TWELVE COMMON MENTWELVE COMMON MEN

JamesThe Apostle of Passion

James the Son of Zebedee• Family Relations• James the son of Zebedee and brother of

John. • Mt 27:56; Mk 15:40; Jn 19:25

– His mother's name was probably Salome – Perhaps the sister of the mother of Jesus

• James was a fisherman by trade, and worked along with his father and brother (Mt 4:21– Partners with Simon and Andrew (Lk 5:10) – Employed hired servants (Mk 1:20), so their

business must have been prosperous

James – the Apostle of Passion

James the Son of Zebedee• First Call: • The call to James to follow Christ (Mk 1:16-20) was

given by Jesus as He was walking by the sea of Galilee – Luke 5:1-11 includes the miraculous draught of fishes,

at which James and John also were amazed • Named an Apostle (Mk 3:16-19)• One of only three present at . . .

– the raising of Jairus' daughter – the Transfiguration – the private prayer of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane

James – the Apostle of Passion

The Sons of ThunderThe Sons of Thunder • Fire from Heaven - Lk 9:51-56

– The Samaritans • Mixed blood (Israelite plus peoples brought in by Assyria• Worshipped God at Mt Gerizim with a religion that blended

elements of truth with paganism– had their own priesthood and temple (destroyed before

Christ) and sacrificial system • Considered mongrel’s by pure-blooded Jews

– Pharisees traveling would cross the Jordan twice to avoid Samaria

– Jesus going to Jerusalem for Passover • Samaritans had no love for the Jews or their festivities

– James and John were outraged at the Samaritan’s treatment of Jesus

• Should they do just as Elijah did? (2 Kings 1:1-18)

James – the Apostle of Passion

The Sons of ThunderThe Sons of Thunder • Jesus rebukes them

– They weren’t in control of their passion– Jesus’ mission was different from Elijah’s (Lk 9:55-56)

• Elijah was punishing sin– He had previously tried less harsh measures to try and

save the people (drought, contest on Mt Carmel)• Jesus came to seek and save the lost • This was not the time nor place for judgment, though

that time will come (2 Thes 1:7-9) • Jesus wasn’t condemning their zeal

– Zeal is good, theirs was just misdirected– Needed to first give time to teaching and tring to win

the lost to Jesus• In Acts 8, Philip, then Peter and John, preached Jesus in

Samaria and converted many

James – the Apostle of Passion

The Sons of ThunderThe Sons of Thunder • So far we have seen James as fervent, passionate,

zealous and insensitive• Now we’ll see him as ambitious and overconfident• Greatness in the Kingdom – Mk 10:35-45

– Even got their mother to make this bold request (Mt 20:20-28

– Perhaps this idea had been put in their minds by such statements from Jesus as Mt 19:28-30

• Jesus asks, “Are you able to drink the cup I am about to drink? – Jesus had just predicted His death (Mt 20:17-19)– James and John say, “We are able!”– Jesus then predicts that they will suffer as He suffered

James – the Apostle of Passion

The Sons of ThunderThe Sons of Thunder • But it was not up to Jesus to give the thrones

to the right and left (Mt 20:23)– Greatness in the kingdom would not be a matter

of favoritism• As Jesus had already taught (Mt 18:1-5)

• Their ambition creates conflict among the other Apostles– Still debating it around the table of the Last

Supper (Lk 22:24-30)

James – the Apostle of Passion

A Cup of Suffering• Acts 12:1-3• When Herod decided to stop the church he made

James and Peter his first targets– James had obviously put his passion to good use at

the forefront of the spreading of the Gospel• James is the first martyr from among the Twelve and

his is the only death of an Apostle (besides Judas) recorded in the NT– James indeed drank the cup of Christ

James – the Apostle of Passion

Character LessonsCharacter Lessons• James stands as the prototype of zealousness,

passion and being on the front lines• Somewhere along the way he had:

– tempered his passion with grace– learned to control his anger– bridled his tongue– redirected his zeal– eliminated his thirst for revenge– and set aside his own selfish ambition

James – the Apostle of Passion

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION• Peter was an impulsive, inquisitive, involved disciple

– With training and failures became a great leader• Andrew was a quiet, steady, thoughtful disciple

– Brought others to Christ • James was a burning, passionate, enthusiastic

disciple with a potential for failure– Once zeal was harnessed and tempered with love and

blended with patience, long-suffering and self-control – Then he could serve and sacrifice for God’s glory

• God can use all types of disciples as long as we are willing to surrender our will to His

James – the Apostle of Passion