Show Jesus’ Little Brother video clip from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2BfHfkFJCQ
1. James’ Ossuary
A little over 10 years ago, a French scientist made the discovery of an ossuary with the inscription, “James, the son of Joseph, brother of Jesus” on it. An ossuary was a small limestone box used to hold the bones of a dead person after the body decayed (approximately one year after initial burial). The box was about 2’ long x 1’ high x 1’ wide. The box had been in someone’s private collection in Jerusalem until someone recognized the importance of the inscription. Was it actually James’ ossuary? We cannot be certain, but why not?
2. We have been looking at witnesses to the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15 because the appearances of Yeshua (Jesus) made a life-changing impact on the eyewitnesses. WE are his disciples because the resurrection changed their lives.
a. Peter – impetuous; defensive; denials; died for Yeshua (Jesus)
b. The 12 – defectors at the cross who became defenders of the cross
c. 500 – became a fearless community of believers
d. ALL were impacted by the resurrection and the appearances of Yeshua (Jesus) to them
e. So many witnesses gives validity to the event
3. Today – James, the Lord’s Brother – Galatians 1.18-19
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother.
a. There was a significant change in James (Yacov) which lead him to become a great leader of the people of God
b. Not James, the brother of John or James, the son of Alphaeus – Lord’s brother
I. Jacob (James) Entered a Period of Unbelief
A. “James” Is Actually “Jacob”
1. “Supplanter” – Difficulties between Jacob and Esau
2. Jacob (James) also gave Yeshua (Jesus) problems
a. Jealousy?
b. A High standard to live up to?
B. The Neglect of Jacob (James) – Critical of Yeshua (Jesus)
Critics/T. Roosevelt
“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; who does actually try to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.
“Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.” – Jacob (James) would learn to get into the fray and he would succeed mightily!
Theodore Roosevelt, speech before the Hamilton Club, Chicago (April 10, 1899), in Swindoll, Hand Me Another Brick, p. 79.
1. The real family of Yeshua (Jesus) – Mark 3.19b-20; 31-35
Then he went home; 20 and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. 21 And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for people were saying, “He is beside himself.”
31 And his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32 And a crowd was sitting about him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, asking for you.” 33 And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And looking around on those who sat about him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
2. Taunting of Brothers (including Jacob) – John 7.3-5
After this Jesus went about in Galilee; he would not go about in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him. 2 Now the Jews’ feast of Tabernacles was at hand. 3 So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea that your disciples may see the works you are doing. 4 For no man works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For even his brothers did not believe in him.
a. Between Yom Kippur and Feast of Tabernacles
b. Tabernacles – Depiction of World to Come and Entrance of Nations
II. Jacob (James) Exhibited a Passionate Faith
A. Faith is Steadiness (Emunah) – Exodus 17.12; Habakkuk 2.4 (quoted 3 times in NT)
But Moses’ hands grew weary; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat upon it, and Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; so his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
Behold, he whose soul is not upright in him shall fail, but the righteous shall live by his faith.
1. Steadiness
2. Faithfulness in demonstrating devotion
[A Missionary went to serve in a small fishing village in India. The Hindus there opposed him and even tried to kill him. When a fire destroyed most of the village, the Missionary showed up to help them rebuild. When they asked him why, he told them it was because he cared about them and more importantly that Yeshua (Jesus) did.
B. Jacob’s (James’) Faith was Displayed:
1. Upper Room – Acts 1.14
All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
a. Something caused Jacob (James) to go from unbelief to belief
b. Something caused him to wait for the HS with the disciples
c. It was the EYEWITNESS ENCOUNTER with his brother
2. Upper-Level Responsibility within the Church
In Fiddler on the Roof, Tevia joins a conversation with a man who says, “We need to keep out of everyone else’s business.” Tevia says, “You are right.” Another man says, “If we don’t know what is going on in the world, we can’t pray about it or do anything to prepare for what is coming.” Tevia says, “You’re right!” The Rabbi’s son says to Tevia, “He says this and you say, ‘You are right,’ and he says the opposite, and you say, ‘You are right.’ They can’t both be right. Tevia says, “You are right.”
James did not have the option of uninvolvement as the key leader in Jerusalem.
a. Jacob (James) becomes an important leader – Acts 12 (Peter is released from prison and goes to tell Jacob – James-)
b. Leader/Spokesman in the Gentile Controversy in Acts 15.13
13 After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brethren, listen to me.
1) No barriers between Jew and Gentile – make it easy for Gentiles to come into the church – don’t have to become Jews
2) Pro-Unity
3) Pro-Maturity – Acts 15.21
For from early generations Moses has had in every city those who preach him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”
c. Arbitrator for the Paul Controversy (that he was telling Jews not to keep Torah) –
Acts 21.17-26
23 Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; 24 take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you but that you yourself live in observance of the law.
1) Paul dealt with Judaizers
2) False Rumors about his teaching – proved to be untrue
1. Traditions about Jacob (James)
a. Pious Man – kept Torah
b. Nazarite vow (after coming of HS) – shaved head; no wine, etc.
c. Prayed often in the temple – Camel’s Knees
d. Respected – referred to as Jacob (James) the Just
2. What Practical Lessons do we receive from Jacob’s (James’) life?
a. Be Passionate about Holiness
1) Set apart for God’s service
2) Practical definition of Pure Religion – James 1.27
b. Be Passionate in Prayer (Camel’s Knees) – James 4.1-3
What causes wars, and what causes fightings among you? Is it not your passions that are at war in your members? 2 You desire and do not have; so you kill. And you covet and cannot obtain; so you fight and wage war. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
c. Be Passionate about the Grace of God
d. Be Passionate for Unity (John 17)
3. The Eyewitness Encounter with Yeshua (Jesus) changed Jacob (James) forever!
4. We are never the same when we encounter Yeshua (Jesus).
