GodReflection: A Brand-New Life And Have Everything To Live For.
Like Andrew and his brother Peter, James was a fishing buddy from their seaside village of Bethsaida. He was among the first four apostles called by Jesus. He and his brother John joined Peter and Andrew as the four young men Jesus mentored to lead his other eight apostles while he trained all twelve together.
Mark tells about the day when the four young fishermen were call from their boats and nets by Jesus, the teacher to become his students. A dozen yards or so down the beach, he saw the brothers James and John, Zebedee’s sons. They were in the boat, mending their fishnets. Right off, he made the same offer. Immediately, they left their father Zebedee, the boat, and the hired hands, and followed (Mark 1:19-20).
Luke adds texture to the same day’s events by telling the backstory to Jame’s beach call. Jesus had just loaded their boat with fish after a long night of zero success: Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell to his knees before Jesus. “Master, leave. I’m a sinner and can’t handle this holiness. Leave me to myself.” When they pulled in that catch of fish, awe overwhelmed Simon and everyone with him. It was the same with James and John, Zebedee’s sons, coworkers with Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “There is nothing to fear. From now on you’ll be fishing for men and women.” They pulled their boats up on the beach, left them, nets and all, and followed him (Luke5:8-11).
That same day Jesus and the four friends walk two hours south along the seashore to the village of Capernaum where they visit a Synagogue meeting place, then Mark shares this story.
Directly on leaving the meeting place, they came to Simon and Andrew’s house, accompanied by James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed, burning up with fever. They told Jesus. He went to her, took her hand, and raised her up. No sooner had the fever left than she was up fixing dinner for them (Mark 1:29-31).
Just a side note. Simon Peter, from among the chosen 12 is the only one who is married, as far as the Bible or history relates. Throughout the pages of Scripture, Peter, John, and James are always the ones with Jesus on “highwater mark” occasions.
One of those time takes place weeks or perhaps many months later. We find Jesus crosses over the Sea of Galilee to the country of the Gerasene’s. There he heals a madman and causes a herd of pigs to stampede over a cliff to their death in the sea.
Jesus, then gets in a boat for the return trip across the Sea of Galilee, and among the crowd waiting for him is Jarius, a leader of the people with an urgent request, he begged, “My dear daughter is at death’s door. Come and lay hands on her so she will get well and live.” Jesus went with him. (Mark 5:24).
After a woman in the crowd delays them because she too needs a miracle, they arrive, and the little girl has died. Jesus permitted no one to go in with him except Peter, James, and John. They entered the leader’s house and pushed their way through the gossips looking for a story and neighbors bringing in casseroles. Jesus was abrupt: “Why all this busybody grief and gossip? This child isn’t dead; she’s sleeping.” Provoked to sarcasm, they told him he didn’t know what he was talking about. But when he had sent them all out, he took the child’s father and mother, along with his companions, and entered the child’s room. He clasped the girl’s hand and said, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, get up.” At that, she was up and walking around! This girl was twelve years of age. They, of course, were all beside themselves with joy. He gave them strict orders that no one was to know what had taken place in that room. Then he said, “Give her something to eat.” (Mark 5:37-43).
Then there was an incredible trip up into a high mountain Jesus take James, John, Peter, and on top they find Moses and Elija.
And there they see Jesus’s face and his cloths light up like they have never seen before: Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain. His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. His clothes shimmered, glistening white, whiter than any bleach could make them. Elijah, along with Moses, came into view, in deep conversation with Jesus. (Mark 9:2-4).
Three other quick James stories happen just prior to Jesus’s death, resurrection and ascension. In one of them James and John’s mother must be sure her two boys receive good positions and are well cared for.
She sends them to Jesus with a special request. She wants them to rule with King Jesus from their own thrones, one on his left side and one on his right.
Jesus responds, “You have no idea what you’re asking.” And he said to James and John, “Are you capable of drinking the cup that I’m about to drink?” They said, “Sure, why not?” (Matthew 20:22).
Jesus lets them know that they too will get a taste of what’s about to happen to him, but he won’t be assigning them thrones.
The second James story takes place as Jesus gets his courage to proceed to Jerusalem where he will be killed. He knows he will soon ascend to Father God in the heavens. It is the 
one that shows why Jesus gave the nickname “Sons of Thunder” to the brothers. When it came close to the time for his Ascension, he gathered up his courage and steeled himself for the journey to Jerusalem. He sent messengers on ahead. They came to a Samaritan village to make arrangements for his hospitality. But when the Samaritans learned that his destination was Jerusalem, they refused hospitality. When the disciples James and John learned of it, they said, “Master, do you want us to call a bolt of lightning down out of the sky and incinerate them?” (Luke 9:51-54). Fortunately for the Samaritans, Jesus negates thunder bolt Jame’s offer.
Finally, the night arrives when he will be betrayed the next morning. He wants James, Peter, and John to stand by him. They came to an area called Gethsemane. Jesus told his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James, and John with him. He sank into a pit of suffocating darkness. He told them, “I feel bad enough right now to die. Stay here and keep vigil with me.” (Mark 14:32-35).
Like us, they fail with their assigned task. Patiently, Jesus wakes the three friends up three times, but it is no use—they can’t remain awake.
After Jesus’s crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension to his Father God in the heavens, James, and the other ten apostles who remain, now have a renewed resurrected faith and trust in their King Jesus.
They witness Jesus ascend up to the heavens and an angel appears to tell them it is time to stop staring at the clouds and get busy. So, James and the others return to Jerusalem (Acts1:12-13).
They go to a large upper room of a home. A good size group has gathered. Assembled are the apostles, several women, including Jesus’s mother Mary, his brothers, and several others from whom Matthias, is chosen as Judas’s replacement. They all agree they are committed to Jesus for the remainer of their lives for they have A Brand-New Life And Have Everything To Live For.
The church explodes with growth powered by the Holy Spirit and begins to expand to gentile believers and is about to be planted in other nations.
Then we learn something about John’s brother James that is startling and very unsuspected. During Passover, King Herod arrests members of The Way, along with James, and murders him! (Acts 12:1-4).
So James, the brother of John, who God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, used so effectively since his fishing days on the Sea of Galilee, this James Becomes The First Apostle To Die For Jesus. But be assured, he died with A Brand-New Life And Had Everything To Live For.
Stay tuned.
Gary J. Sorrells
A GodReflection: James The First Apostle To Die For Jesus.
God Reflection 