RPG Adults
THE APOSTLE JAMES: FOLLOWER, WRITER AND MARTYR
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1
James 1:1a
Acts 12:1-2
“And he killed James the brother
of John with the sword.”
THE APOSTLE JAMES: FOLLOWER, WRITER AND MARTYR
James, the author of the Epistle of James, identifies himself as a servant or a bond slave of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. He declares his loyalty and submission to his Master, and would even die for his Lord.
James’ identity is, however, a question that divides the views of most well-known Christian commentators. There are three possible candidates: James, the son of Zebedee; James, the son of Alphaeus; and James, the brother of our Lord. James, the Lord’s brother, is favoured by most scholars today. He held a significant role during the church’s infancy and was recognised as the head of the Jerusalem church (Acts 12:17; Gal 2:9). Calvin suggests James, the son of Alphaeus. However, it is more reasonable to believe that this James is the son of Zebedee, who is the brother of John and one of the Lord’s twelve apostles (Matt 10:2; Mark 3:17; Luke 6:14; Acts 1:13). Being one of the three in Jesus’ inner circle, he must have written many teachings based on what the Lord had taught them. Since Herod Agrippa killed him around AD 44 (Acts 12:1-2), this would have been the earliest epistle written during the diaspora that happened in Acts 8 after Stephen’s death.
Follower: James (John’s brother and son of Zebedee) left everything to obey Jesus’ call and followed Him (Matt 4:21-22; Mark 1:19-20; Luke 5:10-11).
Writer: James’ letter is full of the doctrines of Jesus. The letter strongly suggests his intimate relationship with the Master which he had for more than three years.
Martyr: He was executed by Herod. God made it possible for him first to write the letter to be sent to the churches before his death.
God chooses His instruments as perfectly as He sets the timing of the circumstances in their individual lives. This is why believers can truly entrust their lives to the Lord. He is worthy of our complete submission. Do you submit to Him? Do you consider yourself a bond slave of Christ?
THOUGHT: As I serve Christ, am I ready to give my life for Him?
PRAYER: Father, grant me the grace to obey and follow Thee, even unto death.