Superhero movies are all the rage right now. Drive by any theater and read the marquee. We’ll see the names of Superman, Thor, and the Green Hornet; all the Marvel characters and more that have personas bigger than life.
These are characters that can crush cars with a mighty green fist, turn into impervious stone, become invisible at will, and fly through the skies simply because they wish it. Yet, even as we enjoy the feats that flash across the big screen, we accept the lack of reality that makes it all possible. No one can really raise a hammer and make thunder reverberate across the heavens.
Or can they?
Two men became the superheroes of Jesus’ time. They rocked their world. They were filled with impetuous attitudes and spouted zeal in everything they did.
Nothing could slow them down.
They raised their fists, and bam! Down went the enemy. They stepped into any situation, no matter how dire, and they took control.
No one wanted to mess with the Sons of Thunder.
Jesus enjoyed the Sons of Thunder so much that he renamed them Boanerges (which means sons of thunder). Jesus truly found pleasure in these two men.
Read of it in Mark 3:17:
“And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and [Jesus] surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder.”
What superhero qualities do we have? What does Jesus see in us that tempts him to give us a new name? Would he rename us Encourager? Prayer Warrior? Faithful Servant?
Or would he give us a lesser name? Not all those who wield superpowers are admirable. No one wants to be a Joker, a villain who is twisted beyond all that is good and honorable.
If we want to know how Jesus sees us, we need to ask those around us. Have each person we know write down a good quality they see in us. Collect the answers, and our superhero will begin to emerge.
Maybe Jesus sees us as Sons of Thunder after all.
A spiritual superhero is one who follows the example of Jesus and places the welfare of others first in everything they do.
Copyright © 2015 MyChurchNotes.net
Code: FGO.E.25.15b.vp.kjv
Originally Published in Relationships on 9-8-15