Daily devotion – Twelve chosen men…
Mar 3:17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”;
We continue looking at the 12 men chosen by Christ to be His Apostles in our daily devotion today.
James would always be mentioned second of the intimate trio – Peter, James and John. He would be the first Apostolic martyr, the first to die for His faith and his love of Jesus Christ.
James spoke only when necessary – he was a man of zeal, he was also jealous and ambitious for Christ’s sake and honour. However, he was known for his passion to follow Jesus footsteps no matter where they led. It was Herod who selected him to be the first victim.
With his younger brother John, Jesus gave them the nickname Boanerges – which means “Sons of Thunder”.
In Peter’s case, his nickname indicated what Jesus wanted him to become. But in the case of James and John, their title depicted a hot-headed and judgmental attitude to others that they needed to forsake. By calling them the “Sons of Thunder”, Jesus reminded them of an unrighteous attitude they needed to avoid.
Along with Peter, James and John were both present at Christ’s transfiguration and they were also there on the day of Pentecost, gathered with 120 believers, including the other Apostles when the Church was born in Acts 1-2.
James’s brother John was to be the longest surviving member of the twelve. He lived until approximately A.D. 100, writing five books of the New Testament and being exiled near the end of his life.
How vastly different God’s plans were for these two brothers. Both called to be Apostles yet one was selected to be the first to be martyred whilst the other to live the longest.
In my later years now of walking with God, I have come to realize it matters not the length of years or even the ministry that God calls each of us to. But what is important is that we faithfully accept God’s direction for our lives, no matter how differing the path He chooses for us.
I look forward to seeing James and John in Heaven but especially James, as to me he is one of the great hero’s of the Bible. For the path that the Lord chose for him was one that would require great courage and great faith. A devotion and love for his Saviour that few could compare.