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Of the 12 disciples Jesus chose to personally invest in as his inner circle, were two brothers, James and John. Just like Peter, they were fishermen, in fact they were partners on the water with Peter and his brother Andrew. They spent their nights together on boats, fishing the Sea of Galilee. Now, they are walking with Jesus, personally witnessing his miracles, getting a behind the scenes view to who he was and what he came to do in this world.

Jesus nicknamed these two brothers “Sons of Thunder” because they were intensely passionate, zealous and sometimes volatile. And once again, we see Jesus choosing intense personalities. They weren’t a safe bet. They were raw, but Jesus knew there was space for him to work.

Jesus doesn’t shy away from any personality – if you’re willing to follow him, he’s able to work with you. What we see in James and John is we too are eligible for great things with Jesus. If we make space for him in our lives, he can use us for his great purposes.

James and John made space for Jesus. They were part of that miraculous catch where their boats were sinking and they brought in enough fish for an early retirement, but they walked away from it all when Jesus said, “follow me”. For the next 3 years, Jesus took these “Sons of Thunder” and he reshaped them, turning their raw passion into courageous unwavering commitment to spread the Good News of Jesus.

The brothers were invited into that private room with Jesus when he raised Jairus’ daughter back to life – that means they had stand out faith. They believed, and their belief would move them to show up for the impossible and not back down when it got worse before it got better. That fiery, intense personality served them as they served Jesus.

James had a much shorter life than John. James was the first martyr, beheaded for his faith in Jesus while probably only in his 30’s or 40’s. John went on to live much longer, likely to around 100. He’s believed to be the only disciple to die of natural causes. But no doubt, these brothers and disciples of Jesus both perfectly fulfilled their divine purpose. They did everything they were called to do, and they did it faithfully. Not perfectly – but faithfully.

John was a little different than the rest of the disciples. While his writing can sometimes come across as arrogant because he refers to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”, this was actually humility. He never used his own name in writing because he didn’t want anything to be about him. He wanted all credit, all honor and all glory to be directed in it’s rightful place toward Jesus, so instead of using his name, he used his deeper identity – as one loved by Jesus.

What if that could become our deepest truth? What if your identity was completely wrapped up in the fact that above everything else, you’re just loved by Jesus. Personally, individually, totally and completely, LOVED BY JESUS.

All performance falls away. All platforms are unnecessary. No other titles, no other crowns – JUST LOVED.

I remember standing in an ordinary church service in early 2015, singing a very familiar song. The words, “You’re a good good Father, it’s who you are, it’s who you are. And I’m loved by you, it’s who I am, it’s who I am.” And in that moment, my identity changed. I had been chasing marathon medals and size 6 jeans, platforms and stages and recognition, fame and fortune and someone/anyone to just tell me I was good enough. And in that single moment there was a shift in my identity and everything I ever needed was fulfilled – I AM LOVED.

I’ve never been the same sense. I wake up loved. I walk through every moment of my day loved. At the end of the day, whether I’ve been successful or messed it up once again, I know this – I AM LOVED. Jesus loves me. Knowing that truth and having that as my identity has changed everything.

I wonder what John’s identity shifting moment was? There had to be a moment where he’s walking along with Jesus, that he realized – wait, this guy is the Son of God, he’s the Savior of the world, and he really really loves ME. Me, a fisherman. Me, with my intense personality that can be too much for others sometimes. Jesus loves me. I AM THE ONE HE LOVES.

When was that moment for John? Was it when he saw Jesus’ true glory revealed during the transfiguration? Was it in the Garden of Gathsemane when he saw Jesus crying? Was it when he was the only disciple who stood at the cross and watched him die? Was it when Jesus asked him personally to care for his mother, Mary? Somewhere in there was a moment when John’s complete identity became, “I’m the one Jesus loves.” And that identity shaped his entire life.

John wrote 5 books of the Bible. John, 1st, 2nd and 3rd John and Revelation. Yes, that final book in our Bible that reveals the future of what is to come of Heaven and Earth – those were visions given to John by God. He wrote down everything God gave him. We know of the words of Jesus that say “I hold the keys of death and the grave” because John wrote them down. We know about the defeat of Satan and the promise of a future paradise where every tear is wiped away and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain – because John wrote it down.

An ordinary fisherman, fully wrapped up in the identity of being loved by Jesus, bold enough to write down everything God revealed to him.

And his closing words in the final verses of our Bible – Revelation 22: 20-21, he tells us what Jesus said, “Yes, I am coming soon!” and John says, “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people!”

John understood being one of God’s holy people – he understood it meant you could be an ordinary person with a personality others didn’t get, but you could be set apart by Jesus, chosen and fully loved.

And that’s his message to us today – That’s us. We are God’s holy people – the ones LOVED BY JESUS.

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