A.The death of the apostle James is recorded briefly in the Bible.
1.James is the only apostle whose death is recorded in the inspired writings (other than Judas).
2.The record is very brief: “And (Herod) had James the brother of John put to death with a sword” (Acts 12:2).Afterward, no mention is made of the disciples’ reaction, including the apostles and James’ brother John.
3.Keep in mind that persecution against Christians was common and severe in Jerusalem at the time (beginning at Acts 8).Nevertheless, the brevity of the account of James’ death may seem curious.
B.Despite the brief account of James’ life and death, there is a great deal to be learned from him.
1.Although it is not mentioned in Acts, Jesus actually prophesied of James’ death.It is from the Lord’s words that we may take lessons from the death of James.
2.Let us consider James and his brother, the “Sons of Thunder,” and see what lessons we may learn.
II.SONS OF THUNDER
A.James and John were the sons of Zebedee from Galilee.
1.Jesus called James and John away from the work of fishing with their father Zebedee to follow after Him (Matt. 4:21-22; they were also partners with Peter – Luke 5:10).
2.Both James and John became part of the twelve apostles of Jesus (Matt. 10:2).
3.Both James and John along with Peter became a sort of inner circle of Christ’s apostles.They were privileged to witness the healing of Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:35-43) and the transfiguration of Jesus (Matt. 17:1).They also went with Jesus in Gethsemane when He prayed (Matt. 26:36).
4.After Jesus was raised from the dead, both James and John witnessed Him (John 20:19-21; 21:1-14).They were also present with the disciples after Christ’s ascension (Acts 1:13).
B.Jesus called James and John “Boanerges,” which means “Sons of Thunder.”
1.The name “Boangerges” and its meaning are given only in Mark 3:17.The Lord likely called them “Sons of Thunder” because of their personalities.
2.Luke 9:51-56 gives us some insight into the impetuous personalities of these two brothers.
a.When the Samaritans refused to receive Jesus as He was travelling to Jerusalem, James and John asked if they should command fire to come down from heaven to consume them (perhaps they had in mind the example of Elijah in 2Ki. 1:10-15).
b.Jesus rebuked them and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.”
c.The Lord’s way was much different than their way, and they would have to be changed if they were to be His disciples.
III.“THE CUP THAT I DRINK, YOU SHALL DRINK”
A.Jesus foretold of the suffering James and John would endure in Mark 10:35-45.
1.On this occasion, James and John asked Jesus to grant that they might sit on either side of Him in His glory (Matthew records that their mother was also involved – Matt. 20:20-21).
2.Jesus said, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”
a.The Lord would enter into His glory only by much suffering and pain.He knew this and would even ask the Father, “If it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matt. 26:39).
b.James and John (and their mother) did not know what they were requesting, for they would also enter His glory only through much suffering.
3.James and John ignorantly replied, “We are able,” without knowing what would be required of them.They did not really know whether they were able or not.
4.Jesus then confirmed that they would indeed drink His cup.
a.They would follow His footsteps in suffering and sacrifice for the kingdom of God.
b.Their selfish purposes would have to be exchanged for a Christ-like attitude of service.
i.When the other disciples became indignant because of James and John, Jesus used the occasion to teach them about service.
ii.Jesus is the greatest example of such service, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
B.Just as Jesus prophesied, James drank the same cup as Jesus.
1.Although it is not stated explicitly, it appears that James was the older son of Zebedee.It is likely that he led his brother in bold impetuosity, and perhaps that is why he “drank the cup.”
2.James suffered death for the kingdom of God as Christ did.This was not a punishment, but it was the completion of a cycle that took James from seeking honor in the kingdom to obtaining that honor as a suffering servant.
3.It appears that John went on to live a long life, but he too was afflicted.Through his writings, we know that he struggled in the world and even suffered exile on the island of Patmos (Rev. 1:9).
IV.APPLICATIONS
A.Like James and John, we must learn the virtue of humility.
1.True humility is an honest, objective opinion of oneself.
a.We must not overvalue our worth to God and others.
i.Paul wrote, “For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith” (Rom. 12:3).
ii.Seeing ourselves for who we truly are will always humble us before God.
b.Consider the example of the apostle Paul.
i.He had full confidence that he was equal to the other apostles (2Cor. 11:5).
ii.Yet he remained humble by remembering his sinful past (“I am the least of the apostles” – 1Cor. 15:9; “I am the very least of all the saints” – Eph. 3:8; “I am the foremost of sinners” – 1Tim. 1:15).
2.Often, humility has to be learned “the hard way.”
a.All of the apostles argued with one another regarding which of them was the greatest (Luke 9:46-48; 22:26-30).However, being an apostle was not about greatness as they would learn through their sufferings (see 1Cor. 4:9-13).
b.If we do not humble ourselves, then someone or something will certainly do it for us.“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.” (Prov. 16:18)
B.Likewise, we must also learn the value of servitude.
1.The Lord emphasized servitude in His teachings and examples.
a.The Lord taught the apostles that greatness in the kingdom was granted to those who became servants as He was (Mark 10:43-44; Luke 22:26-27).
b.Before Jesus was crucified, He washed the apostles’ feet to demonstrate such servitude (John 13:12-17).Although He is the Son of God, He “did not come to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45; see also Phil. 2:5-8).
2.Just as servitude characterizes the Lord, citizens of His kingdom will also serve.
a.Jesus established the kingdom by His service, and it will grow and function through the service of its citizens (see Eph. 4:11-16).
b.The attitude of all Christians should be that of servants.We might express this attitude by borrowing from President Kennedy: “Ask not what your (brother) can do for you, but ask what you can do for your (brother).”
C.We must also be careful in what we request of God.
1.Like James and John, we may make requests of God that we do not fully understand.
a.The fulfillment of our requests may not be to our liking.
b.Consider Ecclesiastes 5:2 – “Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.”
2.What do you ask of God?
a.Do you ask for blessings?Understand that with blessings come responsibilities (Luke 12:48), so be prepared to use your blessings in God’s service.
b.Do you ask for strength?Strength is given for the purpose of work, so be prepared to do all that your strength allows (Phil. 4:13).
c.Do you ask for wisdom?Be prepared to share your wisdom through your words and deeds, for wisdom is not only a matter of what you know, but what you do (Jas. 1:5; Eph. 5:15-17)
d.Do you ask to be great?Be prepared to become a servant of God (Mark 10:43-44).
