The Brother of Jesus

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:
Greetings. (James 1:1)

Do you have brothers and/or sisters? What would you think if one of them told you that they
were the one and only Son or Daughter of God? Would you believe them?

This was the case for James. He was the brother of Jesus and before Jesus’ resurrection the
Bible says that his brothers and sisters didn’t believe in him (John 7:2-5, Matt. 13:55). We can
probably relate to them a bit can’t we? It probably was a hard thing to believe.

But James was radically converted when he saw Jesus rise from the dead (1 Cor. 15:7). The
Romans were very good at putting people to death. Jesus was dead as dead could be. So how
could you not believe in Jesus to be the true Son of God when he rose from the dead?

This was James’ experience and it should be the same for us. We believe in Jesus most of all
because he rose from the dead. If he didn’t rise from the dead, he was just another religious
teacher who was persecuted by the Jewish leaders and put to death by the Roman government.
But this persecution and murder were completely unique in all the history of the world. Jesus
was the only one who ever came back from the dead. This truth changed James’ life and he went
on to become a strong leader in the early church. Shouldn’t it also change our life as well?!

Read 1 Corinthians 15:12-17
1. What is Paul’s point in these verses?
2. Do you believe in the resurrection?
3. In what ways does believing and meditating on the resurrection strengthen our faith in
God?

Prayer
Our Father, thank you for changing James’ life through his belief in your resurrection. Thank
you that we can experience the same thing today. Help our unbelief when we waver and
struggle. We need you and the power of your Spirit. Thank you that we have a hope beyond the
grave that you accomplished for us in Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen.