Faithful on Fridays Blog

James was what we call an ‘influencer’ of the believers in Jerusalem as their Lead Pastor. Protestant theologians agree that this man was Jesus’ younger brother, whose Hebrew name is Jacob, growing up alongside the Savior. He would’ve enjoyed meals, played and wrestled as brothers, attended Hebrew school, and enjoyed family life with Joseph and Mary, Jesus, Joseph, Simon, Judas, and several sisters (Matt. 13:54-56). How intriguing that during His ministry they didn’t believe He was the Messiah (Mark 3:21; John 7:2-9), and yet we know that James and Judas came to faith in Him since they authored letters included in the New Testament.

How did James become equipped to shepherd (pastor) the first church in Jerusalem? Did he accompany Mary during Jesus’ three years of ministry observing signs, wonders, and miracles? Was God reminding him of the Old Testament passages he knew from Hebrew school foretelling the coming Messiah? I have no answers except what we know from Scripture. For example, from the cross Jesus chose the apostle John to care for His mother after He ascended: not James. Why is that? However, after Jesus rose from the dead He surprisingly appeared to His brother James,

Then He (Jesus) was seen by James and later by all the apostles. 1 Corinthians 15:7 

He specifically chose His brother, among His other apostles, to witness His supernatural appearance. Was that the final miracle he observed sealing his faith? Paul also wrote that James is an apostle, not one of The Twelve, but a ‘sent one’,

The only other apostle I met at that time was James, the Lord’s brother. Galatians 1:19

James eventually came to salvation and considered himself a servant of his Lord, Jesus Christ (vs. 1) recognizing his crucial role as Pastor some twenty years later. The believing Jews were scattered from Jerusalem to surrounding areas of Israel due to the persecution by the religious leaders; Stephen’s martyrdom was proof. As a good pastor writing to his flock or congregation out of love and care, he warned that trials, testings, and temptations inevitably will come to believers, however, we have prepared strategies to be triumphant in faith when they arrive. Joy is the first strategy.

In verse 2 James instructed his church family to ‘count it all joy’ because that’s how they’ll develop vital perseverance. To count in Greek means to rule, lead, and even dominate, in this case your emotions. That joyful recognition of God’s grace, even when you don’t feel like it or see it, is ‘counting it all joy’ because we know that’s where our strength is (check out Neh. 8:10; Ps. 28:7, 73:26; and Is. 12:2) That’s what we do with our thought-life: we dominate and control it so that when trials and testings arrive, and they will, we can be prepared to lead our perspectives toward joy. James is clear, you’re empowered by the Spirit to be triumphant in any circumstances. Take advantage of it!