Grace Fellowship Church

www.GraceDoctrine.org

Pastor/TeacherJim Rickard

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Memory VerseMemory Verse

John 13:34, John 13:34, “A new commandment I give “A new commandment I give

to you, that you love one to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved another, even as I have loved

you, that you also love one you, that you also love one another.”another.”

The Twelve ApostlesThe Twelve Apostles

1.1. Simon-Peter Simon-Peter

2. 2. AndrewAndrew

3. 3. JamesJames

4. 4. JohnJohn

5. 5. PhilipPhilip

6. 6. BartholomewBartholomew

7. 7. ThomasThomas

8. 8. MatthewMatthew, Levi , Levi

9. 9. SimonSimon the Zealot the Zealot

10. 10. JamesJames, the son , the son of Alphaeus of Alphaeus

11. 11. ThaddaeusThaddaeus

12. 12. PaulPaul

James, the greaterJames, the greaterHis Name:His Name:

English translation of the English translation of the Greek name IAKOBOS Greek name IAKOBOS from IAKOB or Jacob, from IAKOB or Jacob,

which means supplanter. which means supplanter. The Hebrew is YAAQOB.The Hebrew is YAAQOB.

BackgroundBackground::He is the older brother of He is the older brother of John, Mark 5:37, one of John, Mark 5:37, one of the two sons of Zebedee. the two sons of Zebedee.

Mat 4:21; Mark 1:19; Mat 4:21; Mark 1:19; Luke 5:10Luke 5:10

Their mother is Salome Their mother is Salome who is most likely the who is most likely the

sister to our Lord's mother sister to our Lord's mother Mary. Compare Mat 27:56; Mary. Compare Mat 27:56;

Mark 15:40; 16:1; Mark 15:40; 16:1; John 19:25. John 19:25.

That would make James That would make James and John first cousins of and John first cousins of our Lord Jesus, and also our Lord Jesus, and also related to the family of related to the family of

John the Baptist. John the Baptist.

A native of Bethsaida, his A native of Bethsaida, his father was of some wealth, father was of some wealth, owning a fishing ship and owning a fishing ship and

hired servants. hired servants. Mark 1:20; Luke 5:3; Mark 1:20; Luke 5:3;

John 19:27John 19:27

This accounts for his This accounts for his mother consistently mother consistently

contributing financially, to contributing financially, to the ministry of our Lord. the ministry of our Lord.

Mark 15:41; 16:1; Mark 15:41; 16:1; Luke 8:3. Luke 8:3.

James and his brother were James and his brother were fishermen by trade, and fishermen by trade, and partners with Simon and partners with Simon and

Andrew.Andrew.

Mark 1:20; Luke 5:10 Mark 1:20; Luke 5:10

His PersonalityHis Personality::He was warm but at the He was warm but at the same time impetuous in same time impetuous in

temperament, which may temperament, which may have led to James' and have led to James' and

John's surname "Sons of John's surname "Sons of Thunder", Mark 3:17, ...Thunder", Mark 3:17, ...

...which means strength, ...which means strength, unexpectedness and zeal, unexpectedness and zeal,

approaching to methods of approaching to methods of violence. violence.

His vehemence and His vehemence and fanaticism made him to be fanaticism made him to be feared and hated among the feared and hated among the

Jewish enemies of the Jewish enemies of the Christians, which Christians, which

eventually lead to his eventually lead to his martyrdom.martyrdom.

Role Among the DisciplesRole Among the Disciples::Our Lord called him when Our Lord called him when

at the Sea of Galilee. at the Sea of Galilee.

Mat 4:18-22; Mat 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:1-11Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:1-11

James’ mother often took James’ mother often took care of our Lord's daily care of our Lord's daily

needs.needs.

Mat 27:56; Mark 15:40-41 Mat 27:56; Mark 15:40-41

He and John’s eagerness He and John’s eagerness in response to our Lord’s in response to our Lord’s

call, renders them as call, renders them as models of obedience.models of obedience.

Mat 4:21-22; Mat 4:21-22; Mark 1:19-20Mark 1:19-20

He is in the roll He is in the roll of the twelve.of the twelve.

