Jesus in James
February 11, 2025
Brothers in Christ
Instead of starting letters, “Dear Friend,” like we do now, when the New Testament letters (“epistles”) were written, they started with the author’s signature—letting people know up front who was writing them.
When James started his letter, he introduced himself as “Jesus’ bondservant.” But in reality, this “slave” was really Jesus’ own half-brother. James’ father was Joseph and Jesus’ father was our heavenly Father, but they shared the same human mother, Mary.
Perhaps James never boasted about his close relationship with Jesus because, before the Resurrection, James didn’t believe Jesus’ claims to be Messiah. Neither did Jesus’ other brothers and sisters believe or follow Him during His earthly ministry (see Matthew 12:46-50 and John 7:5). However, once he believed, James followed the Lord faithfully. In fact, James likely became head of the church at Jerusalem, and in Acts 15 he presided over the history-defining great council there.
If you were in that original audience, it must have felt like a privilege to get a letter from someone who grew up with the Savior of the world. But James repeatedly called his audience “my brothers”—grouping all who are found in Christ by faith as brothers with this brother of Jesus.
James writes about Jesus throughout his letter, almost like it’s a biography of his brother. When James wrote about the wisdom that comes down from above (James 3:17-18), he wanted us to think of Jesus, the Wisdom that has come to us from above (see also Matthew 11:19 and 1 Corinthians 1:30). Or about how Jesus Himself perfectly endured temptation (James 1:12). Or how Jesus is the perfect gift that has come down from the Father of lights (James 1:17). This book is about our Jesus, who alone can save our souls from death and cover a multitude of sins (James 5:20).
