Who Were.James and John? Son's of Thunder

James and John were sons of Zebedee. At the time Jesus called them to be his disciples, they were with their father on their fishing boat getting ready to cast out their net. 

Both brothers received the nickname  "The Son's of Thunder" by Jesus. Mark 3:17. While there is no explanation of why Jesus called them this, he always has a reason for everything he does (did) or says. (said) Past and present. And he does not always give us a reason because he does not have to.

It is possible that they could be easily angered in situations as the time when they were traveling with Jesus through Samaria on their way to Jerusalem and met with some opposition there. Luke 9:51-56.

Or could it have been they had a fiery zeal for the cause of Christ?  They wanted to know when the end of time would come and what would be the signs. They were passionate to know, not just being passive in that it will come someday and not something "I need to worry about now." They wanted to know when and how they would know.

 Perhaps it was for situations like these were why Jesus gave them this nickname.

Both James and John were two of Jesus's closest friends. Mathew 17:1.

James was witness to the raising of Jairus's daughter in Mark 5:37, the agony that Jesus went through in the Garden of Gethseneme Mark 14:33 and his transfiguration in Mark 9:2.

He was the first disciple to be martyred and was ordered by King Herod Agrippa of Judea to be beheaded. 

(sources used in today's devotion: Scriptures mentioned above, Saint James | apostle, son of Zebedee,  Why did Jesus refer to James and John as the sons of thunder?, and James - All the Men of the Bible - Bible Gateway


Were all of Christ's disciples martyred? So far, the ones we have looked at have been. To follow him in their day meant it was a huge possibility they could be. What about John? He is next on our list to learn a little more about so coming tomorrow: More on the Lives of these two disciples of Jesus Christ. And what about John?


Thanks for coming by today. Many blessings as always to you and yours!