The name James appears many times in the New Testament. James the son of Zebedee is a prominent character in the gospels being a member of the “sons of thunder” and inner circle of Jesus. James, the brother of Jesus, rises to prominence after the ascension of Jesus. He is also the most likely author of the book of James. But what about James the son of Alphaeus? What do we know about this James? He is a mysterious character in the Bible.
“James son of Alphaeus” is found four times in scripture, each time being in the list of the apostles. However, there is one mention of “James the less.” Comparing Matthew 27:56 to Mark 15:40 shows that “James the less” could possibly be “James son of Alphaeus.” However, since there is only one reference to “James the less,” this doesn’t tell us anything about who James the son of Alphaeus was or what he had done. Additionally, it is possible but unlikely that Matthew and James were brothers. Mark 2:14 refers to Levi as the son of Alphaeus. Matthew was the only apostle who was a tax collector, so Levi was Matthew. Both having a father named Alphaeus indicates that they may have been brothers. However, the Bible never refers to James and Matthew as brothers. Tradition suggests that the name Alphaeus was a common name at the time. It is more likely that their fathers shared a name, than they shared a father. (For simplicity’s sake, for the rest of the article, “James” will be “James son of Alphaeus.” Any other James will be specified).
Because the Bible doesn’t say anything specific about James, does that mean he didn’t do anything noteworthy? Quite the contrary. All the apostles were ordinary people who accomplished extraordinary things. They gave up everything to follow Jesus. James, along with the other apostles, went about the countryside casting out devils, healing the sick, and preaching the gospel (Matthew 10:1; Mark 6:7-8, 12-13; Luke 9:1-2,6). In addition, when everyone deserted Jesus, the apostles stayed with him (John 6:53-69). Imagine that you have thousands of followers – not fickle social media followers, people physically following you – and then you make one statement and all of them leave except for twelve men.
James pictures the faithful disciple and minister of Christ. There are several characteristics of the faithful disciple. The very first is being saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Jesus was asked,
John 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
John 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
The only way to do anything for God is to believe on Jesus Christ whom God sent. To be a faithful disciple, one must understand that they are a sinner who has offended a righteous and Holy God. That sin creates a separation between man and God (Isaiah 59:2), and the result of that sin is death (Romans 6:23). Because God is righteous, the penalty for sin must be paid; it is a debt that man cannot repay. God’s will is that all men would be saved (1 Timothy 2:4-5). So, God sent his Son to pay the penalty of sin so that if a person believes on Jesus Christ they will be saved (1 Peter 3:18; Romans 5:8, 6:23; Galatians 4:4-6). At the moment of salvation, one receives the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). That is when it then becomes possible to be a disciple or a learner. Without the Spirit of God, the things of God cannot be discerned and therefore cannot be learned (1 Corinthians 2:11,13-14). Saving faith is the first and most necessary characteristic of a disciple of Jesus Christ.
The second most necessary characteristic is faithfulness. This will not be a treatise on faithfulness, but there are three characteristics of faithfulness that I want to cover. First is being present. For the most part, every time the apostles are listed, James is on the list. There is a place in scripture where seven apostles go fishing and James is not named – however, two of the apostles present are not named at all. He may or may not have been there. What is important is that every time the apostles are listed where ministry is taking place, James is on the list. Whether they were there to break bread, hide from the Jews, or pray, James was there. When your Paul needs you, are you there? Are you ready to be called into action at the last minute? So, the song goes,
Faithfulness, Faithfulness,
Is What I Long For.
Faithfulness Is What I Need!
Faithfulness, Faithfulness,
Is What You Want From Me.
Be available to your discipler. They are your fellow minister. Being available and following when called is part of the learning process. I would contend that it is the best part of the learning process. It is fine to take a task and go do it. It is another to come alongside your Paul and minister shoulder to shoulder. That is where the body is edified and compacted (Ephesians 4:16).
The second characteristic of faithfulness has to do with ministering for the Lord and His name alone. Why do we not see James’s name more in scripture? Perhaps he never did anything to exalt his own name. Revelation 4:11 says, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” This is what the 24 elders said to God on His throne as they cast their crowns before Him. And as far as you personally go, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20). Not only was everything created for God’s glory (including you), but God also paid a price to buy you back from sin and death. We have no reason to glorify ourselves and every reason to glorify God. There is a great, Old Testament picture in 2 Kings 8:1-6. A widowed woman (a type of the church) goes and sojourns in the land of the Philistines for seven years. She comes back to Israel afterward and asks the king to restore her inheritance. The king doesn’t talk to her. The king asks Gehazi, a type of the Holy Spirit, what great things Elisha (a type of Christ) has done. The king does not care what the widowed woman has done. The king cares about what Elisha had done for this woman. God cares about what Christ has done through you. Be faithful to give the glory to whom it is due, our Lord God Almighty.
The last characteristic of faithfulness that I’m going to mention is to never quit. I don’t know how many times Pastor Best has told me in some form or fashion to not give up, but it’s at least one more time than I’ve thought it. I’ll be honest – the thought runs through my mind frequently. Oftentimes it is a vain imagination that just needs to be cast down (2 Corinthians 10:5). More than a few times though, discipleship and the ministry have sapped me of my energy and I’m tired. But then I remember the words of my Paul, “don’t give up.” I remember that in whatever I’m doing, the Lord is doing more and caring for me. I also remember the end of the story.
1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks [be] to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
We aren’t working for the victory. We have the victory! Christ has already won, “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:15). We are just waiting for the victory parade.
James will be at the parade along with the other apostles. Let’s be like James. Let’s be one of those who remained faithful – the children of God that showed up for the work of discipleship and ministry. The Christ-followers who did not work in their own power but kept their dependence on God, those who yoked themselves to Christ. You don’t have to be a pastor or missionary to be counted for Christ. You don’t have to be “great” to be counted for Christ. Be faithful and run the race set before you with patience (Hebrews 12:1).
Scott Groth is a Bible study leader and ministers alongside his wife Marla in children’s ministry at Midtown Baptist Temple in Kansas City, MO.