers viewed this designation, but we do know that they loved and respected Jesus. Even when He corrected them for their overreaction (Luke 9:54-55), they accepted the rebuke and remained devoted. Another time, they lobbied (along with their mom) for promotions (Matthew 20:20-29 and Mark 10:35–40), and Jesus firmly but kindly corrected their misplaced ambition.
As I thought about the nickname the brothers were given, I wondered if Jesus had two purposes for it. First, to serve as a reminder of their natural inclination so they could be aware and learn to be careful and wise. Obviously, He accepted them as they were, but, like with all of us, changes are needed so we become more and more Christ-like in our attitudes and actions. Second, as the years went on, the two brothers could look back and recognize how they had changed and learned to channel their fiery temperaments into tools for good leadership. One example of that is the way they stood up for what was right and good as leaders in the newly formed church. James becomes the first of the disciples to be martyred, and it is here that he discovers what Jesus meant when He told him and John, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup.” (Matthew 20:23). The Sons of Thunder never lost their strength, they learned how to channel it!
Rusty Coram
Senior Pastor