GENERATION ONE (James the Less)

EPC - Kevin Hale - October 26, 2008

 

How did these men die?  We have only oral tradition passed down through the church and bits and pieces of history that we can glean information.

It was passed on by early church leaders that the other all dies martyrs for preaching Jesus.

Simon Peter - "Crucified with his head downward," Origen A.D. 200.John 21:18-19 seems to be what Jesus was saying ..."When you are old, you will stretch out your hands...to let him know what kind of death he would glorify God."

Andrew - Crucified on an X shaped cross according to the Acts of Andrew written in the AD 200's.

James - Son of Zebedee was the first martyr and was beheaded by Agrippa in Acts 12:2.

John - James brother and dies a natural death after exiled in Ephesus (Turkey) in AD 100.

Philip - Tradition said he was crucified in Turkey.

Bartholomew (Nathaniel) - Skinned alive and beheaded after preaching in India and another tradition reported he was stuffed in a sack and dumped in the sea. (the Martyrdom of Bartholomew).

Thomas - Speared to death in what is India today after starting several churches. 

Matthew - Martyred with and axe or a sword in Ethiopia according the most popular tradition.

James the Less - Crucified in Egypt in one tradition or Iran in another.

Thaddeus (Judas, son of James) Crucified or hacked to death with Simon the Zealot in Iran.

Simon the Zealot - Martyred with Thaddeus and was cut in two with a saw.

Judas Iscariot - Mathew records that he went and hanged himself after the betrayal.  Mt. 27:5.

Mathias - After replacing Judas he was later stoned and beheaded.

The eighth disciple in our series is James the Less.  He is listed in Luke 6: 14-16 and the only thing we find in scripture is his name.  He never wrote anything that we can read today.  We have no knowledge of any questions he ever asked Jesus nor do we have any record that he did anything to stand out from the group as some of the others did.

It could be that he was the brother of Matthew since both wee to be from Alpheus.  He could have been the cousin of Jesus since his mother Mary was the wife of Alpheus but we have no record that they were connected at all.

¹⁴Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; ¹⁵Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; ¹⁶Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.

¹⁷And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases, ¹⁸as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed. ¹⁹And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.

²⁰Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said:

    "Blessed are you poor,

    For yours is the kingdom of God.

²¹    Blessed are you who hunger now,

    For you shall be filled.

    Blessed are you who weep now,

    For you shall laugh.

²²    Blessed are you when men hate you,

    And when they exclude you,

    And revile you, and cast out your name as evil,

    For the Son of Man's sake.

²³    Rejoice in that day and leap for joy!

    For indeed your reward is great in heaven,

    For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.

²⁴    "But woe to you who are rich,

    For you have received your consolation.

²⁵    Woe to you who are full,

    For you shall hunger.

    Woe to you who laugh now,

    For you shall mourn and weep.

²⁶    Woe ^£to you when ^£all men speak well of you,

    For so did their fathers to the false prophets.

²⁷"But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. ²⁹To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. ³⁰Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. ³¹And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

 

We know that he heard Jesus just like the others and that he was sent out just like the others and that he was faithful to the end.  It could be that he was small or young or had little influence.  It is easy to think he was insignificant but God gave him extraordinary significance. 

He was chosen by Christ and given the very same authority and gifts as Peter and John and his name will be etched in the foundation of that New Jerusalem for eternity.

I want to talk about extraordinary significance and how we overcome insignificance. 

I believe that mankind is the most complex and highest of God's creation.  I have heard and have said in the past that it is all about God not about me.  But I have now come to the understanding while it is not centered on me I play a great role in God's plan for the universe.

I believe the destiny for every man and women is greatness.  It is also my experience that very few ever live a daily life in that destiny.

We have been called to become the sons of God and witnesses and ambassadors and servants of the king and also destined to rule and reign with Him in eternity.

I have wondered what made these ordinary and insignificant men so extraordinary.  We must not confuse success with significance.  Our significance comes from one source...faith in Christ.

• 1. We have a Significant FAITH!

2Peter 1:1-4 NKJV

¹Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

²Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, ³as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, ⁴by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.  NKJV

 

• This faith that we have obtained is more than a book of words. It is our destiny in Motion or a work in progress.
• He has given all things pertaining to life. If we fill the box of our life with money, success, family, career, Marriage etc. then we will never know the significance that He gives.
• He must be all we put in the box and then allow Him to live through every part of your life. It sounds simply but it is not easy.
• He gives promises so we might right NOW experience His nature.

 

• 2. We have Significant a HOPE!

 

1 John 3:1-3 KJV

¹Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. ²Beloved, NOW are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. ³And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. KJV

 

• Our biggest enemy is the man in the mirror. The person we see every day in the glass. We tend to see only what we can see in the glass. (Jackson song)
• God sees us as divine right now. A new creature.
• Our significance is not defines by what we see in the mirror with all of its weaknesses, defects, faults and shortcomings.
• Our significance comes from this HOPE. We are sons, joint heirs, eternal, kings and priests, saints, new creations, OVERCOMERS.

If we only see what we can see with our eyes then we will live insignificant lives even if we are successful here.

William Wallace, "All men die, but how many truly live."

• 3. We have Significant LOVE!

 

1 John 4:17-19

    ¹⁷Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. ¹⁸There is no fear in love; but perfect (mature, selfless) love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. ¹⁹We love him, because he first loved us. 

 

• We by Grace have been made NOW righteous. Just as righteous as He is because it is His righteousness.
• Even success in this life can bring insecurity. When we fell insignificant then we are revealing our unbelief or lack of understanding.

James followed Christ.  His significance can be measured by the fact that all 12 of these men set in motion the gospel of grace that has brought millions to Christ.

He represents the less influential and those that simply do their part without any praise or celebrity.

Those that actually do the work of the ministry in all of the churches around the world. 

Those faithful and humble servants that will wash feet so to speak.

 Those that are more like Christ then they will ever get credit for here.

Little is much when God is in it.  I might say little is much when is in him.

If God be for us then who can be against us?

It is not insignificant that God is intimately involved in our lives.  In Gods' eyes there is no such a thing as an insignificant person.

Today is a chance for you to commit and put only Jesus in the box of your life.  Will you trust him like James did and experience extraordinary significance and overcome the feelings of insignificance?

Maybe you need to come to Him today.  He says to believe in your heart that God has raised him up and he will forgive you and give you life.

It could be time to be disciple or mentored to grow in your faith. We can help that happen.

Maybe you simply would like to come and let someone pray with you.  The enemy has beaten you down and you are weak and tired.  Come and we will give our time to lead to God's healing hand.