James, one of the half-brothers of Jesus, wrote what was probably the first book (in this case a letter) of the New Testament when he penned the "Book Of James" in about 45 AD. The book of James is only five chapters long, but in those chapters, James teaches us very concisely about what true faith means. He tells us to count it a joy (or consider it a joy) when we face troubles. Further, James taught us that when we pray, we should pray in faith and full of belief that we will receive whatever it is we are praying for. James tells us that those who pray with doubt or lack of belief will receive nothing because they are "double-minded," waves of the sea blown by the wind in times of storm.
James was a faithful man who believed with all his heart in the words his Brother, the Good Shepherd had to say, and witnessed many miracles that Jesus performed. One of the biggest reasons James had faith in his Brother was that the Good Shepherd appeared to him after the Resurrection. Obviously if a person who was dead, but was now alive, appeared to you or me, we would believe. But James knew that there would be many people who would never see Jesus in person, who would never hear Jesus preaching, never witness healings on the spot, including raising people from the dead. So James began his mission to witness to the people that Jesus was crucified, was raised from the dead, and most importantly, was the Son of God.
But there was a time when James, and not only him, but his brothers and sisters too, believed that Jesus "had lost his mind" (Mark 3:20-21). Jesus was preaching and proclaiming himself the Son of God. But everybody knew Jesus was the son of Joseph, the carpenter. James, along the other brothers and sisters, tried to convince Jesus to come home with them...you, know, come rest a little...you'll be okay. The siblings even tried to convince Jesus to leave town, to go to a nearby city and do his miracles there. Jesus' own family did not believe him to be God's Only Begotten Son at just that moment. Curiously, we are not told whether or not Mary, the Lord's mother, believed him to be crazy, or if she just believed. But Jesus continued his mission until he was crucified.
The evening after Jesus arose, he appeared to James, and from that time forward, James was a changed man. He had no doubt that. just as Jesus received eternal life, so would all who believed. James knew that Christians would have troubles, and not just the kind of problems you and I have these days. We all face setbacks at home or at work, financial problems, severe illnesses, and even the death of our loved ones. But James knew that the Christians of his time would have some very different kind of troubles. The Romans killed many Christians around 30 AD, then literally destroyed the city and the Temple in 69 AD, again torturing and killing many Christians and Jews. Yet James told the Christians of that time to "consider it a joy" when they faced trials, including the ultimate trial, their torture and murder just because they were Christians.
,,
The Book of James is still meant to instruct Christians today, to encourage Christians to turn to our faith in times of trouble, and to have no doubt in our hearts when we pray, even when the things we pray for seem hopeless in Ior impossible. James tells us to pray in faith and in belief, pray without doubt. There we have it, straight from the brother of Jesus, who once thought Jesus had gone mad.
James was a faithful man who believed with all his heart in the words his Brother, the Good Shepherd had to say, and witnessed many miracles that Jesus performed. One of the biggest reasons James had faith in his Brother was that the Good Shepherd appeared to him after the Resurrection. Obviously if a person who was dead, but was now alive, appeared to you or me, we would believe. But James knew that there would be many people who would never see Jesus in person, who would never hear Jesus preaching, never witness healings on the spot, including raising people from the dead. So James began his mission to witness to the people that Jesus was crucified, was raised from the dead, and most importantly, was the Son of God.
But there was a time when James, and not only him, but his brothers and sisters too, believed that Jesus "had lost his mind" (Mark 3:20-21). Jesus was preaching and proclaiming himself the Son of God. But everybody knew Jesus was the son of Joseph, the carpenter. James, along the other brothers and sisters, tried to convince Jesus to come home with them...you, know, come rest a little...you'll be okay. The siblings even tried to convince Jesus to leave town, to go to a nearby city and do his miracles there. Jesus' own family did not believe him to be God's Only Begotten Son at just that moment. Curiously, we are not told whether or not Mary, the Lord's mother, believed him to be crazy, or if she just believed. But Jesus continued his mission until he was crucified.
The evening after Jesus arose, he appeared to James, and from that time forward, James was a changed man. He had no doubt that. just as Jesus received eternal life, so would all who believed. James knew that Christians would have troubles, and not just the kind of problems you and I have these days. We all face setbacks at home or at work, financial problems, severe illnesses, and even the death of our loved ones. But James knew that the Christians of his time would have some very different kind of troubles. The Romans killed many Christians around 30 AD, then literally destroyed the city and the Temple in 69 AD, again torturing and killing many Christians and Jews. Yet James told the Christians of that time to "consider it a joy" when they faced trials, including the ultimate trial, their torture and murder just because they were Christians.
,,
The Book of James is still meant to instruct Christians today, to encourage Christians to turn to our faith in times of trouble, and to have no doubt in our hearts when we pray, even when the things we pray for seem hopeless in Ior impossible. James tells us to pray in faith and in belief, pray without doubt. There we have it, straight from the brother of Jesus, who once thought Jesus had gone mad.
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