It struck me as I started to read the Book of James that James describes himself as ‘a SERVANT of God and the Lord Jesus Christ’. We know from other sources that this James was the half-brother of the Lord. He grew up with Him in a normal family environment and would have shared many aspects of life with Him, yet he does not introduce himself as 'James, the half-brother of the Lord'. What made him use the word ‘servant’ when we read in John 7:5 that he and his other brothers did not believe in the Lord prior to His crucifixion?
THE RESURRECTION of course!
1 Corinthians 15:7 tells us that James saw the risen Christ. What a revelation to the unbelieving James! Now it became clear to him that all the things Jesus had said were true and that He was indeed the Messiah. It is also precious to note that Jude describes himself as ‘a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James’! Again, an unbelieving half-brother of the Lord declares himself a ‘SERVANT’ of Christ.
For those of us who
have seen the Risen Christ by FAITH, we too have this privilege of calling
ourselves servants of the Lord. Over the next weeks, we will be thinking of His
coming into the world, but let us never forget that had the resurrection never
taken place, the Christmas story would have had little or no significance. We
live because He lives! Hallelujah!
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