What Happened to James?
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James the Just, 16th-century Russian icon.
What happened to our Lord’s brother, James? James was known for his unbelief. Then, years later, he is known for being on his knees praying. Before I get to James, let me ask you these questions: what happened to the sociopath David Wood? What happened to Saul, the Pharisee hunter of Christians? What do these questions have to do with Jesus’ resurrection?
David Wood’s dog is hit by a bus and dies. His mother is terribly upset. David is not. It is just a dog. A few years later his friend dies. He feels no sorrow. He sees how others are feeling and senses maybe he should feel sorrow. David is separated from his feelings. He cannot empathize with others. He is diagnosed a sociopath. On top of this, David is an atheist. Right and wrong do not matter to him. One day David’s life comes into focus. He brutally attacks his father and beats him with a hammer until he thinks him dead (he wasn’t). He is imprisoned for ten years. David is now a missionary, reconciled with his father, and has an earned Ph. D. from Fordham University. What happened to him?
Before I answer this question and the one about James, consider the question about Saul. What happens to Saul, the Pharisee hunter of Christians? Saul is a contemporary of Jesus’ apostles. He is a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin. From the age five Saul is educated in the Old Testament law. At age of thirteen, he studies Scripture under the Jewish scholar Gamaliel. Gamaliel is the Alan Dershowitz Harvard law professor of the day. He prepares Saul to teach the law. Saul becomes so zealous for the law he surpasses his Pharisee peers. He kills for the Law.
In fact, Saul takes a leading role in bullying the church. He goes to Christians’ houses. He hauls them – even women – to prison. Saul says, ‘I was violently persecuting the church of God’…I ‘was trying to destroy it’ (Gal 1: 13). He takes cool satisfaction in the stoning of preacher Stephen. He holds the coats of others to throw their stones. (Acts 8:1)
Then, something happens suddenly. People say, “He who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy?” (Gal 1:23)”Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem…?” believers ask (Act 9:21). He now goes by the name of Paul. He testifies in the synagogues Jesus “is the Son of God”. He argues Jesus is the Messiah. (Acts 9:22) What gives? How could one so passionately against Jesus turn so for him? This brings me to James.
What happened to James? In 2002 an archaeological discovery was made. A first century ossuary box was uncovered. An ossuary box contains the bones of a deceased person. This box has this inscription on it, ‘James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus.’ Whether it is authentic is still being studied. No matter, Jesus of Nazareth had four brothers, one whose name was James. Not much is known about James. James is the biological son of Joseph and Mary. He, his brothers, and mother Mary travel with Jesus early in Jesus’ ministry. But Jesus does not win him over. Conflict arises between Jesus and James and his brothers. They do not believe him. They think anybody can claim to be a Messiah and get away with it in the rural countryside. “If you do Messiah works, show the world”. Prove yourself before the watching world. Do your miracles in D.C., not in Tight Squeeze! Do out- in- the-open miracles. Jesus goes to his grave with his brother James a skeptic.
But then what happened to James? The next thing you hear James is on his knees praying. Ancient testimony says James is frequently found on his knees begging forgiveness for people; his knees are as hard as a camel’s. After his brother’s crucifixion, he is with his mother Mary and Jesus’ disciples in the upper room. James is now called “James the Righteous”, the leader of the Jerusalem church. Because of this, James is stoned in 62 AD. What happened to James? Once a skeptic …now a martyr.
Here’s the answer: Take Paul first: Paul sees the bodily risen Jesus Christ. At midday when traveling to Damascus a light shines on him. The light is brighter than the sun and encircles him. He hears the Voice speak to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 26: 14) Paul asks, “Who are you Lord?” “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” (Acts 9: 5) Paul testifies, Jesus “appeared also to me.” “Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?” Paul asks (1 Cor 9:1). Seeing the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ instantaneously turns Saul around. The resurrected Jesus turns Saul into Paul.
What happened to David Wood? In prison he runs into Randy, a Christian. Randy articulates his reasons for believing in Jesus. It makes David’s unbelief seem silly. David wants to refute Randy’s faith. So, David begins reading the Bible. Jesus’ bodily resurrection bothers him. Why would the disciples risk death to testify to the resurrection if they didn’t believe it? He also reads in the Bible Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life”; the Son of God can set you free. David knows he has many psychological, spiritual, and moral disorders. He cannot help himself. Who could? Only Jesus, the One God raised from the dead, can.
What happened to James, our Lord’s skeptical brother? The apostle Paul tells us: Christ “was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…and then he …appeared to James…” (1 Cor 15: 7) Our risen Lord Jesus appears to James! To his own brother the risen Lord reveals himself! Jesus Christ shows himself visibly, bodily to James and to Paul; this is the game-changing event that overturns them both. Not hallucinations; delusions; mental dreams; a myth; a lie, a conversion disorder, or any combination thereof. Jesus appears bodily, visibly! Our risen Lord turns James the skeptic into James the Just!! He transforms Saul into Paul. The meditation on Jesus’ bodily resurrection in concert with the risen Jesus Christ radically changes David Wood the sociopath into David Wood the missionary. For what else would they have endured and kept true through insults, ridicule, rejection, mockery, beatings, suffering, and martyrdom: Paul beheaded, and James stoned.
Do you too know the risen Lord Jesus? He says to you, “Look at me. I stand at the door. I knock. If you hear me call and open the door, I’ll come right in and sit down to supper with you.” *
*Gary R. Habermas and Michael R. Licona’s book, The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus and David Baggett’s Moral Apologetics testimony of David Wood have been instrumental resources for the above.
Tom is currently a retired Elder in the Virginia Annual Conference. He has pastored churches in Virginia, California and England. Studying John Wesley’s theology, he received his Ph.D. and M.A. degrees from the University of Bristol, Bristol, England and his Master of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary. While a student, he and his wife Pam lived in John Wesley’s Chapel “The New Room”, Bristol, England, the first established Methodist preaching house. Tom was a faculty member of Asbury Theological Seminary. He has contributed articles to Methodist History and the Wesleyan Theological Journal. He and his wife have two children, daughter Karissa, who is an attorney in Richmond, Virginia, and, John, who is a recent graduate of Regent University. Being a part of the development of their grandson Beau is a rich reward. Tom enjoys a good book by a crackling fire with an English cup of tea. His life text is, ‘Jesus, confirm my heart’s desire, to work and speak and think for thee’.
