Thursday
12-15-16, Modesto USA
Today we
read James 1 – 5
S. James 1:1 This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord
Jesus Christ. It is written to Jewish Christians scattered among the nations.
Greetings! NLT
O. Tradition says that this
letter was written by James, one of Jesus’ half-brothers, son of Mary and
Joseph.** John writes, “… even his own
brothers did not believe in him.” (John
7:5) However, all this changed after Jesus rose from the dead and was with them
for 40 days. James, the half-brother of Jesus, became a leading authority
of the apostolic community centered in Jerusalem. The author of this letter
does not brag about his authority. He only identifies himself as a “slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.” His credentials are simply that his letter
is filled with practical wisdom and was apparently circulated among the
house-churches during the early apostolic age.
A. How should I identify myself
as the author of a book or even a short letter? I hesitate to refer to myself
as “reverend” since I do not deserve to be “revered”. Maybe I would best call
myself a “slave of God and of the Lord Jesus
Christ.” Even that seems to project a sound of authority which I
do not deserve. Just call me Ralph, another tool in Jesus’ carpenter
shop.
P. Lord, keep me as Your useful
tool. Please don’t just hang me over there on the wall. Pull me down and
sharpen me to be more effective… and use me to make a positive difference in
someone’s life. Amen.
Ralph
** (I quote
an Episcopal priest:) Three guys walk into a bar in
Jerusalem. They all have the same name: James. One of them is the son of a
fisherman named Zebedee, the other the son of someone we know nothing about
named Alphaeus, and the third is known to everyone as “the brother of the
Lord.” The Lord, Jesus. They are arguing about who should get the credit
for writing a five-page letter making its way from house to house church that
believers are calling “The Letter of James.” After a while the bartender is
tired of listening to them and says, with the voice of authority, “You guys are
nuts. I wrote that letter.” “You? Who are you?” they yell in unison.
“Anonymous,” he replies. (William Brosend)
His point is
“Who cares which one is the author? It is filled with practical wisdom,
was written early in the apostolic age and was considered authentic and worthy
of being included in the biblical canon.” He concludes that he tends to agree
with the traditional concept that this is the writing of the half-brother of
Jesus Christ, son of Mary and Joseph.
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