Sunday
September 29
1. DISCIPLES OF CHRIST
a. Who were the three men named “James” that were associated with Christ—and which one do we usually notice? Matthew 10:2, 3; 13:55.
b. Name some special moments with Jesus that James, the brother of John, experienced. Luke 8:51–55; Matthew 17:1, 2; Mark 14:32–34.
“John, the son of Zebedee, had been one of the first two disciples who had followed Jesus. He and his brother James had been among the first group who had left all for His service. Gladly they had forsaken home and friends that they might be with Him; they had walked and talked with Him; they had been with Him in the privacy of the home, and in the public assemblies. He had quieted their fears, delivered them from danger, relieved their sufferings, comforted their grief, and with patience and tenderness had taught them, till their hearts seemed linked with His, and in the ardor of their love they longed to be nearest to Him in His kingdom.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 548.
“Near the entrance to the garden, Jesus left all but three of the disciples, bidding them pray for themselves and for Him. With Peter, James, and John, He entered its secluded recesses. These three disciples were Christ’s closest companions. . . . Now in His great struggle, Christ desired their presence near Him. Often they had passed the night with Him in this retreat.”—Ibid., p. 686.
Monday
September 30
2. DRINKING OF THE CUP
a. Describe the original aim of James, son of Zebedee, along with his brother, John. Mark 10:35–38.
“At every possible opportunity, John took his place next the Saviour, and James longed to be honored with as close connection with Him.
“Their mother was a follower of Christ, and had ministered to Him freely of her substance. With a mother’s love and ambition for her sons, she coveted for them the most honored place in the new kingdom. For this she encouraged them to make request.
“Together the mother and her sons came to Jesus, asking that He would grant a petition on which their hearts were set.
“ ‘What would ye that I should do for you?’ He questioned.
“The mother answered, ‘Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on Thy right hand, and the other on the left, in Thy kingdom.’
“Jesus bears tenderly with them, not rebuking their selfishness in seeking preference above their brethren. He reads their hearts, He knows the depth of their attachment to Him. Their love is not a mere human affection; though defiled by the earthliness of its human channel, it is an outflowing from the fountain of His own redeeming love. He will not rebuke, but deepen and purify. He said, ‘Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?’ They recall His mysterious words, pointing to trial and suffering, yet answer confidently, ‘We are able.’ They would count it highest honor to prove their loyalty by sharing all that is to befall their Lord.
“ ‘Ye shall drink indeed of My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with,’ He said; before Him a cross instead of a throne, two malefactors His companions at His right hand and His left.”—The Desire of Ages, pp. 548, 549.
b. Exactly as Christ had foretold, what happened to James and to his brother, John, after the Lord’s ascension? Acts 12:1, 2; Revelation 1:9.
“John and James were to share with their Master in suffering; the one, first of the brethren to perish with the sword; the other, longest of all to endure toil, and reproach, and persecution.”—Ibid., p. 549.
Tuesday
October 1
3. WHO WROTE THE EPISTLE?
a. How does Inspiration describe James, the son of Alphaeus—one of the twelve (yet not the Zebedee brother of John)? Mark 15:40.
“There were Levi Matthew the publican, called from a life of business activity, and subservience to Rome; the zealot Simon, the uncompromising foe of the imperial authority; the impulsive, self-sufficient, warmhearted Peter, with Andrew his brother; Judas the Judean, polished, capable, and mean-spirited; Philip and Thomas, faithful and earnest, yet slow of heart to believe; James the less and Jude, of less prominence among the brethren, but men of force, positive both in their faults and in their virtues; Nathanael, a child in sincerity and trust; and the ambitious, loving-hearted sons of Zebedee.”—Education, pp. 85, 86.
b. Why is it likely that the author of the epistle of James (referred to as an apostle since he knew the Lord in person) would be the half-brother of Christ—and how does his description of himself show that his character had been transformed by the Lord’s influence? James 1:1 (first half).
