St. James the Elder, Apostle

St. James the Elder, Apostle
July 25, 2010

Acts 12:1-3
James, a Sinner and a Saint

Today we are going to remember the Apostle James. Whenever we commemorate an Apostle, the central thing to remember is that Jesus took a sinner and declared him to be a saint. So as we learn about James, we will see the meaning of these words:

Where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:20-21)

The grace of Jesus overcame the sin of James. In James we see ourselves. Like James, Jesus' grace also overcomes our sin. Praise be to Christ! Amen!

James was one of the first men that Jesus called to be one of His disciples; and he was also the first one killed because of his calling. What happened between his call and his martyrdom?

First of all, we need to note that there were two men named James whom Jesus called to follow Him. The James we remember today was John's brother—John was the writer of the Gospel and of Revelation. And James was the son of Zebedee. (The other James was the son of Alphaeus.) When the Gospels speak of Peter, James, and John, that's the James were talking about. Our James didn't write the New Testament letter of James because he was already in heaven by then.

Some of the future apostles are only mentioned in the lists of disciples, like in Matthew 10. So we don't know much about them personally. But we do know James. Jesus chose him and his brother and Peter to see things that the other nine disciples weren't allowed to see.

When Jesus brought Jairus' little girl back to life, He brought along Peter, James, and John to be eyewitnesses. Same with the Transfiguration—these three men saw Jesus in His glory, as Moses and Elijah stood next to Him. And on the night Jesus was betrayed by another of His disciples, Judas, we read:

They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to His disciples, "Sit here while I pray." He took Peter, James and John along with Him, and He began to be deeply distressed and troubled. "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," He said to them. "Stay here and keep watch." (Mark 14:32-34)

Just a few verses later we learn that James and the others had fallen asleep. Like Peter, James talked big, but when Jesus asked him to stay awake in the Garden, he couldn't even do that. When Judas brings the armed mob to grab Jesus, James ran away with the rest of the disciples.

Also concerning is that James seemed to think that he and his brother John were better than the other disciples.

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him. "Teacher," they said, "we want You to do for us whatever we ask."

"What do you want Me to do for you?" He asked.

They replied, "Let one of us sit at Your right and the other at Your left in Your glory."

"You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?"

"We can," they answered.

Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at My right or left is not for Me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared." (Mark 10:35-40)

James was bold. He made a bold request to sit next to Jesus in heaven; then he answers Jesus' question about drinking His cup with confidence, “We are ready to die for you,” without apparently thinking about what his answer meant. But here's what interesting: Jesus says that James is right, that James will drink the cup He drinks. And this came true about ten years later.

It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. (Acts 12:1-2)

James ran away from the cross that saved him, Jesus' cross on Golgotha, but through the comfort of the resurrection and the strength of God's Word, James did not run away from Herod's sword. He was not afraid to die for the name of Jesus, his Savior.

Even though James was a sinner, he faced death with the comfort of the forgiveness of his sins. And he knew that this included the time when he ran away from Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. And when he was sure that Jesus was dead and doubted the many times when Jesus had predicted His coming back to life.

James also knew that Jesus' forgiveness extended even to his original sin, which is the condition and compulsion to go against everything God wants for us, which he inherited from Zebedee and Salome, his father and mother, which they inherited from their parents all the way back to Adam and Eve, our first parents.

And so we end where we began with Romans 5. Even though James was killed long before these words were penned by Paul, James trusted in the very same promise.

Consequently, just as the result of one trespass [Adam's sin] was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness [Christ's death on the cross] was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:18-19)

James knew the righteousness of God, not because of righteousness inside of himself, but by the promise and fulfillment of the Savior's work on his behalf. This is James' salvation; it is ours as well.

Praise Christ for James, a disciple, an apostle, a martyr, and most of all, a forgiven sinner!

Amen.

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
July 18, 2010

Romans 12:16
Live In Harmony With One Another

How do you live in harmony? And how you do that with other people? Maybe the answer is to be good for goodness' sake?

This attitude works. It gets people to be nice to other people. It gets people to take risks when helping others. Did you hear about the Ohio mailman who saved a drowned man with CPR? And this is the third life he saved while on his route... which he finished on time. We hear this news and it makes us glad. It's great to know that there are people who are eager to help when help is needed.

But we appreciate non-dramatic events and people, too. Our neighbor who shoves our walk in winter or mows our grass in the summer. The neighbor who keeps her yard so neat and clean and full of beautiful flowers. The dog-walker who makes sure his pooch doesn't ruin your sidewalk. Little stuff, sure. But it means a lot to us that there are many who are good for the sake of goodness.

They live in harmony with their neighbors because they want to be treated well as they treat others well. All of this works. It is rational. And as believers we thank our Lord for a community that, for the most part, is peaceful and united and harmonious.

But as believers we strive to live in harmony with one another for a different reason. A reason that is irrational. The world looks at what Jesus did to save us and thinks, “Irrational! That guy was crazy!” The world is correct: sacrificing the holy Son of God to save sinners is... unexpected.

Christ calls us to do unexpected things also.

He wants us to want what is best for our bullies. Pray for your bullies (remember that they come in all shapes and ages and sizes). Be kind to them. Sometimes you might need to defend yourself or someone else from their fists, but don't hit back with your words.

Don't be afraid to spend time with a rich person whom everyone else despises or a poor person whom hygiene isn't up to our standards.

And don't take yourself too seriously. If you don't, you'll much more stress and worry that you'll need to unburden on Jesus. While He'll be glad to do so, He also wants what's best for you.

This is our irrational reason for living in harmony with one another: we want what is best for others. We are able to do this because Jesus has set us loose on this selfish world and the conceited bullies who live here.

Our lives are filled with so much disharmony. Communication problems, money problems, relationship problems—and now try adding other people to the mix. If we handle our lives in the expected way, our lives may smoother than others. We might be well-liked and respected by others. That's good for now.

But as followers of Jesus our attitude will be one that the world will never understand. It will always be irrational and unexpected, just like Jesus. But He gives us the only harmony that will last, even when the world ceases to be.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another.

Amen.