As we begin our
study in the book of James, we shall find it a very practical book
with many instructions for daily living as Christians. James was the
“half-brother” of Jesus according to the flesh and became the
head of the church in Jerusalem. The book was written between A.D.
45-50 and begins by James identifying himself as a “servant of
God” where we read:
James, a
servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
to the
twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
The
verse begins, “James, a servant of God and of the Lord
Jesus Christ,...” James began
with his name, “James”
which means “supplanter” and was “the “half-brother” of
Jesus according to the flesh and became the head of the church in
Jerusalem”, “a servant”
which is the Greek word “doulos” and means “a slave, bondman or
man of servile condition” “of God”
which refers to “the Godhead and trinity which is comprised of God
the father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit” “and of
the Lord” or “he to whom a
person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master
and the title given to God the Messiah” “Jesus”
whose name means “Jehovah is Salvation” and is “the Son of God,
Savior of mankind and God incarnate “Christ”
which means “the anointed One, the Messiah and Son of God”.
“James” identified
himself as a “bond-slave” of “God and the Lord Jesus”
rather than his “half-brother”. He knew his true position was in
servanthood to God and Jesus His Son and not as a relative of
significance.
The
verse goes on to say, “...to
the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.” James
continued, “to the twelve tribes”
or “the twelve persons descending from one of the twelve sons of
the patriarch Jacob” “which are scattered abroad”
or “dispersed and spread out”, “greeting”
which means “rejoice exceedingly, be glad, rejoice, thrive well,
hail and salutations”. James' words were directed toward his fellow
Jews who were “scattered”
throughout the world.
When
we consider these words of James, we admire James' position of
humility. Although he was indirectly related to Jesus as a
“half-brother”, he didn't identify himself that way. He did not
position himself in an advantageous orientation just because he was
related to Jesus, but he took on the voluntary position as a
“bond-slave”, and directed his attention toward the Jewish
believers who would read his words. We can learn from James' humble
identification with Jesus, and all those who will follow after Jesus
should find themselves bent unto his example.
Next
time James tells his readers, “count
it all joy when”
you encounter trials,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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