Persevere

November 8

James, the half-brother of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, had good reason to be acquainted with sorrow. Of course, the obvious example is the fact that he had watched his good and honorable sibling die the cruel death of a criminal. But the more subtle and wrenching sorrow he bore was that of his own rejection and disdain for his brother.

James, as well as Jesus’ three other half-brothers (and perhaps his half-sisters) were very slow to perceive the unique nature of this God-Man with whom they had grown up. They considered Him to be an aberrant individual—an embarrassment to the family at best or a demoniac at worst.

Yet after Jesus’ resurrection, at which time He appeared to James (I Corinthians 15:7), James the Scoffer became James the Believer! James went on to play a very prominent role in the establishment of the early Church. He was held in high regard by Peter and Paul, who were considered to be the greatest of the Apostles.

This man, first scandalized by Jesus came to full devotion to Him—not as brother but as Savior. He went on to martyrdom for his commitment to Jesus and he said of the suffering imposed upon believers, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you face trials … because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance,” James 1:2, 3.