Saturday, April 20, 2013

Knowing Jesus

Ya'akov--a younger brother of Yeshua

In five chapters James confronts some of the toughest questions that confuse Christians—then and now. Paradoxical, not easily reconcilable, yet he seems to “get it” not grapple with it.
Godhead bodily                                   Jewish Christianity                                        Performing faith
Just mercy                                                        Joyful trials
What strikes me as I read the words he penned is that he is not struggling with understanding. Not a “how can this be?” line of thinking, but a “this is how it is” attitude.
And I have come to this conclusion: he gets it because he knew Jesus. He was the second born of Mary’s children. He lived in Joseph’s house. He bunked with Jesus as a boy and continued to tag along after him into early adulthood. He tried to make Jesus behave and bore the frustration of all who have tried and failed to do so. Then he was visited by the resurrected Messiah and put two and two together and saw the trinity--the fullness of the godhead bodily.
 
James wasn’t a disciple of the great Rabbi. He was kin to him all along--following in His footsteps since birth and now a witness of the resurrected One. He had been listening to what his brother had to say from the cradle. Now that the spiritual eyes were open to the truths embodied in the Word made flesh and dwelling among us, James did not need to grapple. He was compelled to lead others to understanding. He no longer invoked nepotism, but declared himself “a slave to God and the Lord Yeshua the Messiah.”
 
His words are humbly powerful, knowledgeable, and challenging. Worth anyone’s while to read.