Post by Admin on Feb 7, 2019 7:16:46 GMT
Translations of Mark give the nickname “Sons of Thunder” to James and John, attributed to Jesus. Our discussion tonight started by talking about nicknames, those we have given others, and those applied to us, and whether the nicknames were positive or disparaging. We then set about considering a nickname for our discussion group; among the possibilities were NAC-CHAT, Searchers (as in searching through scripture), and Bridge Group (as in bridging between services).
James, the brother of John, is most frequently mentioned in connection with his brother, in a list, or among a group with Jesus. He is often in the inner three – Peter, James, John – that had special experiences with Jesus, such as at the Mount of Transfiguration. Nevertheless, about the only situational information we have about his life is captured in the two scripture passages read tonight: first, his suggestion of bringing fire down to a town that did not want Jesus to stay the night, and then his ultimate end, beheaded on the order of King Herod.
Relative to the story of the Samaritans, we spent some time considering why the Samaritans rejected Jesus. Were they insulted that he was trooping to Jerusalem with the other Jews for Passover, or sad that He was only stopping, and not worshipping with them for Passover, or even worried that housing Him could get them into some trouble? While we do not have the information to discern the answer, it was interesting how our conversation was seeking to look at the encounter through the eyes of the Samaritans, rather from the outside with judgement. We did agree that an apparent lesson from the situation – one that Jesus had taught before – was that it’s best to move on when someone is not interested. No one can be forced to Jesus. There were other lessons that Jesus taught from rebuking James for his suggestions of bringing down fire. One was to think about righteous reactions, and whether they motivate over-zealousness that harms others. Another was to realize that the Old Testament, with it’s old covenant, was becoming obsolete, to be replaced with a new covenant that loves, and does not rain fire.
The snippet from Acts shares the only story of the death of one the twelve, save Judas who never moved from disciple to Apostle. James was arrested and executed around the same time that Peter was arrested, yet Peter was either released, or in one case, freed by the power of prayer. Why did James die, and Peter continue the work? What is certainly true is that the disciples, after the resurrection, achieved a willingness, even eagerness, to share Christ’s glory through martyrdom. As Jesus comes near the end of his ministry on earth, He is still struggling to make clear to James and the others that He is a Messiah quite different from the earthly Warrior-King the Old Testament gave them to expect, and that His Kingdom is a complete departure from the past – love, not fire. In the days leading up to Christ’s sacrifice, and the days afterward as the truth became clear, James transformed from a firebrand of old to a man ready to lay down his own life for Christ.
James, the brother of John, is most frequently mentioned in connection with his brother, in a list, or among a group with Jesus. He is often in the inner three – Peter, James, John – that had special experiences with Jesus, such as at the Mount of Transfiguration. Nevertheless, about the only situational information we have about his life is captured in the two scripture passages read tonight: first, his suggestion of bringing fire down to a town that did not want Jesus to stay the night, and then his ultimate end, beheaded on the order of King Herod.
Relative to the story of the Samaritans, we spent some time considering why the Samaritans rejected Jesus. Were they insulted that he was trooping to Jerusalem with the other Jews for Passover, or sad that He was only stopping, and not worshipping with them for Passover, or even worried that housing Him could get them into some trouble? While we do not have the information to discern the answer, it was interesting how our conversation was seeking to look at the encounter through the eyes of the Samaritans, rather from the outside with judgement. We did agree that an apparent lesson from the situation – one that Jesus had taught before – was that it’s best to move on when someone is not interested. No one can be forced to Jesus. There were other lessons that Jesus taught from rebuking James for his suggestions of bringing down fire. One was to think about righteous reactions, and whether they motivate over-zealousness that harms others. Another was to realize that the Old Testament, with it’s old covenant, was becoming obsolete, to be replaced with a new covenant that loves, and does not rain fire.
The snippet from Acts shares the only story of the death of one the twelve, save Judas who never moved from disciple to Apostle. James was arrested and executed around the same time that Peter was arrested, yet Peter was either released, or in one case, freed by the power of prayer. Why did James die, and Peter continue the work? What is certainly true is that the disciples, after the resurrection, achieved a willingness, even eagerness, to share Christ’s glory through martyrdom. As Jesus comes near the end of his ministry on earth, He is still struggling to make clear to James and the others that He is a Messiah quite different from the earthly Warrior-King the Old Testament gave them to expect, and that His Kingdom is a complete departure from the past – love, not fire. In the days leading up to Christ’s sacrifice, and the days afterward as the truth became clear, James transformed from a firebrand of old to a man ready to lay down his own life for Christ.