For nearly 30 years his older brother was just an older brother to him. He was always kind, a good example, and a good person to work with. A good Jew. However, other than the fact that he was always kind and never did anything wrong, he was simply an older brother.
When his older brother turned 30, the world changed. His older brother went to see John the Baptist and got baptized. Then, he disappeared, for over a month. He came home, dirty, worn out, and starving. That's not all, something changed, and he stopped being the normal safe person. He began to preach, and caused trouble, he collected a motley crew of rough men and called them his disciples. He insulted the religious leaders. Eventually, this caught up with him, and he was crucified. So went the perspective of Jesus' little brother, James, a devout and holy Jew.
Until one day...after Jesus had been crucified, he appeared to James. (1 Corinthians 15:7) Then James understood. This wasn't just the older brother him, this was The Him, Messiah, Lord. The older brother of anyone who believes. James understood on that day and James believed.
James went on to become James the Just. A devoted Jew who also believed in the Messiah. He became a strong leader in the church in Jerusalem. Why "the Just"? Probably because he was noted for his own personal holiness and fairness in his dealings with others. He remained Jewish and kept most if not all of those Jewish customs that did not interfere with a belief in Christ as the ultimate Saviour for all sin.
James followed the customs and held the hearts of the Jewish people in Jerusalem. As a result, he was able to lead many to Christ. James was a tremendous prayer warrior and spent hours on his knees, talking to his Brother.
There was a controversy. Apostles were teaching gentiles about Jesus. So, the question was, how Jewish should the gentiles be? Well...there were the apostles who believed in the saving power of Christ that transcends the law, the most outspoken of them would have been Paul, Barnabas, and Peter. Yet, there were also all the good pious Jews of Jerusalem. Many of them said, no, circumcision and the law of Moses must be followed. The most pious Jew of all sat there and listened as the talks went on and on and on. Finally, after everyone who wished to had a chance to speak. James stood, and all eyes turned toward him. What would he say? He said, "We should not make it difficult for the gentiles who are turning to God." We should just write them to avoid eating meat offered to idols, avoid sexual immorality, avoid meat from strangled animals, and avoid drinking blood." This was settled on, all agreed and it seemed good to the Holy Spirit as well. (Acts 15:1-35)
Eventually, like it has done for nearly all mankind, death found James. Here is how it happened: The Pharisees were really wishing to shut the "Jesus thing" down in Jerusalem. So, who was a respected Jewish leader that had the hearts of a vast multitude of Jews? Why James of course. So, they led him to the pinnacle of the temple and asked him to persuade the multitude to not be led astray by Jesus. (The multitudes were there for Passover.) James responded, "Why do you ask me about Jesus the son of man? Why right now he is sitting at the right hand of God Almighty, and He is about to come down out of the clouds again!" The people went wild, James had their attention, and they began chanting, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" Unfortunately, the Pharisees were unhappy, and yelled, "Oh no, the just man is also in error!" They charged up the pinnacle and threw James down! The fall didn't finish him, so, he simply began to pray, "Lord, I entreat you to forgive them for they don't know what they are doing..." That's when the rocks and clubbing started, and that was the end, but only in this life. Throughout his life, he had prayed so much in a posture of kneeling that his knees were the same hardness and texture as a camel's! It seems so fitting that it was in that posture that he finally got to be reunited with his Brother again. (Source material from Hegesippus)
So, what can be learned from James? I think he grasped a concept that so many of us are still groping for. There is a tendency among us to believe in either legalism (I will do the right things in obedience to God and pressure you to do the same.) or, libertinism. (We are saved by grace, there is no need to do anything, all our works are filthy rags.) Yet James believed in personal holiness without unhealthy concern for how others lived their life. The concern he felt would have been based on love. So, we sit at the start of my next blogging project. I want to study and unpack the epistle of James, and you can watch over my shoulder if you want...
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