Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to live under the same roof as the greatest man who ever lived? Under the same roof as Jesus, the Son of God.
Would it be interesting, or frustrating, humbling, or would it be an amazingly happy household? What I find interesting is that we actually have two letters in our New Testament Bibles, that were written by two different family members who were raised with Jesus. We have the letter written by Jesus’ step-brothers James and Judas, also known as Jude so that we do not confuse him with Judas Iscariot .
Actually we read that Jesus had four step-brothers and an undisclosed number of step-sisters.
In Matthew 13:54-56 we read
“54Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” Also
Mark 6:1-6
What do you think Jesus’ brothers and sisters though about Jesus when He left home, gained a following, heard rumors about Him teaching, doing miracles, and people claiming that He was the Messiah that was to come.
Yes we know that His mom Mary and stepdad Joseph heard some amazing things from the angel prior to His birth. And then they head the intriguing words old Anna and Simeon when they presented baby Jesus at the Temple, but Jesus’ brothers and sisters probably did not personally see or hear any of that. Yes Mary may have told them that Jesus was very special, but they may have also heard the rumors that Mary and Joseph had to get married because Jesus was well on the way before they got married.
In John 7:5, it comes right and says that,
“even His brothers did not believe in Him.”
And at one point we read and get the impression that His brothers may have thought Jesus was losing touch with all reality and needed help.
In Mark 3:20-21 we read,
“20 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that He and His disciples were not even able to eat. 21 When His family heard about this, they went to take charge of Him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”
I mean what would you think if all of a sudden a family member started saying things like,
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”(John 14:6) Or “54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. (John 6:54) I admit I would have my doubts.
But after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension, we see that His brothers and sisters change their opinion about Him. After Jesus gave His final instructions to His disciples and then rose and disappeared behind the clouds we read in Acts 1 starting in verse 12 that…
“12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”
Wow, if the events of those past few weeks hadn’t changed His brothers hearts and minds I don’t believe anything would. Now they had proof as to who Jesus really was. They knew that He died on that cross. I’m sure they saw His dead body. They know that He was buried. But then they saw Him alive in the flesh after He rose… He was not some kind of ghost. They probably heard His final words and probably saw Him ascend into heaven.
Yes He was their brother, but Jesus was also the Son of God, and now their Messiah, savior, and Lord.
In the opening verse of their letters listen to how they describe themselves in relation to their brother Jesus. In Jude 1 he wrote,
“1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James,”
And the opening verse in James he writes,
“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,”
Both men humbly describe themselves as servants, and not as a brother of the Lord.
Over the up and coming weeks I would like to bring you lessons from James’ epistle. It is not only earliest or first book or letter penned in the New Testament, the letter is a treasure of very practical lessons on how to live as a genuine Christian. I’m sure after James connected all the dots and realized who Jesus really was, and is, I can’t help but believe that his eyes were opened and he recalled some things that were really important to His brother, Jesus in light of the times.
I believe that’s why this letter is so practical, moving, and loved by so many to this day. James wrote from a unique perspective.
At times it may seem like I am doing more of a Bible study than a sermon. But in many ways both styles are meant to teach, edify, and encourage you to be the best Christian that you can be.
Originally the letter was written to Jewish Christian who were scattered everywhere. At this early date there may not have been very many Gentile Christians yet, and so we see some unique feature in James’ letter.
- Writing to a Jewish audience, James also alluded to over 20 Old Testament books. He also referred to many Old Testament characters including .
Abraham, Rahab, Job, and Elijah as well as the Ten Commandments and
the Law of Moses.
- There are many descriptive figures of speech and analogies, probably more
than in all of Paul’s epistles.
- There are many references to nature which was a common characteristic of how the Jewish rabbis’ taught in James’ day. It was also how Jesus taught.
- There are also many allusions to Jesus’ teaching from the Sermon on theMount. Yet there are only two references to Jesus (1:1; 2:1)
The purpose of this potent letter was to encourage those early believers to grow up and mature as a Christian and live a holy life.
