Remembering the Apostle James, Son of Zebedee

0
1
0
1
0
1
3shares

This post is part 7 of the series:

July 25

Remembering the ministry of the Apostle James, Son of Zebedee

Remembering the Apostle James

“James” is the name of three important figures of the New Testament: James the son of Alphaeus (also an Apostle of Christ), James the Just (brother of our Lord), and James the brother of John the Apostle and Son of Zebedee, to be consider here.Remembering the Apostle James

Biblical Account

James, brother of the Apostle John, is often known as “James the Great.” His mother, Salome, was a devoted follower of Jesus (Matthew 26:56; Mark 15:41). He was the older brother of the Apostle John, as is deduced from the fact that his name is almost always mentioned before John’s (Matthew 10:2; Mark 3:17, etc.). Though it cannot be determined with certainty, it is likely that he became a follower of Jesus immediately following the Lord’s baptism in the Jordan (John 1:32). James and John were surnamed Boanerges (“sons of thunder”) by Christ (Mark 3:17). Exactly why this name was given has been a matter of speculation; the exact reason for this name cannot be determined with an degree of certainty. The more widely accepted view suggests that the surname was an allusion to their passionate and vehement natures (Mark 10:35).

James, along with John and Peter, enjoyed a unique relationship with Jesus that constituted an inner circle among the Twelve. He belonged to the narrower circle of Christ’s more intimate disciples, who were was admitted into the chamber of Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:37), to the vision of the transfiguration (Mark 9:2), and to Christ’s struggle at Gethsemane (Matt. 26:37). Beyond this, nothing more is recorded of him than his execution by sword, under Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:2).

James was unique in the fact that he was the first of the apostles to suffer martyrdom. For James, the prediction of Christ, that James and John would indeed drink of his cup of suffering and be baptized with his baptism (Mark 10:39) was more fully realized than it was for his brother John. Following Stephen, James received the second place of honor in the kingdom of heaven about 44 A.D. Church history records the death of James. Eusebius, one of the earliest Church historians writes:

About that time"—clearly that of Claudius—"King Herod laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church and killed James the brother of John with the sword" [Acts 12:1-2]. In Book 7 of Outlines, Clement [of Alexandria]adds an interesting tradition regarding James that the man who brought him into court was so moved by his testimony that he confessed that he too was a Christian:

So they were both taken away together, and on the way he asked James to forgive him. James looked at him for a moment and replied, "Peace be with you" and kissed him. So both were beheaded at the same time.

Then, as Scripture says, Herod, seeing that James's execution pleased the Jews, arrested Peter also, put him in prison, and would have murdered him, too, but for divine intervention: an angel stood by him at night, and he was miraculously released from prison and set free for the ministry of preaching.[1]

Against the claims of the New Testament, the church of Spain boasts that James shared in its foundation. The Spanish church has falsely claimed that James minister in Santiago de Compostela or Compostela, the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, in northwestern Spain. James is regarded as the patron saint of Spain and pilgrims or travelers.[2]

Apostolic Symbol

As is true for other apostles, the life and ministry of James has been characterized by several apostolic symbols. The symbols most commonly attributed to him have been scallop shells, a pilgrim's staff, or a gourd bottle. In addition, James is also characterized by a sword, symbolic of his martyrdom. The scallop shell was alleged to be the symbol of pilgrimage and characterized the apostle's zeal and evangelistic spirit. Pilgrims or travelers used the shells for a cup, spoon, and dish, and when returning home, the traveler placed his scallop shell in his hat to command admiration, which is reported to have led to the adoption of this symbol a coat of armor.

Celebrating Our Christian Heritage!

We are a user supported non-profit organization. Your small gift is tax-deductible and will go a long way to help us meet our operating budget — and it is vital, because
America deserves to know its true heritage.
Please contribute today!

Click to donate

Preacher Begins Prelude to American Revolution

Nearly one hundred years prior to the American Revolution, the causes for the break between Great Britain and America were already at work. While most Americans are unaware of the pivotal role American pastors exercised in the break with Britain, even fewer are aware that pastors were exercising similar roles of influence in American colonial life well before the Revolution. In fact, from the first settlement at Jamestown, Christian pastors exercised remarkable cultural influence upon America. This was true in all of the American English settleRead more...

Lewis Morris

Lewis Morris (April 8, 1726 – January 22, 1798) was an American landowner and developer from Morrisania, New York. He signed the Declaration of Independence as a delegate to the Continental Congress from New York. The brief biographical sketch of his life presented below is taken from the nineteenth-century work, Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence by Rev. Charles Goodrich. Article Contents A Thumbnail Sketch Related Articles Anchor Elements Article Notes and Sources A ThumbnaiRead more...

Christianity and America's First Constitution

Have you ever seen a car license plate from the state of Connecticut? If you have, do you remember the slogan emblazoned on it? Connecticut is called the "Constitution State," but very few of us know why it has been given this title. The reason Connecticut is called the Constitution State is because of a Christian minister and his belief that the Bible contains all of the principles necessary for happy contented living including the Christian's involvement in matters of government or politics. The pastor's name was Thomas Hooker. He was born oRead more...

George Clymer

George Clymer (March 16, 1739 – January 24, 1813) was an American politician and founding father. He was one of the last Patriots to advocate complete independence from Britain. As a Pennsylvania representative, Clymer was, along with five others, a signatory of both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. Points of significance include the following:George Clymer Orphaned at seven, was raised by an uncle, and followed his uncle into mercantilism in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Accepted a commission as captain over a coRead more...

Article Notes and Sources

[1] Eusebius, the Church History, translated by Paul Maier, 66-67.

[2] Revised from McClintock and Strong, Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature.