Ref: Mt 4:21, 10:2, 17:1, 20:20, 26:37 Mk 1:19,29, 3:17, 5:37, 9:2, 10:35-41, 13:3, 14:33, Lk 5:10, 6:14, 8:51, 9:28,54, Jn 21:2, Acts 1:13, 12:2
Along with Peter and his brother John, James was one of the three disciples which formed Jesus’ inner circle. James was the son of Zebedee and Salome who lived in Capernaum. He came from a family of fisherman with his father Zebedee operating a fishing business. James and his brother John worked with their father in the family trade and along with their partners Andrew and Peter, they would earn their living by fishing in the sea of Galilee and selling their produce.
Though his brother John would go on to gain more prominence, James is virtually always listed first. This may indicate that he was more prominent or may simply mean he was the older brother. Now it is unclear exactly when James first began to follow Jesus. Though John was a disciple of John the Baptist, and one of the first to follow Jesus, the exact status of James is unclear. Interestingly James is almost entirely absent from the gospel of John. The exception is the post resurrection fishing trip, where the sons of Zebedee are mentioned amongst the 7 disciples. However it is likely that when Andrew brought his brother Peter to Jesus that John also brought his brother James (John 1:35-42). John throughout his gospel anonymises himself and this is extended to his brother.
James first appears in the narrative whilst he was fishing in the sea of Galilee. James and John along with their father Zebedee, were mending their nets when Jesus walked by. Jesus called the brothers to follow him, and they both went after him. Such was their eagerness that they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants (Mark 1:19-20). They were later present on the sabbath when Jesus taught in the synagogue and cast out a demon. Next they accompanied Jesus into the house of Peter and Andrew, this was where Jesus healed Peter’s mother in law followed by many who were brought to him there (Mark 1:21-31).
Now when Jesus chooses the twelve he gave the sons of Zebedee the name BeNeY RaASH which means sons of thunder (Mark 3:17). This might be a reference to their fiery zeal and if so reveals something of their character. The sons were zealous for God if not wilful and hot headed at times.
A significant event for James is when Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter back to life. This is the first time that we’re introduced to Jesus’ inner circle. After Jairus is informed his daughter is dead, Jesus insists on going to the house but won’t permit anyone to follow him except Peter, James and John. It was only these three along with Jairus and his wife, who witnessed Jesus bringing her back to life (Mark 5:36-43, Luke 8:51). By setting apart these three Jesus was specially training them. From this point a pattern emerges where Jesus at key moments is accompanied only by his inner circle. The next of these moments was the transfiguration. Following Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ, Jesus goes up a mountain taking with him Peter, James and John. Whilst up there, they witness Jesus transformed before them, with Moses and Elijah appearing talking with him. This was followed by hearing a voice from heaven declaring that Jesus was his Son and to listen to him (Matthew 17:1-13, Mark 9:2-13, Luke 9:28-36). The three had been given a unique revelation of the Son of God, and on the way down Jesus commanded them, to tell what they had seen to no one, until the son of man had risen from the dead. This they didn’t understand until later.
James and John would continue to misunderstand Jesus. When Jesus was journeying towards Jerusalem he entered a village of the Samaritans. However the people would not receive him. To this James and John suggested calling down fire from heaven just as Elijah had done (this remark possibly justifies their title as sons of thunder). For this Jesus soundly rebuked them for not understanding what he was about. Jesus’ mission was to save lives and not destroy them (Luke 9:51-55). The next misunderstanding came ironically after Jesus predicted his death for the third time. Along with their mum, James and John came to Jesus with a request. They asked that they might sit one on his right and one on his left when he came into his kingdom. They had missed all that Jesus was telling them and were quick to request positions of privilege in the new government. When Jesus challenged them, if they were willing to endure his sufferings, they naively proclaimed they were able. Now getting your mum to make a request is never a strong move and their actions were nothing short of a power grab. Sufficed to say when the other ten heard they weren’t best pleased. Jesus again told the disciples where true greatness lies. He came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:20-28, Mark 10:35-45).
The third event that Jesus calls his inner circle to him is in the garden of Gethsemane. Following the last supper Jesus had announced he would be betrayed. Going to pray he takes with his Peter, James and John with him. Being deeply distressed he asked the three to watch and pray whilst he went alone himself to pray. Three time he went to pray and come back and each time they had fallen asleep. When Jesus needed them the most, they were not able to be there for him. Jesus was then betrayed by Judas Iscariot with James and the rest of the disciples fleeing.
Following the crucifixion James would regroup with the disciples and become a witness to the resurrection. He was there for the events of Easter Sunday and was again there when Jesus appeared a week later to Thomas. Back in Galilee, James along with 6 other disciples would go on another fishing trip when they again saw Jesus and had breakfast together. Along with the disciples James returned to Jerusalem where Jesus ascended into heaven. Then waiting with the other disciples he was in the upper room on Pentecost where the Holy Spirit came with power.
As one of Jesus’ inner circle James would play a prominent role in the early church. Being one of Jesus’ closest followers he took the lead and became a public figure. James would become the first of the twelve to be martyred for his faith. Around the time of the Passover in 44AD, Herod Agrippa I harassed the church. In the events James was arrested and executed by the sword (Acts 12:2).
For all of James’ prominence it is interesting that we never hear him speak as an individual. In spite of this we get more of a rounded picture than most of the twelve. James was a man of zeal devoting his life to following God. It is true to say that he rarely got what Jesus was teaching at the time however the training was not in vain. Following the resurrection James would become a prominent leader in the church and a powerful witness of the gospel. So much so that he followed in Jesus’ footsteps in giving his life.