James
What must it have been like to grow up alongside Jesus Christ? Wouldn’t it be fascinating to hear from someone who shared a home with Jesus, sitting together at the same dinner table? Would we not be deeply interested in hearing from someone with that kind of perspective?
And yet, that’s precisely the unique perspective we are given when we turn to the book of James in the New Testament. Although the name James was relatively common in the ancient world (mentioned over 40 times in the New Testament alone, referring to at least four different men), most scholars agree that all the evidence points to one James in particular – the younger brother of Jesus. Maybe that’s something you’ve never heard before – that Jesus had a family. However, we know he had at least four brothers and two sisters (Matthew 13:55-56). Of course, technically speaking, they were his half-brothers and half-sisters, sharing the same mother.
It certainly seems from the timeline of this letter, its style; its language; the people to whom it's written; all point in this direction - here is a letter written by a brother of our Lord. The same James mentioned in Galatians 1:19 “James the Lord's brother”. Already, that should encourage us to dive into this book. We should all be deeply interested in what James has to say.
His writing is saturated with parallels with Christ. You could even say there’s a family likeness resembled here. We know about that kind of thing from our own experience, don’t we? Sometimes when we hear someone speak, if we close our eyes, it could be their sister speaking or their brother speaking – the similarities can be so striking. It’s much like that with James. One writer, Anthony Selvaggio, says, “When you read James you encounter in a unique way the voice of Jesus.” (The 24/7 Christian, Anthony Selvaggio, p25)
The book's opening verse tells us not only its author but also the people to whom it's written: the twelve tribes in the Dispersion. James addresses his readers in Old Testament terms: the 12 tribes. We can be reasonably sure he isn't writing to exactly 12 congregations, each tracing their history back to one of the 12 tribes of Israel. Instead, he's taking Old Testament language and applying it to the New Testament Church. In doing so, he's showing us the continuity between the Old and New Testaments in a remarkably vivid way. There isn't a disconnect between the two. God has only had one people. One way of salvation. One plan of redemption. James is encapsulating the great unity of the church. There's enormous breadth in this description: 12 tribes. No one is left out of this introduction. So, if you are a Christian, then these words are for you; this letter is for you.
And when he speaks of the 12 tribes in the dispersion, James is referring to the people of God scattered among the nations – that is, the people of God beyond the land of Palestine. In the book of Acts, we read of how the persecution of the church caused early believers to scatter, which of course, brought many unintended blessings. No longer were they in one place huddled together, but they spread out across the world. James is writing to scattered believers. Scattered believers who have suffered and endured much. Scattered believers who have a citizenship elsewhere. Scattered believers longing for their heavenly home. So isn’t this letter relevant? Here’s a letter written to all the people of God. It’s written to scattered, suffering believers. It’s written with you and me in mind.
From the very outset, it begins by expressing pastoral warmth and love. That’s the spirit in which James is writing. That’s important to note because something you find in this letter is that James speaks bluntly. He doesn’t “beat around the bush”. Some of what he says will hit you square between the eyes. He will address the problem of remaining sin in our lives. And some of it may be painful to us, uncomfortable even. But none of it is out of malice. There’s no ill will here. He writes to us about sickness and suffering, trials, and temptation. He speaks to us about how we respond to God’s Word. He mentions the judgement that is coming. He addresses issues like caring for the poor and not favouring the rich. He talks about our tongue and our money. He speaks about prayer. In it all, his goal isn’t to shame us or humiliate us. Rather, it’s all out of joyful warmth and pastoral concern. The whole purpose of the letter is to do us good.
And it’s all so very practical. In that sense, James isn’t like a personal trainer walking us around the gym and just pointing out the various exercise machines. No, he invites us, he even urges us, by faith, to get on the exercise machines.
So if you’ve never done so before, you’ve got to read the letter of James. But maybe, for believers in 2022, this is a letter that we need to turn to again, with new eyes and fresh vision.
We have all had our lives incredibly disrupted and affected by Covid-19. How we need then, the instruction of chapter 5:7 “be patient brothers, until the coming of the Lord.” This is relevant. Or consider chapter 4:14, when James tells us that “we do not know what tomorrow will bring. We ought to say, If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” Surely a global pandemic has brought that home to us friends in a new and fresh way. We all have had meetings and conferences cancelled, flights and holidays cancelled. The book of James will remind us of what has been painfully obvious - we are not in control. All our plans are subject to the sovereign will of God. And who of us doesn’t need wisdom these days? Chapter 1:5 is relevant “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” And whether it’s lockdown or loneliness or gloom or Zoom—chapter 4:8 tells us i”f you draw near to God, he will draw near to you.” And no matter what the future holds for us, chapter 4:6 assures us “But he gives more grace.”
Essentially, the letter of James functions like a handbook for believers today. Arguably there is no more relevant and more practical part of the Bible you could turn to in 2022.
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Want to read the book of Nehemiah?
Use the reading plan below to guide your readings or listen to the book read Here >>>
Day 1 – Perserverence in Trials and Temptations - Ch 1 v 1-18
Day 2 - Listening to Others and God’s Word - Ch 1 v 19-27
Day 3 - Favouritism - Ch 2 v 1-13
Day 4 - What we believe and how we live - Ch 2 v 14-26
Day 5 - Our words - healing or harmful? - Ch 3 v 1-12
Day 6 - Quarrels and Peace - Ch 3 v 13-4 v 10
Day 7 - An Eternal Perspective - Ch 4 v 11-17
Day 8 – Waiting for God - Ch 5 v 1-11
Day 9 - The Prayer of Faith - Ch 5 v 12-20