“Christ was misunderstood by His brothers; for He was not like them. He worked to relieve every case of suffering that He saw, and He was always successful. He had little money to give, but He often gave His own humble food to those whom He thought more needy than Himself. His brothers felt that His influence went far to counteract theirs; for when they spoke harshly to poor, degraded souls with whom they came in contact, Christ sought these very ones, and spoke words of encouragement to them. If when in the family circle, He could do no more, He would as quietly and secretly as possible, give the wretched beings He was trying to help, the cup of cold water, and then place His own meal in their hands.”—This Day With God, p. 59.
c. How did Paul show his respect for James, the brother of Jesus? Galatians 1:17–19; Acts 21:18.
Wednesday
October 2
4. CLARIFYING SOME ISSUES
a. What reveals that James, the brother of Christ, was a man of influence at an important council in the early church? Acts 15:5, 6, 13, 19, 20.
“In this instance James seems to have been chosen as the one to announce the decision arrived at by the council. It was his sentence that the ceremonial law, and especially the ordinance of circumcision, should not be urged upon the Gentiles, or even recommended to them. James sought to impress the minds of his brethren with the fact that, in turning to God, the Gentiles had made a great change in their lives and that much caution should be used not to trouble them with perplexing and doubtful questions of minor importance, lest they be discouraged in following Christ.”—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 195.
b. What commonly held—but erroneous—claim is refuted by the prominent role of James at this important council? Matthew 16:18.
“James presided at the council, and his final decision was, ‘Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God.’
“This ended the discussion. In this instance we have a refutation of the doctrine held by the Roman Catholic Church that Peter was the head of the church. Those who, as popes, have claimed to be his successors, have no Scriptural foundation for their pretensions. Nothing in the life of Peter gives sanction to the claim that he was elevated above his brethren as the vicegerent of the Most High. If those who are declared to be the successors of Peter had followed his example, they would always have been content to remain on an equality with their brethren.”—Ibid., pp. 194, 195.
“The Saviour did not commit the work of the gospel to Peter individually. At a later time, repeating the words that were spoken to Peter, He applied them directly to the church. And the same in substance was spoken also to the twelve as representatives of the body of believers. If Jesus had delegated any special authority to one of the disciples above the others, we should not find them so often contending as to who should be the greatest. They would have submitted to the wish of their Master, and honored the one whom He had chosen.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 414.
Thursday
October 3
5. THE ISRAEL OF GOD
a. To whom is this epistle written—and how does it involve all who accept Jesus as Lord? James 1:1 (second half); Galatians 3:27–29.
“Among the Israel of God were to be numbered many who were not descendants of Abraham after the flesh.”—Prophets and Kings, p. 367.
“The life of Christ established a religion in which there is no caste, a religion by which Jew and Gentile, free and bond, are linked in a common brotherhood, equal before God.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, p. 191.
“Christianity makes a strong bond of union between master and slave, king and subject, the gospel minister and the degraded sinner who has found in Christ cleansing from sin.”—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 460.
b. In prophecy, what name is given to the final spiritual Israel—and how is their experience just prior to Christ’s return described? Revelation 7:4.
“Soon we heard the voice of God like many waters, which gave us the day and hour of Jesus’ coming. The living saints, 144,000 in number, knew and understood the voice, while the wicked thought it was thunder and an earthquake. . . .
“The 144,000 were all sealed and perfectly united. On their foreheads were the words God, New Jerusalem, and a glorious star containing Jesus’ new name. At our happy, holy state the wicked were enraged, and would rush violently up to lay hands on us to thrust us into prison, when we would stretch forth the hand in the name of the Lord, and they would fall helpless to the ground. Then it was that the synagogue of Satan knew that God had loved us, who could wash one another’s feet, and salute the brethren with a holy kiss, and they worshiped at our feet.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 59.
Friday
October 4
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. How did James, the son of Zebedee, grow to be more Christlike?
2. How did James, the half-brother of Jesus, grow to be more Christlike?
3. What evidences in Scripture show that Peter was not the head apostle?
4. How does Paul explain the unity and equal value of all Christians?
5. What illustrates the ultimate victory of the spiritual Israel of God?