James the Just

 Each time I approach a new book or new person in biblical history, I always like to take some time to understand who, what, when, and where the events/person lived or took place.  It helps to have a timeline or reference point so that there is a better understanding of the writings.  Such is true with James.

Looking at the book in the canonized Bible, you miss much of the purpose of his writings.  James, the half-brother of Jesus, is living in Jerusalem in the years after crucifixion and resurrection.  Stephen has been martyred and many of the Jewish believers were dispersed into nearby cities and far off regions. Saul has been converted and he has joined with Barnabas in ministry at Antioch.  Peter has traveled the coast and has performed miracles and has witnessed God's filling of the Gentiles.  He returned to Jerusalem and testifies to this miracle; that God has granted to the Gentiles repentance unto life.

Being the half-brother of Jesus had its challenges.  While Jesus was traveling around teaching, many in His home town claimed that Jesus had "lost His senses." Mark 3:21  Once His mother and His brothers heard what the crowd was saying of Him, His family went to talk to Him.  Jesus was told that they were there calling for Him and He said, "Who are my Mother and My brothers?"  He refused them and declared that anyone who does His will is His Mother and brother.  His family certainly did not follow Him or His teachings.  Even at His crucifixion Jesus placed His Mother in the hands of His disciple.  John, the disciple who tells us this, is probably the one chosen to care for Mary.  Where are her other sons?

So what changed for James?

Jesus proved to James and to us that He is the Son of God.  The greatest miracle of all is that the Power of God was demonstrated when Jesus rose from the dead.  According to  1 Corinthians 15:7, Jesus rose and appeared to James and His disciples.  There was no denying that his half-brother was The Lord Jesus Christ!  Death and the grave could not hold Him and James witnessed Him and it was more than he could resist.  After seeing the resurrected Christ, Mary, Jesus' mother, and His brothers joined the disciples in the upper room and experienced the outpouring and filling of the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:14

Because of the Resurrection I too can say "I am a bond-servant of the Lord Jesus Christ"!