The Epistle of James

Notes
Transcript

Intro

Today and for the next 4 weeks we are going to take a look at the book of James.
I am approaching this book differently than we have been doing other books. We are going to look at an overview of the book and give an executive summary of the three main themes found in this book.
Today, I will introduce the themes and each following week dig deeper into those themes.
But first,
Let me tell you a story of a man named Roy. Roy grew up on a farm and yet his father attempting to start various business ventures, they found themselves moving from place to place. In his family, he was a middle child with two older brothers, a younger brother and sister. In his teen years, the family moved to Kansas city. There, his father purchased a paper route and he and his younger brother were voluntold by their father and were working on that paper route. Every day with over 700 customers and 600 on Sunday night the boys worked faithfully on the job. I thought I was doing well with 150 customers on my own paper route.
Upon graduating from High School he then moved to work on a farm, enlisted in the army, left the army with a medical discharged and began his life long career in business by working at a bank.
As often is the case, a middle child is the quiet one. Having two brothers 3 & 4 years older and a young sister, the baby of the family, I could imagine that he kept a low profile. In fact, unless you have done research, on his brother, you most likely have never heard of him before. You see his brother was named after a preacher who had befriended his father. His younger brother by 8 1/2 years became a household name. His brother and life long friend Walter started an empire named after their family name, Disney.
Like Roy, James too came from a family with many siblings that are often not talked about. He two had a brother that is a household name.
James is a brother of Jesus.
So as not to get confused with different James’ throughout the Bible. Let me let you in on a couple of facts.
If you didn’t know,
If you pour through scripture, the name James is often cited.
Luke 6:16 ESV
16 and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
James, a father who had the privilege of being noted in the Bible to have raised one of Jesus’ chosen disciple.
The next James can often be described as James the less,
He was the son of Alphaeus but was more importantly one of the chosen disciples of Christ.
I guess they call him the less as his role described in the Bible is far less than the third James,
The James often described in our sunday school songs.
We have Peter, James and John.
That’s right, James the brother of John. Sons of thunder.
There father was Zebedee. There is a movie series out in the world today that is growing in popularity. Their method of funding for the movie is unique, but their creative perspective on the story of Jesus attempts to give a personal look to the characters laid out in scripture. In their portrayal of James and John they attempt to capture the boldness and driven characters as well as their strong and forceful father. Although it is purely fictional portrayal based on the writers interpretation of little of what is know, This James, a disciple is our third James.
The fourth James is the writer of the book of James. Jesus’ brother.

