Tonight we are talking about James the Great…or James the Greater…

This James has been called “the greater”, the “elder,” and sometimes even the “major.” In the Greek his name is pronounced I’akwbos.

These designations were – because there were two men, both named James in Jesus’ group of disciples…so they differentiated between the two.

It has been said that he was perhaps closer to Jesus then some of the other disciples.

We know there were Peter and Andrew, James and John, the other James, Simon, Judas, Thomas, Philip, Matthew, Thaddeus and Bartholomew.

Peter and Andrew, James and John were all four fishermen. Some scholars even believe that they all worked together along the shores of Lake Galilee.

We know further that Jesus had an “inner group” or an “inner circle” consisting of three hand-picked and chosen men who were present with him at some of the most important events in his ministry. These were his witnesses.

James was a part of that inner circle along with Peter and John his younger brother.

This James was the eldest son of Zebedee and Salome. He is mentioned in all synoptic accounts and his martyrdom is actually cited in Acts 12.2.

There is some evidence that James was the first cousin of Jesus – and had been acquainted with him from infancy. It is believed that his mother Salome was the sister of Jesus’ mother – Mary.

It is thought that James and John came from a somewhat wealthy family. Their father had boatmen or hired men as his usual attendants…and servants.

Their mother, Salome was also one of the pious women who afterwards followed Jesus and ministered to him out of their substance.

It is probable according to Acts 4. 13 that James had not received the technical training of the rabbinical schools, and in that sense he was unlearned and without any official position among the Jews.

But then, according to “the social rank of their parents,” and as businessmen they must have been men of ordinary education in the common walks of Jewish life.

James would have had frequent opportunities to come in contact with Greek life and language which were already widely spread along the shores of the Galilean Sea.

He was of Galilean origin like Jesus himself. The Galilean race was known as being extremely religious, of hardy stock, industrious, brave and some of the strongest defenders of the Jewish nation and faith.

Jesus referred to James and John as being “the sons of thunder.” This was perhaps because of that self-same Galilean blood that flowed through their veins. Both brothers were known to be loyal, passionate, rash, unthinking at times, impetuous, zealous, severe in their temper and fiery….they both could be vengeful in their view of power and somewhat unforgiving toward others.

You have to admit, Jesus chose “quite a group” for himself!

It has been said that their “Galilean origin” explains “in part the energy of their temper and the vehemence of their character.”

As a part of the inner circle, James was with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration, he was present when Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead and again with Jesus as he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane.

These were also the two disciples (James and John) who asked Jesus if they could sit one on his right and one on his left when he came into his kingdom.

Remember, these were “his cousins” asking “this question.” They were also the duo who wanted to rain fire down upon a Samaritan Village. This was also the pair that stopped a man from casting out demons in Jesus’ name – simply because he was not a part of their group! They wanted the glory – not someone else!

Acts 12.1 tells us that James was one of the first martyrs of the early church. King Herod Agrippa I killed him with a sword in an early persecution of the faithful. The rapid growth of the movement had incensed the Jews. It is said that James’ zealous temper and his leading part of the Jewish Christian communities probably lead Agrippa to choose him as the first victim. He was decapitated.
Legends that James evangelized Spain before he died have no basis in historical fact.

And finally, for the record – James is the patron saint of hat-makers, rheumatoid sufferers and laborers.

Today the church remembers James.