James and John were brothers, fishermen, and two of Jesus' closest friends. Jesus also gave them a nickname that's hard to forget: the "Sons of Thunder." Their story shows how Jesus takes people just as they are and slowly changes their hearts.
Fishermen Who Followed Right Away
James and John grew up working on the Sea of Galilee with their father, Zebedee. One day Jesus walked along the shore and found them at work:
"A little farther up the shore Jesus saw Zebedee's sons, James and John, in a boat repairing their nets. He called them at once, and they also followed him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men." (Mark 1:19–20)
They didn't wait or make excuses. When Jesus called, they went.
The "Sons of Thunder"
Later, Jesus chose twelve men to be His apostles. When Mark lists their names, he includes "James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them 'Sons of Thunder')" (Mark 3:17).
We don't know for sure why Jesus called them that. It may have been because of their strong, fiery personalities.
A Fiery Moment
Once, Jesus and His disciples passed through a Samaritan village where the people refused to welcome Him. James and John were furious:
"When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, 'Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?'" (Luke 9:54)
"But Jesus turned and rebuked them." (Luke 9:55)
Jesus came to save people, not to destroy them. The brothers still had a lot to learn about showing grace.
Learning What Greatness Really Means
Another time, James and John asked Jesus if they could have the most important seats beside Him in His glory (Mark 10:35–37). Jesus used the moment to teach all the disciples something surprising:
"Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant." (Mark 10:43)
"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45)
Two of Jesus' Closest Friends
Along with Peter, James and John were with Jesus at some very special moments. They saw Him raise a young girl back to life (Mark 5:37–42), watched Him shine with heavenly glory on a mountain (Mark 9:2–3), and stayed close by while He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane the night before He died (Mark 14:32–34).
How Their Stories Ended
James was the first of the apostles to die for believing in Jesus:
"He had the apostle James (John's brother) killed with a sword." (Acts 12:2)
John lived a long life and wrote letters about God's love, light, and truth. The man who once wanted to call down fire from heaven later wrote:
"Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God." (1 John 4:7)
John started out as a "Son of Thunder," but he became known as the "Apostle of Love." Following Jesus changed him over the years, and Jesus still changes people today.
Questions to Talk About Together
- Why do you think Jesus gave James and John a nickname?
- James and John got angry when people didn't welcome Jesus. What can we do when we feel angry at someone?
- Jesus said the greatest people are the ones who serve. What is one way you can serve someone this week?
James and John share one of more than 45 character profiles in The Discovery Bible. Each profile sums up a person's story and points to the verses where it happens, so kids can read the whole account in the NLT for themselves.