1-15-2012 Message:
The mother of a former pastor of mine memorized the book of James. James was the earliest written book of the NT. – AD 44-49
Author - There are four James in the NT.
James the Less, son of Alphaeus Mat. 10:3. James the Father of Judas (Iscariot) Luke 6:6. James son of Zebedee, brother of John Mat 4:21. James the half brother of Jesus Mark 6:3 and of Jude Mat 13:55
Of these, 1 & 2 or not even considered as a candidate for authorship and 3 was martyred for his faith before the book was written.
The man that wrote this book was the very brother, 1/2 brother of our Lord. At first even Jesus’ own brothers did not believe in him as seen in John 7:5. Not until 1Cor. 15:7 do we see where James comes face to face with the risen savior. According to the Jewish historian Josephus, James was martyred for his faith in Jesus in the year AD62.
According to the Book of Acts in the New Testament, Herod killed James:
Act 12:1 and at that time Herod the king threw on his hands to oppress some of those of the church.
Act 12:2 and he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
Hippolytus also confirms this:
James, his brother, when preaching in Judea, was cut off with the sword by Herod the tetrarch, and was buried there.
Background – The letter is written to the Jewish Christians who had been scattered abroad as a result either Stephen’s stoning or from the wrath of Herod Agrippa I. In the book of James there are more than 40 allusions to the OT and more than 20 times he refers back to the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5.
So hear these words from the heart of a man who walked along the path and listened to Jesus, as he would talk about the people they would encounter in the next village. Or maybe even as Jesus would prepare them for things they were about to witness him do, such as stop a funeral to bring a dead son to live and give him back to his mother. Maybe he would prepare the hearts of the disciples in advance before confronting the enemy, or crowds that would want to kill him. He sat at the feet of Jesus as he taught. James heard Jesus pray to his Father.
He stood silent as God spoke on the mount of transfiguration, while Jesus was transformed before his very eyes, and he saw Moses and Elijah there Mat: 17
He spoke with Jesus in the upper room after he was raised from the dead. Received inspiration from the Holy Spirit to write these scriptures and gave his life, for the one of whom he wrote. We have in our hands today, his testimony. Evidence of what the power of God can do in the life of a person who walks with Jesus. Let his words, his heart; speak to you through the words the Holy Spirit put on him to write for you today.
James 1:18-27 (NIV)[19] My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
James was quick to listen to people, teachable, humble in spirit. He didn’t need to have the last word in every conversation. Those who spoke to James, met a man who wanted to know what you had to say and considered what you had to say more important than what he had to say in the right context. James evidently was one of those guys you could count on when you needed someone to listen. He was someone you just couldn’t make mad. Slow to anger. Not looking to fight at the drop of a hat. Approachable, kind hearted, and caring. A sweet spirited man full of compassion for those around him. Think about the heart of this man who had been groomed for service by the voice of the savior. Loved unconditionally by the heart of God. That kind of love changes a person. The kind of love that doesn’t ask for anything in return. A love that takes you, as you are, without any terms, ready to forgive, knowing you will mess it all up anyway. Watched, taught, and spoken to, through Jesus’ eyes, touched by his hands, before and after the spikes were driven through. This man James- can you see him in his last moments? Preparing to meet his brother again.
James says-
[20] For man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
James is reminding us of the fact that our life is not about what we desire it to be. James wanted to live a life that his three years with Jesus had taught him to be. So he writes to us. Don’t be angry people. That doesn’t show the life of Jesus in you that the Father desires. James recognizes that there is another level on which you and I live as Christians. A higher standard. A higher calling. A higher reward.
[21] Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
James had seen from his own life what moral filth can do to a man. He had been a witness, and a participant in the effects of wide spread sin. His words are evidence that what he had lived or seen, had left a mark. And so he writes to his fellow Christians with love. Get rid of it all, It will destroy you. Humble yourself, be a meek spirited person and allow the truth of the scripture to come in. Admit to yourself and to God that you need him to survive. Then let that truth, that peace, permeate your soul, like when you lay in the sun on a beautiful sunny day. Fall into Jesus.
[22] Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
Evidently James had this crazy notion that people read the Word of God and then live otherwise. Act out your faith. Let the word, change who you are. You can’t do it on your own. But God can and he wants to change who you are, into the salt of the world
[23] Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror [24] and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. [25] But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
A guarantee – if you look to the word intently, and continue to do so, remembering what it says and there by obeying it, you will be blessed in what you do. How important to God, are the very words that come from your mouth. Jesus said, “Your mouth is an overflow of what is in your heart.” Mat 12:34
[26] If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
What you speak, what you teach, speaks directly to whom you are serving when it is said. Come on it’s just a joke or I was with the guys…. Of you do what the word says you will be blessed. Listen to these words.
[27] Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) [2] Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind
When you know it’s the world’s way, your first thought as a follower of Jesus, is to know it’s not your way. Let’s strive to be the person James writes of, look intently into the word with a humble spirit and ask God to mold us into his people.
