INTRODUCTION
James and John go together like Bill and Bob, beans and rice. They were brothers, sons of Zebedee (Matt 4:21). James was the elder brother. James is almost always mentioned first. Like most Galileans they expected a coming Messiah to deliver them from the Romans and restore a Jewish independent kingdom.
I. THE CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP
When Jesus called James and John to follow Him, they immediately left their nets, boat, father, hired workers, and deep-water fishing business (Mark 1:20). Luke mentions James and John as partners with Simon (Luke 5:10). The Zebedee family must have had some economic and social standing. John was known to the high priest and permitted into Caiaphas’ courtyard where he witnessed Christ’s trial (John 18:15). For reasons never revealed, the brothers became some of Christ’s closest disciples, though Andrew, Peter’s brother, was not always included in this intimate circle, but he was when Jesus revealed the signs of the Temple destruction and the return of the Son of Man (Mark 13:1–37).
James experienced several special events with Jesus. He accompanied Jesus into Peter and Andrew’s house, where Peter’s mother-in-law lay sick with fever. He witnessed her being healed (Mark 1:29– 31). Later, James was in the room when Jesus restored life to Jairus’ dead daughter (Luke 8:49–56). After the visit to Caesarea Philippi, Jesus took Peter, James, and John to the top of a high mountain and was transfigured before them. James was privileged to see Moses and Elijah with Jesus (Matt 17:1–13).
II. DISCIPLINED AS A DISCIPLE
Shortly thereafter, Jesus began the journey towards Jerusalem. To shorten the long walk, He decided to go through Samaria. James and John are sent ahead to arrange lodging, but were refused, because their destination was Jerusalem. Incensed, James and John asked for fire to come from heaven and consume the inhospitable Samaritans (Luke 9:51–54). Jesus rebuked them, saying, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of” (Luke 9:55, NKJV). As they neared Jericho, the mother of James and John sensed Jesus was about to establish His kingdom and sought Jesus to give her sons high positions of power. This earned the brothers the ire of the other ten disciples and another admonishment from Christ (Matt 20:20–28). Prior to His arrest in Gethsemane, Jesus asked His three trusted friends to pray for Him while He prayed for strength to fulfill His Father’s will for humanity’s salvation. Three times Jesus found them sleeping and gently rebuked them (Matt 26:36–46).
James is the Greek form of Jacob, a Hebrew name, but Jesus gave him a new name, Boanerges, meaning “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3:17). No doubt the name described the vigorous personality and language of a man quick to take offense and to offend. Many Christians assume James wrote the epistle bearing his name, but James did not write that book. He was one of four men called James in the Bible; another James wrote the five chapters. In fact, sorting out the Jameses of the Bible and who early church historians referenced by that name is difficult to determine who did what.
III. GROWING AS A DISCIPLE
All the quirks of temperament and individuality can be bent into vices or exalted into virtues. James was a capable, ambitious man, eager to be first, a pusher for power, self-seeking, yet trusted by Jesus. The church needs people of ability and resources rightly employed. Some people use church and religion to obtain recognition and honor. Ambition for whatever purpose can corrupt. Our motives must be pure. We need to be careful what we seek and what we promise the Lord. Jesus told James and John they did not know what they were asking when they sought positions of power. He asked them if they were able to drink the cup He was about to drink. They asserted, “We are able” (Matt 20:22, NKJV). Jesus said, “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matt 10:39, NKJV). James became a leader, but also lost his life.
IV. THE FINAL YEARS
From the time immediately after Christ’s ascension (Acts 1:9–13) until his execution by Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:2) around AD 44, nothing is recorded about James in Scripture. Some scholars attribute the prayer in Acts 4:24–30 to him. Herod sought to curtail the new religion called “The Way” by eliminating its leadership. Apparently, James led the early church effectively. Good leaders influence people, motivate action to reach goals, and delegate responsibility with commensurate authority. They inspire others through exemplary caring while humbly adhering to ethical and moral principles. James must have been that kind of leader; his leadership became known to the king. For some inexplicable reason, Herod chose to have James beheaded, rather than crucify him as was often done to Jews.
Unlike Cain and Abel, Esau and Jacob, and the ten older brothers and Joseph, the Gospels make no mention of sibling rivalry between James and John. Perhaps, James did not act as the “big bother” to his little brother like some of us eldest children tend to behave. Birth order impacts life more than often realized, and sibling rivalry frequently occurs among brothers and sisters, even without the complications caused by blended families. Younger brother John lived around sixty years longer than his older brother. No doubt, James was missed. In the rush of life, too often brothers and sisters are not missed, until they are dead. Scripture advises us to love our brothers and refrain from judging and offending them.
CONCLUSION
The premature death of a family member or friend raises questions and prompts a flood of emotions. It is hard to imagine justice or security in our little worlds we create for our lives that are supposedly safe, orderly, and follow a natural progression. When death or disaster strikes, and life expected is interrupted, we are threatened by the reality that it is only by the “Lord’s mercies we are not consumed” (Lam 3:22, NKJV). I find solace in the thought from an Old Testament prophet that good people die, but life goes on. Few notice except for family and friends. The righteous are taken away, none considering that they are spared greater suffering or evil to come; they enter rest or peace (Isa 57:1–2a, paraphrased). David declares, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints” (Ps 116:15, ESV). How can that be true? Younger brother John, an apostle who had seen much death during his long life, wrote as instructed by a voice from heaven: “‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them’” (Rev 14:13, NKJV). Though we cannot know the reason for everything, or the future, we can know “‘the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End,’ says the Lord, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty’” (Rev 1:8, NKJV). Jesus is the First and the Last. He declared, “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen” (Rev 1:18, NKJV). Because He lives, we can face today and tomorrow, come what may, whether life be long or shortened. We trust an omniscient God to know what is best for all.
Gary R. Councell is a retired teacher, pastor, chaplain, and departmental director. Immediately prior to his retirement he was the director of the Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries, at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