Author

In order to fully understand and appreciate the words and perspective found in the book of James, I want to spend some time getting to know James, His life, and what he most likely went through to gain a clearer picture of his thoughts behind the writing of this epistle.
When we often read scripture, we forget the person behind the text. The one God had chosen to speak through. The mystery of God’s inspired Word told through the mind and hearts of people.
The Bible is more than author’s dictating the very words of God, rather it is God inspiring each author,
one person wrote,
The Bible has been produced by God and hence it should be respected and valued for exactly what it is—God’s Word to humanity. As the prophetic messages of God’s designated spokesmen were spoken revelation, the Bible is God’s written revelation. It is God revealing Himself to us.-
https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/stewart_don/faq/bible-authoritative-word/question2-is-the-bible-the-inspired-word-of-god.cfm
Take a look at
2 Timothy 3:16 ESV
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
So how did James’ life bring him to the point, that God would use him to write this epistle that is included as one of the 27 books of the New Testament. What training and development went into this man’s life that God would use him in this way.
The first siting of James is found in Math 12
But if you permit me, I want to go back farther.
I wonder what it would be like growing up in the household of Jesus’ family.
First there was Jesus. The miraculous blessing and birth of the Son of God. Mary, the mother knew who he was and what purpose he came for. Joseph, his father. A tradesman. A carpenter. A worker of his hands to provide for his family was chosen to raise the very son of God.
As parent’s we often ask for Godly wisdom in raising children, How did Joseph ask? Was there much need to ask when raising Jesus.
Then comes the other children. You see Mary and Joseph were called to be the earthly parents of Jesus but they were also called to have more children.
They had James, Joses, Judas, and Simon. The boys also had sisters although their names are not specifically listed in scriptures.
If you are a note taker or have something with you to write this down, take not of these verses. Mark 6:3 Matthew 13:33, and Mark 3:31
It will show you that Jesus came from a large, or in those days, an average family.
I took notice, that in all the cases, James was always listed first in the naming of the brothers.
We knew that Jesus was the firstborn, then James’ is listed first. From that, I assume that James was the second born child of Mary. James was runner up in the Jewish culture.
In the Jewish culture the first born was given a higher portion, credit and credence.
I wonder if James grew up with this ringing in his ears.
“Why can’t you be like your older brother, Jesus?”
Can you imagine living up to an older brother who was truly perfect?
I can only imagine as Mary thought of the moment the angel spoke to her and she began to ponder these things in her heart, she would have shared those pondering with her family.
I am sure, James grew up hearing.
Just wait, one day, you will see, Jesus, your brother will do something like we have never seen before.
Just wait, Jesus will be called to be your saviour.
Just wait, your older brother will be honored.
Remember these are just my thoughts, but to put the letter in context, we must understand that James knew the saviour all of his life.
Jesus was his older brother.
There is a Jewish custom in the temple that each family has a chance to read scripture. Assigned text were given for each family and it was the responsibility of the present oldest man of the house to read text on that chosen Sabbath. It was Jesus that came home when the family’s turn was to read in the temple. Remember, at this point, Jesus was out touring and yet made his way home to read the scripture. It wasn’t James, who was as far as we understand, would have been home and could have filled in for him.
That story found in Luke 4 is a wonderful story if read through the eyes of a Jewish person who would understand its meaning.
You see, James grew up second to Jesus
It is no wonder he begins this letter like this
James 1:1 ESV
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.
James saw himself as a servant of God.
As I have mentioned before and many times, we to are called to be disciples of Christ. We have defined this as a person who is seeking to know God, while being transformed into the image of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit in the context of community.
James knew God intimately. You could also say he had the means to practice this all of his life.
The other day we had a family over and as I watched the two children interact, I couldn’t help but try to see Jesus and James as children. As I watched the two children, the oldest watched out for the youngest, yet the second child followed everything their older sibling did.
James knew God intimately.
If there is anyone that would know Jesus better it would be James.
If there is any book that is more clearer in it’s understanding of Jesus, it would be James.
James is the book we go to for a clear understanding of Jesus.
As I began researching James, I wondered to myself, why wasn’t James picked as one of his disciples?
One view to answer we can go to Mark chapter 6
If we were speaking in modern times, we would say Jesus’ tour found their way to his hometown.
Here comes Jesus to his hometown. The people that saw him grow up. Saw him play in the park with their children.
Most likely had heard from Mary all the wonderful things of her son.
With all that, Jesus began to teach in his hometown.
They marveled at the wisdom, but began to question its authenticity.
They knew the family, in fact, even his family questioned the reliability of Jesus.
Mark recorded these words from Jesus
Mark 6:4 ESV
4 And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.”
I wonder what James thought at that time in Jesus’ life. Was he one of the people described as in wonderment of the words, or was he in the camp of nonacceptance of the words from Jesus.
From that time onward, his family didn’t receive the blessing of Jesus coming home, rather they had to go and find him.
If we move along in the timeline, the next time we see James is when Mary and Jesus’ brothers come to hear him speak.
Mark 3:31 ESV
31 And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him.
Luke describes the scene this way.
Luke 8:19–21 ESV
19 Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. 20 And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” 21 But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”
The text is not specific if James was in this group, but it shows two things.
The first is the family did not have the means to get close to Jesus. It wasn’t a special privileged to come to Jesus.
Jesus also adds to what is a special privilege. To hear the word of God and to do it.
How do we accept the free grace of Salvation that we have been given.
I mean do we take the free give and gloat over others, or does that drive us to share the good news of Jesus Christ with the lost of this world.
All this is to give you an idea of what James, the brother of Jesus would have seen and experienced before writing this book.
Another interesting fact is something Heather told me in one of the books she read.
The scene is at the foot of the cross and there stands Jesus’ mother with other women.
Feeling compassion for his mother he offers these words.
John 19:26–27 ESV
26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
Where was James? After all he was the second born son. It was his obligation to take care of his mother. At this point, most scholars believe that Joseph was gone as there is little reference to him.
Jesus charges John to take care of his mother, not James the son, but a disciple.
It leads me to wonder what was going through his mind.
The next time we here of James is post resurrection.
And this is summarized by Paul reflecting on what Christ has done for us.
1 Corinthians 15:3–8 ESV
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
James, His brother. At last a one on one meeting with the saviour.
A one on one meeting with the risen king.
Do you wonder what they talked about? Do you long for the time to have a conversation with Jesus. A one to one, face to face meeting with our lord and saviour.
What did they talk about? We can only speculate, but one thing is for certain. What James did next was to become a person of great importance.
He became the leader of the church in Jerusalem. At this point, the Jewish people who were following Jesus, who had turned to follow the way, leave the rules and regulations of Judaism to follow Christ’s teaching. Who believed that the Jesus was the long awaited messiah and followed him.
James was a prominent leader in the church in Jerusalem. He spoke up in Acts 15 advising the people how to handle those gentiles who were coming to faith. He met with Paul on several occasions when he was in Jerusalem and when he wrote this epistle it was to help those believers that had been scattered throughout the land due oppression from the Roman King.
It is from all these experiences that James wrote this epistle. Cited as the earliest book written in AD 40-45
it was the first of many letters that helped build and sustain the church.
It is no wonder why it is a key book to study as believers of Christ.
Before we jump into the book, James was killed for his faith in AD 62 according to the historians.
It is no wonder that the words we are about to study were not just words, but believed and lived out in a world that was very much against his faith.
If today, you find yourself struggling with your faith. If you feel alone or even persecuted for your faith in one way or another, The book of James is one to read

