GodReflection: A Brand-New Life and Have Everything To Live For.
James, son of Alphaeus, also known as James the Less is one of the twelve apostles of Jesus mentioned in the New Testament. His nickname—the less—most likely comes as a recognition of his humble service which gave him his distinct identity among the apostles.
Some have claimed his nickname James the Less or James the Minor could indicate his smaller stature or younger age compared to James, son of Zebedee. At least this helps to distinguish him from the other James in the New Testament, including James, the brother of Jesus.
But for James With A Dad Named Alphaeus it no longer matters that he may not be as tall as others. In his humble service he has placed his trust in Jesus and now walks among those who have A Brand-New Life and Have Everything To Live For.
We find him consistently listed in the apostolic lists found in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) and the Book of Acts.
Matthew, author of our first Gospel, includes Alphaeus’s son James in in his list of the twelve apostles. Even if he was short, in Jesus’s eyes his humility makes him tall enough for a tough assignment.
Listen to his first task. Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. (Matthew 12:1).
Matthew continues with Jesus’s bullet-point James Job Description.
- Go to Israel, God’s people.
- God has made Jesus the Messiah the new Ruler and King of the world.
- Take nothing, not even money on your trip, only your walking staff.
- Watch out it can be anyone who will betray you.
- You may be killed but don’t be afraid.
- Tell them that King Jesus is about to upset their homes and family members.
Wow! It’s going to be a hard trip but Father God, Jesus Son, Holy Spirit, will see that James the Less, the son of Alphaeus, can do the job.
John Mark in his Gospel account adds to the Job Description found in Matthew.
Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. (Mark 6:6-7).
Listen again as John Mark paints the big task for humble James.
- Travel with one other apostle.
- Impure Spirits will obey you.
- Take only your staff—no bread, no bag, no money.
- Wear sandals but not an extra shirt.
- Enter one house and stay there.
- If the town doesn’t welcome you, shake the dust off your feet and leave.
John Mark concludes, they went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. (Mark 6:12-13).
I suspect humble James’s faith and trust in Jesus, grew when he experienced the power that Jesus entrusted to him.
Finally, let’s see what Luke the doctor tells us about Jesus’s Job Description for James whose dad was named Alphaeus. Just before Dr. Luke introduces us to the apostles, he lists several Sabbath days where Jesus attempts to get the attention of the know-it-all religious teachers. He wants them to know that his presence is more important than Sabbath observation.
Let’s listen again to Doctor Luke. One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. (Luke 6:12-16).
In what we have come to know as Jesus’s Sermon on the Plain he outlines rather startling expectations for James the Less and his fellow apostles.
- You are rewarded when you realize how spiritually poor you really are.
- You will be rewarded if you hunger only for The Holy.
- Even though you cry with pain and suffering, one day you will be laughing.
- You will be rewarded when others hate you because of your commitment to Holy Jesus.
- Jump up and down with joy because The Holy in Heaven will reward you.
- Be careful not to trust in the care and joy provided by this world—if you do you will cry because you will lose everything.
- Love your enemies and treat them well.
- Let God be the Judge—Judge’s robes don’t come in your size.
- Be a fruit-producer.
- Be a wise builder.
Can you just imagine the difference Jesus made in this humble apostle’s life! And the truth is Jesus can grow you and me to be more like him, if only we will trust and follow.
Church tradition often associates James, son of Alphaeus, with missionary work, possibly in Iran, where he is believed to have been martyred.
Even though we don’t find detailed accounts of his life in our Bible; we know that James the son of Alphaeus, is recognized for his commitment to Jesus and the early Christian community. His presence among the apostles signifies his importance to the disciples and to the first century church.
James, son of Alphaeus, remains a figure of mystery within the New Testament, yet he embodies his role of humble service and dedication to the teachings of Jesus. His life, though not extensively documented, serves as a reminder of the diverse roles played by the apostles in the foundation of early Christianity.
James, With A Dad Named Alphaeus, along with all the other faithful Apostles, discovered that all of them have A Brand-New Life and Have Everything To Live For.
Stay tuned.
Gary J. Sorrells
A GodReflection: James With A Dad Named Alphaeus.
God Reflection 