The brother of Jesus was there on the Day of Pentecost

On this day of Pentecost I begin a new book and it is from an apostle who was there on the first outpouring, James.

Jesus appeared to James following his resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:7).  Jerome, a fourth century Christian author, records a legend which says that James had made a vow to not eat or drink until he had seen Jesus raised from the dead.  Supposedly, Jesus appeared to James and said, “My brother, eat thy bread, for the Son of man is risen from the dead”

Galatians 1: 18-19 Paul mentions James as the brother of Jesus.

The appearance to James changed his brother’s life.

But of course before this appearance we see James the seeker after His Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ in the days leading up to Pentecost.

Acts 1: 14 “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”

In that place were people who were angry, disappointed, failures, the unworthy and the ignorant. In that place were those in grief and dealing with the trauma and loss of what they had experienced. In that place all had a sense of fear of what would happen now.

And yet, in this place they began to do what they would do throughout the years of the early Church, they would pray. And by doing so they would begin to experience the divine exchange when heaven touches earth. It would not be in the Temple as they and every Jew believed was the place for this but it would be in the ordinary places of life. In an upper room. In any place where you stay. In this place here right now. This is the space and the time to do what is the most important thing on earth, to pray. No matter who you are or what you have done or what you have experienced, you can pray.

James became a leading figure in the church at Jerusalem.  When Peter was released from prison he came to the house of Mary and told of how the Lord had instructed him to tell James and the brethren of his prison escape. Acts 12

When the controversy arose over certain Judaizers who were demanding the circumcision of Gentle Christians, Paul and Barnabas met in Jerusalem with the apostles and elders, and James played a significant role in that meeting (Acts 15)

Paul who referred to James, along with Peter and John, as pillars in the church who had extended to him and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, and encouraged their work among the Gentiles (Galatians 2:9-10).

It is moving to hear James refer to his brother as “our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory” James 2:1. Can you imagine what this phrase meant for James? The Lord of glory had once slept beside him, ate at his dinner table, played with his friends, spoke to him like a brother, endured his unbelief, paid the debt of his sin, and then brought him to faith.

It may have taken 20-30 years of faithful, prayerful witness by the Son of God, but the miracle occurred: his brothers believed. May the Lord of glory grant the same grace to our beloved unbelievers.  Legend has it that James was stoned to death in Jerusalem.

James writes to Jewish Christians who have been displaced and dispersed. They are in the biggest storm of their life since they found Christ as Saviour.

This is the first Christian community, forced to leave their home, scattered all over the place, they’re suffering, they’re facing despair and they’re being persecuted. The Jewish nation is crumbling into parties and fractions. It is the half-brother of Jesus, James, who is trying to navigate them through this storm? It is about 50 AD, so after the death of Jesus.

“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.” (James 1:1)

James writes to those ‘scattered among the nations’. He urges them to be patient and to persevere during the trials and temptations, to continue to live consistently with what they learnt previously in Christ and to live humbly in God. 

The Apostle’s heart was to bring comfort, to reassure them that they haven’t done anything wrong to be in this situation, but they can still trust God, still rejoice in the things of the kingdom, wherever they are, in all places, and at all times.