Main Themes

James sets out in this book to give advice for fellow believers who have been scattered. He sets out in his introductory passage three themes
let’s read the passage
James 1:2–11 ESV
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

Trials in the Christian Life vs 2-4

Have you ever encountered a trial? Has life been wonderful for you all of your life?
Do you look upon others who apparently not suffering and feel a bit jealous?
Let’s be honest. It’s hard not too.
When I was in Bible School, it was often told that the Dean of Women would pray for the students in the summer that they would face trials.
Comforting words from a person who should be showing compassion for the people. When we first heard that she did this we said really, But we soon learned what she was praying for and why. we learned she was truly praying for our Christian life.
Trials in the Christian life will strengthen our faith. This is the first theme found in James.
What the christian life will look like.
Once I was on a mission trip, my second trip to a location in Mexico, a poverty stricken location where a church was growing. I meet with a couple who where told that there faith will produce riches. They felt that their lack of riches were a result of a lack of faith.
This was the farthest from the truth as outlined in James.
Coming to Jesus will not deliver you from the trials of life, in fact, in some cases, the trials will become real. They will help you grow in your trust and faith in God.
Next Sunday, we are going to look closer at this theme throughout the book of James.
Next week, you will see what is behind James’s explanation of “Lacking Nothing”

Seeking Wisdom vs 5-8

The second them is that of seeking wisdom.
Where do you go when you are seeking wisdom? Is it google.
Is it Alexia?
Is it our adviser, mentor, our spouse, parents.
Where do we seek wisdom?
How do we know the difference between wisdom and good teaching. How much do we need wisdom in our lives?
James is going to answer this question along with our responsibility as believers and wisdom as it applies to the christian life.

Riches and Poverty 9-11

The last theme in this book is dealing with riches and poverty.
This may very well be the hardest of all the themes to deal with.
It is a theme that will make us look closely at our own lives.
To be honest, it’s not the theme that a preacher likes to preach through. It makes us come face to face with the clear words as how we are to approach riches and poverty.
look at James’ words.
James 1:11 ESV
11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
Riches and the pursuit of them balance on a line so small that makes look tight rope waking a plank in comparison.
If you don’t believe me, let me take you on a walk around town.
When I am up early in the morning, there are many who last night’s sleep was in a corner, nestled in a sheltering spot.
When we look at this theme in a few weeks, we are going to see James highlight to believers what hey have lost, but will gain with a proper perspective on Riches and Poverty.

Conclusion

in conclusion, James sets out to instruct believers on becoming more like Christ. As we venture together looking through James, I hope that this would inspire you, strengthen you in your walk with God.
If you are seeking God, yet are still at the place in your life that you are not sure if you can fully trust in the words of Jesus. Stay with us.
James did, not only was this his brother he is talking about, but James comes to us and will show us, why living our lives for Jesus as followers of Christ is the only thing that will matter in this world and for eternity.
Amen
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