James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ

James 1:1a

NKJV

          There are no less than four men named “James” in the New Testament. Commentators differ as to which one wrote this letter. But all things considered, the best candidate is “James the Lord’s brother” (Gal. 1:19). This James, the pastor of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15:13), and the half-brother of Christ (Mark 6:3) is most likely the author of this letter.

          Early on, James did not believe his half-brother, Jesus, was the Christ (John 7:5). But sometime after Jesus’ resurrection, James came to believe his older sibling was in fact the Christ. Paul includes a “James” in his list of those who saw Jesus after His resurrection (1 Cor. 15:7). Could it be that his belief started when James came face to face with his resurrected brother, the Lord of glory (2:1)?

          Whether or not that happened, James, the half-brother of Jesus, who once could not bring himself to believe his brother was actually the Messiah, now calls himself “a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Notice, James does not say he was the brother of Jesus, or the son of Mary. Those earthly identities paled in comparison to being a servant of God and His Son Jesus Christ. And if this letter was written by a man who grew up with Jesus and watched His manner of life longer than any of the twelve disciples, and wrote these words before the gospels and Paul’s letters to the church were penned, how much weight does this add to the teachings of this precious book?

         By identifying himself as a bondservant (slave) of God and the “Lord Jesus Christ,” James is declaring that he believed Jesus was God. James was bowing his heart before the Lord God of Creation, his once older, half-brother, Jesus. James is testifying that Jesus is the Creator and Judge of every person who has ever lived, lest we, too, be indifferent or deceived about Jesus’ identity like he once was.

         In most of our Bibles, the book of James appears after Paul’s letters, and I think sometimes, maybe like Martin Luther, we prefer it there—out of sight and out of mind. Perhaps some of us like to camp out in the high theology of Romans, Galatians, and Ephesians because those books do not ask as much of us. Whereas the entire book of James demands our submission and obedience to the One who has done so much for us.

     What do you believe about Jesus? Have you bowed to Him as Lord and God? If you have done that through admitting and confessing your sin, and placing your faith in the crucified, risen Lord Jesus, do you see yourself first as His servant like His brother James did? How are you serving Jesus through obedience in practical and tangible ways in your family, your church, and your community?