Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
Here we go! All scripture references are taken from the New International Version. (I hope...the original study was written for the CEV; I *think* I got everything edited!)
The Epistle of James
May 1: Study intro
May 8: James 1:1 Intro to the Epistle of James
I) Who Wrote the Epistle of James?
So, who was “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,” anyway? I know for years I just sort of assumed that he was John’s brother, the son of Zebedee, the third member of Jesus’ ‘ inner circle’. Then, studying the book of Acts for the umpteenth time, it finally hit me as I read chapter 12 that John’s brother could not have been the James that wrote the Epistle; he had been killed by Herod (Acts 12:2). Yet Peter, miraculously released from prison later in that same chapter, instructed the amazed believers who had been praying for him to ‘tell James…about this,” before he left them (Acts 12:17). Obviously, James was a leader in the church even at that time.
It is the Apostle Paul who gives us a clue as to the identity of this brother. In Galatians 1:18-19, Paul writes of his first trip to Jerusalem after his conversion, when the believers were understandably wary of his intentions. Paul spent fifteen days with Peter and states that, “I saw none of the other apostles -- only James, the Lord’s brother.” (Italics mine). In the next chapter, Paul writes of a return trip to Jerusalem fourteen years later for a consultation with the other church leaders (recorded in Acts 15). Speaking of that meeting in Galatians 2:9, Paul refers to James, Peter and John as “those reputed to be pillars.” The book of James was written by the same James who stood up before that gathering of early church leaders and declared, “We should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God” (Acts 15:19) and was most likely the same James who is listed in Matthew 13:55 as a brother of Jesus. Since the Hebrew convention was to list the oldest first, James was also most likely the second son of the family – Jesus would’ve been James’ only older brother.
Wow! Jesus’ own younger brother! Can you imagine growing up with Jesus as your big brother? His parents didn’t just think He was perfect...He was perfect! What kind of impact would that have on James? Believe it or not, we can kind of trace the development of James’ faith through the New Testament and see how he became the ‘servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ’.
The first time we meet James is indirectly early in Jesus’ ministry. In Mark chapter 3:21 and 31-35, he is implied to be with his mother, Mary, and several younger brothers. They had heard reports of Jesus appointing ‘apostles’ and being so overwhelmed by seekers that he didn’t have time to eat. Misunderstanding what Jesus’ ministry really was about, they decided he was “out of his mind” and went to “take charge of him.” When they got to the house where Jesus was teaching, there were so many people that they could only send in a message to Jesus that they were there. But Jesus refused them, saying that, “Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother,” and they apparently were turned away, without Jesus.
At this point in his life, James was a skeptic...probably an offended skeptic! He didn’t understand who Jesus really was or what He was really trying to do. James was still trying to deal with Him as if He were a regular person with dreams of grandeur. James may even have been somewhat embarrassed by the fuss his big brother was creating in the region. That Jesus could really have an impact on his life beyond that was probably incomprehensible to him.
But, sooner or later, James came around to the idea that Jesus might do him some good after all. Jesus became the new darling of the crowd, the hottest topic for discussion and gossip. People were saying nice things about Him, calling Him 'Rabbi,'which was an honor for any Jewish family. There are indications that James and his brothers began to think it might be kind of cool to have a prophet and a miracle worker in the family, because the next time we hear from them is John 7:4–5, when they are all encouraging Jesus to head for the big time in Jerusalem. They tell Him, “You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that you disciples may see the miracles you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” However, John adds, “Even his own brothers did not believe in him.”
They didn’t have to really believe Him to benefit from His popularity, though. It appears that James and his brothers had become opportunists looking for personal benefits from Jesus’ ministry, hoping a little of His fame and glory might come their way. They seem to have had expectations of returns from their ‘encouraging’ remarks to their older brother.
However, as it happens so many times, the humanly desired outcome is not what unfolded. Jesus did not go to Jerusalem to become the great leader of the country, or even the great healer and prophet who had been so long gone from Israel...he was tried as a criminal and publicly executed in the most humiliating and shameful fashion. No longer the wonder boy of the crowd, He became an acute embarrassment to James and his siblings. James' attitude is revealed in Scripture at the crucifixion...by his rather conspicuous absence. With the death of Jesus, James would become the leader in the family. Yet he is nowhere to be found at the cross, and Jesus gives his mother into the care of John (John 19:25-27). Shamed and disillusioned, James and his brothers apparently have even abandoned family duty to avoid association with their now scandalous older brother. Jesus did not do what they expected, and they distanced themselves from Him.
But the most unexpected event was yet to come. Jesus did not stay dead. None of the Gospels record this, Acts does not mention it, and James himself doesn’t hint at it. But Paul, in citing eyewitness evidence for the resurrection of Jesus, states in 1 Corinthians 15:7 that Jesus appeared to James after His resurrection. In other words, James had a personal encounter with the risen Lord Jesus and it completely changed his life. From that point, Jesus wasn’t his big brother...Jesus was his Lord. Acts 1:14 records that Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers were constantly in prayer with the eleven apostles and the women. James was no doubt present in the upper room on the day of Pentecost and the Holy Spirit filled every believer with power.
