Character Study Outline on James the Just

James the Just

(Under The Shadow of Jesus)

Setting: Youth Group Bible Study
Length of Delivery: 1 hour for each lesson

Name of Student: Carlens Bien-Aime
Student ID: L25710557
Class: NBST 521
Instructor’s Name: Eric Spano
Date Submitted: 04/05/2013

The Little Brother of Jesus
LESSON 1: BIBLICAL TEXTS
Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3
INTRODUCTION
The account of Matthew in the terms of James the Just (also known as the James the Less) is known as the brother of Jesus. He was considered the eldest after Jesus because Mary was a virgin before Christ. The Catholic Church still sees her as a virgin. Eisenman states; “…Jesus’ mother and brothers came to him to talk to or question him. They are four in number, James, Simon, Jude, and Joses”. This gives us the background and focal point to develop an understanding of James as the brother under Jesus Christ.

Through this bible study, we will explore the man behind the Messiah; James. The Synoptic Gospel and the gospels do not go into the brother of Jesus in-depth but we can see how he came out of the shadow of Jesus to become James the Just.

BIBLICAL TEACHING POINTS
Biblical Text: Matthew 13:55 a. The mentioning of Jesus’ biological family which consists of James and the importance of knowing the Jesus Christ had blood relatives as well as Mary was not a virgin afterward. b. The names of his other siblings and knowing that James and Jude wrote epistles in the bible and were known after the resurrection but only mentioned twice in the gospels.

ILLUSTRATION
Looking at James as the middle child in the family who does not receive any attention and also looking for ways to be accepted amongst other not considering the feelings for others in your own personal pursuit of jealously.
BIBLICAL TRUTH We often forget whom we belong to and who we are associated with after our conversion with Christ. We are no longer slaves but we are heirs to the throne (Romans 8:17). We are a part of his blood line because he shed his blood for you and I so we are related through our faith and oneness with Jesus.

Bibliography

Scaer, David P. James, the Apostle of Faith: a Primary Christological Epistle for the Persecuted Church. St. Louis, MO: Concordia Pub House, 1984.

James, Orthodox Eastern Church. The Divine Liturgy of the Holy Glorious Apostle James, the Brother of God, First Hierarch of Jerusalem: Set to Melodies of the Russian Orthodox Church. Basking Ridge, NJ: Monastery of St. Mark of Ephesus, 1978.

Painter, John. Just James: the Brother of Jesus in History and Tradition. 2nd ed. Columbia, S.C.: Univ of South Carolina Pr, 2004.

Bütz, Jeffrey J. The Brother of Jesus and the Lost Teachings of Christianity. Rochester, VT: Inner Traditions, 2005.

James the Unbeliever
LESSON 1: BIBLICAL TEXTS
John 7:3-5; John 7:5-10
INTRODUCTION
Here we are in the place where Jesus is at the festival from a distance. It isn’t his time to come to the world with miracles and signs so that they can believe who he is but Jesus states, “My time is not yet come: but your time is always ready”. James and his other brothers want Jesus to perform miracles and wonders in front of others but Jesus denies this request. In all, his brothers do not believe he is the Messiah because instead of walking by faith they walked by sight. From lesson 1 we are now moving in chronological order to see the conversion of Peter through a series of events.

BIBLICAL TEACHING POINTS
Biblical Text: John 7:3-5 a. James and other siblings wanted Christ to go into Judea to not only see the disciples but also the works in Jesus Christ can perform. James wanted to show Jesus off in the many miracles and healings he can do. b. “For there is no man that doeth anything in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, show thyself”. James and his brethren were asking Jesus to prove to them who He is to the public eye. James wanted to make a spectacle out of him and show that he was who he says who he was the true Messiah. c. “For neither did his brethren believe in him”. His brothers were in disbelief, even though they grew up with Jesus, this new ministry was new for them and so they needed to see something instead of believe that their actual brother was the Messiah. But the scripture doesn’t mention their childhood and so James may also be jealous as well. Scaer explains, “It is not difficult to construct the personal characteristics of James. He was jealous and envious of other’s successes, as is not uncommon with the second-born in families”.
ILLUSTRATION
The illustration of Joseph went he was sold to Egypt because of the envy and jealously of his brothers. Jesus was rejected even from his own family and so every chance taken was an attack on who he really was and his purpose on earth. They couldn’t necessarily kill him so they threw him to the wolves not understanding that the disbelief of the world would originate in his own home. While gleaning over the life of Joseph we can see his suffering of being in captivity and imprisonment to obedience in God and becoming the second in command to Egypt. Jesus can relate because his family sold him out as well and through his obedience to the father his command was fulfilled.

