The Feast of St. James, the Elder

St. James, the Elder

Feast of St James T Mark 10:35-45

INI

Today we celebrate the life of one of our brothers in the faith, St. James the Elder. As our Lutheran Confessions encourage us to do, we examine the lives of the saints, that we may learn from them. However, we don’t worship or pray to saints. And we don’t hold them in such a high esteem that we look past their faults. Rather, we learn from their faults. Because many of their faults can be found in us. There are many positive, faithful examples to follow in the Scriptures, especially regarding the faithfulness of some of our patriarchs. Particularly, their faith during difficult trials and circumstances give us encouragement in our struggles. Despite the flaws of many of them, they give us hope – and we see THAT hope demonstrated in James’ life! Despite the flaws and shortcomings as disciples like James and us may portray, God transforms sinners from being power hungry selfish people, to completely self-giving beacons of His love.

The James we examine today was the brother of John and the disciple of Jesus. He was a part of the inner three disciples – Peter, James, and John. James witnessed some miraculous things – like the Transfiguration, the raising of Jairus’ daughter, and other miraculous signs that showed Jesus as the Messiah. In the reading from Acts, we see a positive aspect of James’ life of faith – He was the first of the 12 disciples to be martyred. In that way, James demonstrated His self-less service for the kingdom – for he’d risk his own life at the threat of Herod’s sword to bring the good news of God’s salvation to sinners. Unashamed of the Gospel, James’ zeal led Him to lead others to Jesus. Because the love shown through Christ’s victory over sin, death, and devil propelled James to reject the self-centered person he WAS to find joy in self-denying service and even death.

James has been known to have a sort of a hot streak – especially by today’s standards! In the Gospel lesson, James and John approached Jesus and asked if they could sit at Jesus’ left and right hand. That is to say, they requested power in God’s kingdom. This request didn’t come from a place of being power hungry as we understand it and seeking to abuse the lowly. Rather, their request came more so from a place of zeal. They had great energy in their walk with Jesus, and so they wanted to help Jesus by sitting at his right and left hand to enact His judgments and ways.

But there’s just one problem: James didn’t understand the Lord’s judgments. James didn’t know Jesus’ way. James thought Jesus was going to establish a kingdom – one that ruled by sheer divine power. We get a glimpse into James’ mindset in Luke 9. In that story, James and John actually got their nickname – Sons of thunder. Jesus and the disciples were passing by a Samaritan village, yet they didn’t allow Jesus or the disciples to lodge there that night. Thus, they rejected Jesus. They rejected His saving Gospel and grace. James and his brother didn’t take too kindly to this, and they asked Jesus if they should call down fire from heaven to consume that village. They understood that their rejection of Jesus deserved punishment RIGHT THEN! AT THAT MOMENT! That’s how they thought the kingdom of God operated – that it ruled by brute power. However, Jesus rebuked James and John for such a suggestion. Not because they were wrong about the Samaritans being judged – because they did deserve destruction. They rejected the Messiah. But James and John got the timing and instrumentation of God’s judgment all wrong. Judgment comes at the last day when Jesus comes to judge the living and the dead. The time for this judgment is not for us to decide – not even Jesus. Only the Father knows this time. But James and John also got the instrumentation of judgment wrong – they thought that as Jesus’ disciples THEY were to be instruments of judgment. But again, they misunderstood. The people in the Samaritan village judged themselves. They were the instrument of their own judgment – because they rejected Jesus. And to be outside of Jesus is to be outside of life and dwelling in eternal death, outside of love and to be completely selfish, outside of mercy and suffering under the just threats of punishment, and outside of joy and despairing of one’s life constantly. But as disciples, they were to bring people to the source of life, light, mercy and joy which is found only in Jesus.

In the 21^st century, disciples now-a-days often have the opposite problem of James’ faith. They aren’t zealous. They’re actually quite the opposite. They’re indifferent and careless. It’s like how the letter to the Laodicean church in Revelation puts it – they’re neither hot nor cold. The angel of God wrote to them, “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” But lukewarm disciples share the same spiritual problem with James: they don’t understand what it means to be a disciple and serve in God’s kingdom. They don’t completely submit to the obedience of the master. Rather, discipleship is taken for granted for selfish gain, rather than be willing to give of oneself for the benefit and welfare of others.

Overtime, we see the maturation in James’ faith. We only get a passing mention of his martyrdom in the book of Acts, unfortunately. But this is where we see James’ start to take on the life of His Master. For Jesus taught James – “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Jesus willingly laid down His life to serve. He served the weak and burdened of society. He saved those who were sick, the dead, and those who were ill. He became the Good Shepherd to those sheep wandering aimlessly. James saw God’s service on the greatest display at the cross – where he willingly went through death not to show His great power and might, intimidating others into joining His kingdom. Rather, He revealed the kingdom of God through His merciful and gracious sacrifice. May we join James and mature in our faith. That we would turn from our self-chosen works and live a life of humility and service. Let us look to the cross first, as the source of forgiveness of sins. Let us then also look to the victory of Christ’s resurrection to be reminded of who we are in Christ – we are given a new, glorified life now, even as we await the resurrection of our own flesh. Let us also look to Jesus’ victory at the cross and resurrection from the grave, to learn to be a servant to all. For in this most glorious act, God makes us to be who He’s called us to be as His disciples– instruments of His grace, mercy, and peace to all.

So, James certainly wasn’t perfect. He misunderstood his role and duty as a disciple. Yet the cross of His Master changed everything for Him. Finally, He understood the kingdom – that it was one defined by mercy, not judgment and punishment. For God had transformed James’ heart from being focused on a self-centered grasp of power at the throne of God , to humbling Himself to service. For in this humility and service is true love – which is what God calls His disciples to do.

INI

Pastor Joshua Ralston