It appears that James remained in Jerusalem from that point on, and, as was mentioned earlier, became one of the key leaders in the church there. But he remained humble (wouldn’t you love to know what Jesus said to him when He visited after his resurrection!), because in James 1:1, he finally refers to himself, not as ‘The brother of our Lord’ or as ‘an apostle to the Jews’ but merely as ‘a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Church tradition holds that James finally was killed because he refused to recant his belief in Jesus as the Messiah. The generally accepted story is that he was thrown from the top of the wall around Jerusalem, but suffered only broken legs. When he was found to be still alive, some of the crowd began to stone him while others protested, until one man ran up and struck James, who was praying for his tormentors, in the head with a brick and killed him.
In actuality, the life and death of James is one of the most compelling pieces of evidence for the resurrection and deity of Jesus. Of all people who would have had opportunity to know if Jesus was a fake or a crazy man, it would have been James. Obviously, he was ultimately convinced that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, the Son of God, because he was willing to die rather than to save his life by denying it. Contrast the behavior of James at the Crucifixion with the behavior of James at the end of his life. What could have so utterly convinced James, the disillusioned, disinterested, faithless brother of Jesus that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah other than absolute evidence that Jesus was who he claimed to be?
But there is one more point to be gleaned from this glance at the life of James. Note the progression: First, he was a skeptic; then he became an opportunist who was then disillusioned. However, a personal encounter with the risen Lord changed his life, and he became a part of the body of believers, finally seeing himself as a servant of God and our Lord Jesus. That is the progression of James’ life...and everyone reading these words is also somewhere on that progression.
Maybe you’ve always thought people who believed Jesus was God were just a little crazy or following fairy tales. Consider the evidence of James that shows that those who were closest to him were willing to stake everything on their conviction that Jesus was God. Not only did James stand firm, not one of those men ever recanted his belief. They all chose to endure excruciating pain, torture and death rather than deny what they professed as truth. That’s pretty powerful evidence that they were absolutely convinced, by irrefutable life experience, that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.
Or perhaps you’re in this Christian thing because you believe it will be good for you, that God will solve your problems and give you what you want. Perhaps you think that’s what ‘God is Love’ means. Or maybe you’ve made a decision to act like a Christian, because it will benefit you in some way...give you favor and influence with someone; give you the image you desire in your community. Well, like James and his brothers, you are setting yourself up for a fall. An opportunist now is always disillusioned later.
So, are you disillusioned? Did God ‘let you down’ somehow? Do something you didn’t want? Allow something painful? Or did other people who call themselves Christians treat you badly? Have you made a decision to abandon Christianity, or at least the outward practice of it? Disillusionment is dangerous; James was disillusioned and he basically hid. Judas was disillusioned and he hung himself. The only solution to realizing that things aren’t the way you want them to be is an acknowledgment of the way God really is. This is the personal encounter with the Lord; the moment of Salvation when Jesus meets you where you are and you turn your life over to Him. This is a life-changing encounter, and you cannot go any farther on the progression unless you have done this. To honestly serve Jesus, you must know Him. Identifying with other believers comes after meeting Jesus yourself.
Then, as you grow in Him, you finally reach the place where you realize it really is all about Him. Even misunderstanding and mistreatment by other people who also claim to follow Jesus will not shake your identity with Him. Then you can truly call yourself a servant of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ.
II - To Whom was the Epistle of James written?
James states that he is writing to “The twelve tribes, scattered among the nations.” What we tend to forget now is that when James was writing, most believers (they did not call themselves ‘Christians’) were Jews. In fact, what we call Christianity was considered to be a sect of Judaism, not a separate religion at all. James, ministering to Jewish believers, was writing to Jews scattered all over the known world who believed Jesus was the Messiah. These folks were oppressed by the Roman government and by traditional Jewish leaders, suffering with regard to civil liberties as well as religious expression.
However, even though James’ primary audience was Jewish believers, his message was not exclusively for Jewish believers. He wrote of the necessity of living consistently with one’s faith. He covers the practical aspects of daily living the life of one who believes Jesus is the Messiah. He discusses topics ranging from such things as suffering to gossip to favoritism, emphasizing that true faith will express itself in right actions...not, as some have claimed, that right actions make true faith. This is a message that is applicable to believers of all backgrounds, and one we will explore as we journey through James.
Things to think about:
Where on the progression of faith (skeptic-opportunist-disillusioned-personal encounter with Christ-Servant of Jesus) do you believe you are?
What do you feel you need to do in order to move toward the goal of this progression – to consider yourself a servant of Jesus Christ?
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