Mat 10:2; Mark 3:14, 17; Mat 10:2; Mark 3:14, 17; Luke 6:13-14; Acts 1:13Luke 6:13-14; Acts 1:13

These brothers and Peter These brothers and Peter were the “inner circle” and were the “inner circle” and at three major events (see at three major events (see

Peter) and included Peter) and included Andrew for the private Andrew for the private discourse on the fall of discourse on the fall of Jerusalem. Mark 13:3Jerusalem. Mark 13:3

He was present when the He was present when the risen Jesus appeared for the risen Jesus appeared for the

3rd time to the disciples, 3rd time to the disciples, and the miraculous catch of and the miraculous catch of

fish made at the Sea of fish made at the Sea of Tiberias. John 21:1-14Tiberias. John 21:1-14

Jesus’ 3rd appearanceto the disciples and the miraculous catch of fish

He and John joined in the He and John joined in the request made to Jesus by request made to Jesus by their mother, to be seated their mother, to be seated on Jesus' right and left.on Jesus' right and left.

Mat 20:20-28; Mat 20:20-28; Mark 10:35-45Mark 10:35-45

When the Samaritans did When the Samaritans did not receive the Lord, James not receive the Lord, James and John desired to harshly and John desired to harshly rebuke them. Instead they rebuke them. Instead they were rebuked by our Lord. were rebuked by our Lord.

Luke 9:51-55Luke 9:51-55

His LegacyHis Legacy::He is always mentioned He is always mentioned

with his brother John and with his brother John and mentioned first, probably mentioned first, probably for being the elder, except for being the elder, except

in Luke 9:28. in Luke 9:28.

After the crucifixion we do After the crucifixion we do not have any mention of not have any mention of James for 14 years, until James for 14 years, until

his martyrdom. his martyrdom.

He was the first Apostle He was the first Apostle martyred, and the only one martyred, and the only one

mentioned in the NT. mentioned in the NT.

He was the first Apostle He was the first Apostle martyred and the only one martyred and the only one

mentioned in the NT. mentioned in the NT. Slain with a sword at the Slain with a sword at the command of King Herod command of King Herod Agrippa I of Judea, A.D. Agrippa I of Judea, A.D.

42-44. Acts 12:1-2 42-44. Acts 12:1-2

Thereby fulfilling the Thereby fulfilling the prophecy of our Lord, that prophecy of our Lord, that he too should drink of the he too should drink of the

cup of the Lord. cup of the Lord.

Mark 10:39Mark 10:39

Extra BiblicallyExtra Biblically::

“The Acts of James in India”, “The Acts of James in India”, says he and Peter went to says he and Peter went to

India and evangelized.India and evangelized.

““The Martyrdom of James”, The Martyrdom of James”, says he preached to the 12 says he preached to the 12

tribes scattered abroad.tribes scattered abroad.

He is considered the patron He is considered the patron saint of Spain, with the saint of Spain, with the

legend of preaching there legend of preaching there and being the first to bring and being the first to bring

the gospel of Christ. the gospel of Christ.

Legend tells that his Legend tells that his body was transported by body was transported by ship to Spain under the ship to Spain under the

guidance of angels to Iria, guidance of angels to Iria, and that his miraculous and that his miraculous

appearances played in the appearances played in the history of Spain.history of Spain.

Paul’s statements in Paul’s statements in Romans 15:20 and 24 Romans 15:20 and 24

refute the legend.refute the legend.

Foxes Book of MartyrsFoxes Book of Martyrs::10 years after Stephen, 10 years after Stephen, James was martyred by James was martyred by

Herod Agrippa I. Herod Agrippa I.

His accuser was saved His accuser was saved because of his extraordinary because of his extraordinary courage, requesting pardon, courage, requesting pardon, professed to be a Christian, professed to be a Christian, and that James should not and that James should not

receive the crown of receive the crown of martyrdom alone.martyrdom alone.

They were both beheaded They were both beheaded at the same time. at the same time.

Phil 3:15, Phil 3:15, “…and if in anything you “…and if in anything you have a different attitude, have a different attitude,

God will reveal that also to God will reveal that also to you.”you.”

Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship Church

Thursday, March 5, 2009Thursday, March 5, 2009

Tape # 09-015

James the Apostle James the Apostle Upper Room Discourse, Part 247Upper Room Discourse, Part 247

John 13:36; Mark 15:40-41; Luke 9:51-55

James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2009