Some of us are hot-tempered (not so much me. I have a long fuse before I blow). And then there’s those who try not to be judgmental but everyone tell you that you are (me). But there’s hope.

James and John were hot heads. They were problem children on every level and in these next three scenarios, we see it.

First, the disciples argued over who was the greatest in the kingdom. Luke doesn’t mention them by name but it’s possible if not likely that it’s James and John We don’t know for sure on this one, but the problem remains. Whoever it was, whether James and John or all the disciples, they did not yet understand that greatness comes through him who serves the greatest.

An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest.  

Let’s pause for a moment and think of the absurdity of this. Did they not know they just had trouble delivering a demon-possessed boy? How could they even think to argue about who was the greatest? Especially with Jesus among them. And they were arguing over this?

But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”

Jesus did not just preach this, he lived it. The greatest is the least among you, and comes as a child. Not as royalty looking to be comfortable and served. But as one who is humble, teachable and serves others.

Then the second lesson came.

 John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.”  

It may have looked important. But likely John was jealous. Here they couldn’t cast out demons, and now this other person who wasn’t one of the Twelve was casting out demons in Jesus; name. John and others tried to stop him.

Jesus again had to rebuke them.

But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.”

The kingdom of God was much bigger than them. They were not so special as to be exclusive to doing the work of God.

John obviously still didn’t get it. Lesson number three.

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.  And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him.  But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem.  

The disciples had to go ahead and find a place to stay and food to eat for the entourage. Since they were twelve people and possibly more, it took some preparation before they went into town.

It wasn’t like the Samaritans were a well-loved people. Quite the opposite. In their history they had intermarried and become the despised people of the Jews. So much so that in the time of Jesus and even now, people do not go through this region. They go to great lengths to go around it.

There was racism here for sure. In fact, the Jews were looking for a reason to see them destroyed.

So when they refused to receive Jesus for no other reason than that he was going to Jerusalem, the Samaritans rejected him. They didn’t want him or his disciples in their town.

And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” 

John and James wanted to call down fire upon them. Probably they were thinking of Sodom and Gomorrah or some other Biblical event where fire rained down on the people.

Once again Jesus had to rebuke and correct them.

But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village.

I’m sure James and John were confused. Why were they getting rebuked and not the Samaritans? They were just trying to stand up for their leader.

But Jesus needed to teach these “sons of thunder” (Mark 3:17) that the answer was not who’s the greatest but who is the greatest servant, that the kingdom was not about just the king and his immediate team but about the kingdom of God, and that following Jesus was not about judgment and harshness but about kindness and humility.

And the surprising thing?

These “sons of thunder” would, in a few years, no longer be known by that name. Being around Jesus had transformed them so much that they would be called “brothers of love.”

When you read 1 John, you see that it is all about love. They finally got it.

Which brings me hope. Which should bring your hope.

You might not be the person you want to be. Perhaps humility, love and service don’t come naturally to you. But there’s hope.

Because if being near Jesus can change these brothers, he can change you, too.