This letter deals more with the practice of the Christian faith than with its precepts. James told his readers how to achieve spiritual maturity through a confident stand, compassionate service, careful speech, contrite submission, and concerned sharing.
The chief aim of the Epistle is to strengthen the faith and loyalty of the Jewish Christians in the face of persecution from rich and overbearing Jews who were defrauding and oppressing them.
The Text: Let’s start by looking at James 1:1-4
“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
I cannot help but wonder if James learned this important lesson by observing his big brother Jesus, especially knowing who He really was. From the day He was born in Bethlehem He experience one trial after another. His life was not an easy one. Yet thru the years what did James see in his brother? Strength, conviction, a growing maturity and devotion to God even though the trials became even more difficult and trying as time passed.
So the first thing James talks about is the value of trials to encourage his readers who are obviously suffering for one reason or another. Even though trials are not fun they do not come without merit, and they may be a tool of God to shape people into those who will glorify Him.
What kinds of trials was James talking about? Did he mean troubles such as running out of money, having to stay up all night with a sick child, or trouble at work: everyday troubles? Yes.
The Greek word translated “trial” here means a “proving,” specifically, “the trial of a man’s fidelity, integrity, virtue, constancy an faith . . . also to enticement to sin, and temptation.” Various temptations to depart from the will of God are in view. The context supports this conclusion. Verse 3 restates these trials as “the testing of your faith.”
But if you think about it, a trial is only passing experience! It has been said that, “The trials of our pilgrimage only last ‘for a season.. Times of heaviness do visit us but they do not come to stay.”
Trials open our eyes to some truths about our self. They can even polish and bring out the best in us. As the patriarch Job once said as he was speaking to his friends,
“But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. (Job 23:10).
Sometimes there is a need for trials to get us to open our eyes, or grow.
Enduring trials makes you what you are. I hear people say that they hope their children don’t have to experience the hardships they went through. I don’t agree with that statement. Those hardships made you what you are.
Every trial that finds its way into our life came with intentional purpose.
A young Christian was attempting to get into the peach growing business. He had worked hard and invested everything he had in a peach orchard which had blossomed beautifully, but then came a frost, and it destroyed his entire crop. He did not go to church the next Sunday nor the next. So his preacher went to see him to find out why. The young fellow said, “I’m not coming to church any more. Do you think I can worship a God who cares so little for me that He would let a frost kill all of my peaches?”
The preacher looked at him for a few moments in silence, and then said so kindly, “Son, God loves you better than He loves your peaches. You see God understands that while peaches can grow without frost, men cannot grow without trials. God is not in the business of growing peaches. He’s in the business of growing Christians.”
It takes a trial to test our faith and then hopefully help it to grow and mature. Trials / test are the very soil in which we grow!
Most of those who make up our little church have experienced some difficult trials in their life, probably more than most, but less than some.
But I have to say that those trials have helped them become some of the most loving, sensitive, generous people I know. When others hurt, they can empathize with them, and I see how they rush to their side to help them.
That’s what coming thru personal trails can do for us; they tenderize our heart and soul. They help us become better people. They have helped you become a very humble, loving group of people
They have also motivated other to change their circumstances, modify their life and behavior, and even invent ways to improve the quality of life. So don’t take a negative view of those hard times, they may be preparing you for the next great step in life.
Conclusion:
A preacher was delivering a sermon before a large congregation. He pointed out that believers aren’t exempt from trouble. In fact, some Christians are surrounded by trouble — trouble to the right, trouble to the left, trouble in front, and trouble behind. At this, a man who had served the Lord for many years, shouted,“Glory to God, it’s always open at the top!”
To improve your outlook in trials, try the looking up.
I believe that’s what James saw His big Brother Jesus doing more and more often as the day grew more difficult…. He kept looking up!
May we always be looking to the Lord as we journey through this life with its trials and test.
