The 12 Apostles
Week 9 – James "the less"
Dr. Rik B. Wadge, Ph.D.
"When Less is More"
Preparatory Introduction:
Joel Olsteen’s declaration
“This is my bible...
I am what it says I am...
I have what it says I have...
I can do what it says I can do...
Today I will be taught the Word of God...
I boldly confess...
My mind is alert...
My heart is receptive...
I will never be the same...
I am about to receive the incorruptible...
Indestructible...
ever-living...
Word of God...
I will never be the same...
Never, never, never...
I’ll never be the same...
In Jesus’ name, amen...
A father and son were asked to participate in a little experiment. The two were placed across a 100ft stage from one another (the father at one end, the son at the other). The son was given a blindfold and the stage between the two was filled with 50 large 48lb, 4 foot long bear traps. Each trap was capable of inflicting no less than 500 pounds of pressure. The father’s role would be to guide his son by using verbal commands through the 100 foot maze of these bone crushing minaces.
The test begins with the father yelling out directions, cautions, assurances and encouragements. "Trust me son, and it’ll be OK." "Ok, now slowly to the right, a little more." "Ok, now to the left." "slow down a bit." "just listen to my voice son and you’ll get through this alright." "I love you son."
Imagine being on the other side of the blindfold at this point. On the other side of the traps. Having to completely trust someone else with your safety, and should you fall, with your life.
Have you ever played that game in school or summer camp where you have to lead or be led by someone else? One of you is blindfolded and typically your partner walks you into all kinds of trees and over rocks and up stairs....you just prayed that you ended up with a nice partner.
If you have, you know how vulnerable you feel when you’re not in control.
But, this illustration of the father and son is a truly an element of the spirit-filled life.
We have physical sight, yet we learn that we’re spiritually blind without the guidance from God.
We have a mind that can calculate and fathom amazing things, yet it’s essentually useless in spiritual things unless reborn by the spirit of God.
We have ears to hear the physical world, but unless spiritually revived, we can never hear the voice of God.
Jesus repeatedly calls us "lost sheep" in need of a shepherd to guide us through life.
The Christian life is one of paradox.
We have eyes, but we cannot see.
Ears, but we cannot hear.
Minds, but we cannot spiritually reason.
And hearts, but we cannot truly love... without God!
These are paradoxes. For some of you who don’t know what a paradox is: "a pair oxen side-by-side." No actually, a paradox is: "a statement or idea that appears to be contradictory."
Today, I would like us to consider some biblical paradoxes. For example:
Consider this: there are volumes of literature on Kings and kingdoms, the glamourous and the powerful, the beautiful and the talented. People that have made names for themselves in this world, but usually not in the world to come.
Here’s the paradox that became so painfully obvious as I began this study on the 12 Apostles... Here are 12 of the most influencial men in history and yet almost all of what we know of their lives could fit on the front and back of one postcard!
Now that’s a paradox!!!!
And this is just an illustration of one of the many paradoxes we must come to understand and embrace in the Christian life. This illustrates the paradox that we’ll talk about today.
But, let me just mention in brief the other Christian paradoxes:
Here are the 7 paradoxes in summary:
1.We find by losing. Matthew 10:39
39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
2.We Recieve by Giving. Luke 6:38
38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together
and running over, will be poured into your lap.
For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
3.We are Exalted by Being Humble. Matthew 23:12
12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be
exalted.
4. Our Weakness is our Strength. 2 Corinthians 12:10
10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in
persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
5. We Rule by Serving. Mark 10:44
44 ...whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.
6. We Live by Dying. Galatians 2:20
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The
life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself
for me.
Paradox #7: We Become More by Becoming Less.
Matthew 18:4
4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Today, we’re examining the Apostle James. Now to distinguish this James from the other James (the son of thunder), scripture calls him, "James, the son of alphaeus."
Matthew 10:3
3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;
Mark’s gospel in Mark 15:40, calls him, "James the younger.” or “James the less.” depending on the translation. Some scholars believe him to be the half-brother or even cousin of the Lord, who also wrote the book of James. Others think he’s someone else altogether. Right or wrong the later is my conclusion.
But, either way God knows which James this is and chose to write about Him by way of paradox.
We don’t know for sure why he’s called “the Less”. Some say he was short, compared to James the “son of thunder.” But, my theory is that he’s called “the less” because there’s less written about him than any other apostle.
And yet, this too... the blank pages in someone’s life can speak volumes if we’ll just listen.
James was called "the less" and the 7th paradox says that "we become more, only when we become less."
John the Baptist said this concerning his relationship with Christ,
John 3:30
“30 He (Christ) must become greater; I must become less.”
Similarly, Jesus said in Mark 9:35, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” I.e. Your not prominet or the even the focus... someone else is.... God.
Maybe, just maybe James had the nickname because when you met James it was just like meeting Jesus. Maybe the longer James walked with God, the harder it was to tell them apart. Maybe he was the less, because Jesus became so much more.
I would hope that the more time I spend with Jesus the less you see of me and the more you see of Him.
He was born, that I might be reborn.
He became poor, that I might become rich.
He became a slave that I might go free.
He bore my unworthiness that I might be found worthy.
He was declared guilty, that I might be declared innocent.
He washed feet. He tirelessly taught the multitudes. He selflessly gave His life as a ransom for many....
And He became our example of Life.
And became more, by becoming less. Humbliing Himself on the cross.
One of the questions to ponder this week is: Are you living the Christ-like life?
Are you serving or being served? Are you giving or getting? Are you dying to live or living to die?
The question to ponder this week is this:
When people meet you, whom do they see... you or Jesus?
When you worship at church who predominantly do people see.... you or Jesus?
When you merge into traffic, when you talk to the telemarketers, when you select a movie, when you wait in the doctor’s office, when you’re playing golf, when you talk about your church, when you share your faith.... whom do people see...You or Jesus?
John said, "I must decrease and He must increase." I must become less, and He must become more.
Shakespere once said, "the world is but a stage..." what he failed to mention was that it was a stage filled with unseen traps, that can only be avoided by relying upon the voice from the Father.
Are you willing to become less, so that He can become more in your life?
Let Him speak to you today. Avoid the traps. Become less, so that He might become more....
