Our Savior Lutheran Church

1. An athletic contest.
2. A business deal.
3. An attractive woman.
4. A public award.
5. A fear of criticism.
6. Other _____________________

2. What’s your favorite memory of a victory? When do you tend to think about it?

3. What’s your worst memory of a loss? When do you tend to think about it?

The Word

Jesus chose twelve apostles, but within that group He focused attention on three – Peter, James, and John. They’re always listed in that order. James didn’t like second billing, so he set out to change it. He didn’t care if his plan made everyone else mad. Fortunately, Jesus never gave up on James. Jesus rebuked him and loved him until, in the end, James died for Jesus. In that he was number one among the apostles.

A Firstborn Son - Mark 3:16-17

[16] These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); [17] James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder);

Sons of Thunder - Luke 9:51-56

[51] As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. [52] And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; [53] but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. [54] When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" [55] But Jesus turned and rebuked them, [56] and they went to another village.

Winning At Any Cost - Matthew 20:20-21

[20] Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.

[21] "What is it you want?" he asked.

She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom."

Mark 10:35-45

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask."

[36] "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked.

[37] They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory."

[38] "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?"

[39] "We can," they answered.

Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, [40] but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared."

[41] When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. [42] Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. [43] Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, [44] and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. [45] For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

The Ultimate Sacrifice - Acts 12:1-2

It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. [2] He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.

Observations

James came from a family that ran a business (Matthew 4:21-22) and had political connections, knowing the high priest in Jerusalem (John 18:15-16). James enjoyed privilege among the apostles: he witnessed the healing of Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:37) and the transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17:1-2). James wanted to sit at Jesus’ right hand in His Kingdom (Mark 10:35-37).

James felt the sting of Jesus’ rebuke after he suggested calling fire down on a Samaritan village (Luke 9:55). He puzzled over the teaching that the greatest Christ-follower was the one who made himself a servant (Mark 10:43-45). He regretted falling asleep in Gethsemane when Jesus asked him to pray (Mark 14:32-41).

After the resurrection of Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit, James displayed a new heart and character that enabled him to give his life willingly for his Master (Acts 12:1-2).

Observation 1

No matter what our family background, Jesus Christ can mold our lives into His image.

All of us have been impacted by our family backgrounds. Unfortunately, many parents have not always been the best models. For example, many children today are reared in an environment that is intensely materialistic, as James’ mother showed herself to be. In addition, more and more little boys grow up in families where they’ve never seen what God intended a good husband to be. They’ve never seen their father love their mother as God has commanded. They’ve not experienced love themselves.

This is the primary reason God designed the church to be a “re-parenting” organism. When Christians love one another as Jesus taught His disciples to (John 13:34-35), the world will sit up and take notice. James’ love became apparent when he died for Christ. Christians who have not learned what love is from their parents will experience it in their relationships with their pastors and their brothers and sisters in Christ.

Observation 2

God is looking for dedicated men with natural leadership abilities who will become servant leaders.

Initially, James used his God-created energy to be opportunistic and to further his own self-centered interests. When he was in the limelight on the Mount of Transfiguration, he was highly motivated. However, when he had to operate “behind the scenes” in the Garden of Gethsemane, he “went to sleep.”

Jesus Christ wants us to use our ego strength to achieve His goals. Men who follow Him must allow their God-created energies to be brought under the control of the Holy Spirit. Jesus wants to help us shed our self-centered pride and become humble but self-confident men, relying on God, while using all of the abilities He has given us.

Observation 3

Jesus Christ wants to use our competitive tendencies to build His Kingdom, not our own.

How can we do our best, have a winning spirit, “climb the corporate ladder,” and yet be servants? This is not an easy question to answer, but I believe it’s possible.

First, we need to be reminded that it’s not wrong to do our very best and to be rewarded. However, we must always reflect the fruit of the Holy Spirit in all of our relationships: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Second, our motivation should always be to honor and glorify Jesus Christ. When we succeed, we must always remember to thank God and to use our new position to build His Kingdom, not ours.

Third, we must never use our prominent position to lord it over others. In business, this means serving others and helping them to achieve their goals in the organization, in their families, and in their personal lives.

To Discuss

1. Which of these best captures your relationship to James, the driven first-born son?

1. I’m a highly competitive first-born, too.
2. I’m a firstborn but I’m not driven.
3. I’m a middle child who competed with older siblings.
4. I’m an ignored middle child.
5. I’m a laid-back later child.
6. I’m a peacemaking later child.
7. Other ___________________________________

2. James’ father Zebedee owned a fishing business. His mother didn’t hesitate to push her sons to achieve high positions. His family knew Caiaphas the high priest. How does your family background compare with that of James?

3. What explanations can you imagine for Jesus calling James and his brother John “Sons of Thunder”? What if “Thunder” refers to Zebedee rather than James and John?

4. As the older brother, James would have expected to sit at Jesus’ right in the kingdom (Mark 10:37). What do you think James figured would happen to Peter, the current leader of the disciples?

5. Do you think James was surprised when the rest of the disciples got mad at him and John for asking for the chief positions in Jesus’ kingdom (Mark 10:41)? Why or why not?

6. Both the Samaritan village incident and the request for prominence in the kingdom occurred as Jesus neared Jerusalem and the cross. Why was it necessary for Jesus to sharply rebuke James and his brother at this time? What would Jesus want James to remember after His resurrection and ascension?

7. How did James’ martyrdom fulfill Jesus’ prediction, “You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with” (Mark 10:39)?

8. What had to change in James’ heart and mind for him to accept martyrdom instead of position and prestige as an apostle of Jesus Christ?

9. How can God use your competitive tendencies to build up Christ’s church?

10. Which fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control) do you need to cultivate in your life to keep your competitiveness under God’s control and in His service?

11. What family characteristics (aggressive or passive) may you need to overcome to be a servant-leader to your family, your employer, or your church?

12. How do you tend to react to assertive leaders in the church? How can you distinguish between godly and a selfish assertive leader?

James ought to give us a lot of hope. He started out raucous, angry, judgmental, self-centered, and demanding. It took three years with Jesus to do the trick, but James turned out just fine. He became a radical follower to the extent that he faded into the background behind his younger brother John and behind Peter in the book of Acts. Then he gave his life without complaint.

13. James was a power-hungry man. How would you rate your hunger for power? Are you more concerned about being too aggressive or too passive? Why?

14. Who in your world are you struggling to serve as God wants you to? How can we pray for you in regard to this situation?

Next Week

Next week we look at the apostle John, the younger brother of James. John survived long after the other apostles, so he may have been the youngest of the group. John enjoyed a special friendship with Jesus. In time that friendship transformed a self-centered young man into the apostle of love.