SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/10/2021 11:07 AM
My Worship Time Focus:
PT-1 “James The Son of Zebedee”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Matthew
10:2b
Message of the
verse: “and
Andrew his brother; and James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;”
In our SD for today we want to begin
something that will take us a few days to get through, as we begin to look at
James, who is the brother of John and the son of Zebedee. We have been looking at the different
apostles for some time now and I have mentioned in earlier SD’s that this study
of the apostles of Jesus has become very interesting and informative to me, as
I am learning that these men had flaws, and it is helpful to understand those
flaws in order to help me see that even though one day these twelve men will
rule over the house of Israel in what I believe will be the millennial kingdom,
when they first began their walk with the Lord I can see things that were in
their lives in my lives and therefore this gives me great hope that God is not
done with me yet.
It is interesting that whenever you
see James’ name in the gospel that he is always mentioned with his brother
John, and is always mentioned first, leading to believe that he was older than
John. Both were fishermen working for their
father Zebedee. Another thing we can see
about James is that was the dynamic of the two brothers, the one who would
speak his mind, something that we have learned that Peter did also.
Now it is because that James in not
mentioned in the Bible all that much that we will have to look at him more like
a silhouette than a portrait. Jesus called
the brothers as “Boanerges, meaning the “sons of thunder” as found in Matthew
3:17, and we learn from the description alone we can assume James was a very
passionate, zealous, fervent, and aggressive.
The
following story happens during as Passion week is approaching and is found in
Luke’s gospel the ninth chapter and verses 51-56 and as I quote these verses
you can see why Jesus called these brothers “sons of thunder.” “51 When the days were approaching for His
ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem; 52 and He sent messengers on
ahead of Him, and they went and entered a village of the Samaritans to make
arrangements for Him. 53 But they did not receive Him, because He was traveling
toward Jerusalem. 54 When
His disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do You
want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?"
55 But He turned and rebuked them, [[and said, "You do not know what kind
of spirit you are of; 56 for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s
lives, but to save them."]] And they went on to another village.”
From
this story we can learn that James had much zeal but little sensitivity. MacArthur writes “In his resentment of the
Samaritans’ rejection of Jesus, he reflected a commendable commitment. It is good for God’s people to become
incensed when He is dishonored and vilified (cf. Ps. 69:9; John 2:13-17). Jesus Himself was angered when His Father’s
house was profaned (Matt. 21:12-13) and when hardness of heart made His opponents
criticize even His healing the diseased and afflicted on the Sabbath (Luke 13:15-16). But Jesus did not return evil for evil (1
Pet. 2:23), and He forbids His followers to do so (Matt. 5:38-42).”
I
am sure that most who have read their Bibles know that the mother of James and
John came to ask Jesus if her sons could sit on the right and left side of his
throne in His kingdom. Jesus then said
to the two “22 But Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking.
Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" They said to Him,
"We are able." 23 He said to them, "My cup you shall drink; but
to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is
for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.’” Now we don’t know if James and John were the
ones who instigated their mother’s request of not, however they obviously
though it was perfectly appropriate.
They had no reservation about their desiring the honor or their ability
to meet any demands it might make of them.
Now as we look at this story of these two brothers as we focus in on
James we can certainly say that this is something that Andrew would have never
done as he was ready to do the things Jesus wanted him to do and not worry about
“flashy” things like this.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: I continue to find it interesting the
differences that Jesus’ apostles had and yet Jesus used all of them including
Judas, as he was the one who fulfilled prophecy in the death of Jesus.
My Steps of Faith for Today: To be used of Jesus, to grow in my walk with
Him, and to have a desire to change into what He wants me to be and do.
8/10/2021 11:41 AM
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