BIBLICAL TRUTH Often times we doubt God and what He can do because we are always ready for our time but never patient and waiting for His time. Too many times as Christians, we are always asking and seeking signs and miracles in our lives but realize that God cannot move until certain things in your life have come to fulfillment.

Bibliography

Scaer, David P. James, the Apostle of Faith: a Primary Christological Epistle for the Persecuted Church. St. Louis, MO: Concordia Pub House, 1984.

James, Orthodox Eastern Church. The Divine Liturgy of the Holy Glorious Apostle James, the Brother of God, First Hierarch of Jerusalem: Set to Melodies of the Russian Orthodox Church. Basking Ridge, NJ: Monastery of St. Mark of Ephesus, 1978.

Painter, John. Just James: the Brother of Jesus in History and Tradition. 2nd ed. Columbia, S.C.: Univ of South Carolina Pr, 2004.

Bütz, Jeffrey J. The Brother of Jesus and the Lost Teachings of Christianity. Rochester, VT: Inner Traditions, 2005.

Not sticking up for his kin
LESSON 1: BIBLICAL TEXTS
Mark 3:21, 31-35
INTRODUCTION
After James and his brethren are unbelievers in lesson 2; we can see another change in the way where they were not believing nor honoring their eldest brother Jesus. They thought he was beside himself and talking foolishness to the Pharisees. We can see here, not only the disbelief but also the abandonment of the brothers of Jesus including James. Also, the important role his family played in doubting him and understanding that he wasn’t one who was possessed by demons but cast out demons. Painter suggests we look at the context of the “friends” in cross reference to the family of Jesus. In so called classical Greek it means “envoys” or ‘ambassadors” or is used with the dative to refer to those of someone’s household and rarely with te genitive to denote friends or dependents.

BIBLICAL TEACHING POINTS
Biblical Text: Mark 3:20-21; Mark 3:31-35 a. Before this text, Christ has chosen his 12 disciples but James his brother is not included with them even though he should have special priority over the others because he is the brother of Jesus Christ. This isn’t the case because the blatantly disbelief of his brethren including James about Jesus Christ and his ministry. b. Interesting to note that now when his biological family is here amidst the people of the town, instead of acknowledging them he talks about his spiritual family. c. The family is portrayed as unsympathetic to Jesus; asserting that “he is beside himself,” out of control and in need of forcible restraint.
ILLUSTRATION
Think of the ugly duckling story and how this one duck is cast off as not being apart of the family because the duck is different then the others. Jesus was apparently different then his siblings and yet they treated him in such a way the Hebrew bible had described.

BIBLICAL TRUTH Jesus asks us to choose him and declare him above all names. While his own family doesn’t acknowledge him, whom he tends to acknowledge as family is the entire world of whosoever chooses to follow him. Anyone who will do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister and mother.

Bibliography

Scaer, David P. James, the Apostle of Faith: a Primary Christological Epistle for the Persecuted Church. St. Louis, MO: Concordia Pub House, 1984.

James, Orthodox Eastern Church. The Divine Liturgy of the Holy Glorious Apostle James, the Brother of God, First Hierarch of Jerusalem: Set to Melodies of the Russian Orthodox Church. Basking Ridge, NJ: Monastery of St. Mark of Ephesus, 1978.

Painter, John. Just James: the Brother of Jesus in History and Tradition. 2nd ed. Columbia, S.C.: Univ of South Carolina Pr, 2004.

Bütz, Jeffrey J. The Brother of Jesus and the Lost Teachings of Christianity. Rochester, VT: Inner Traditions, 2005.

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[ 1 ]. John 7:6
[ 2 ]. 2 Corin 5:7
[ 3 ]. John 7:4
[ 4 ]. John 7:5
[ 5 ]. Painter., pp 22
[ 6 ]. Ibid
[ 7 ]. Mark 3:35

Bibliography: Scaer, David P. James, the Apostle of Faith: a Primary Christological Epistle for the Persecuted Church. St. Louis, MO: Concordia Pub House, 1984. James, Orthodox Eastern Church. The Divine Liturgy of the Holy Glorious Apostle James, the Brother of God, First Hierarch of Jerusalem: Set to Melodies of the Russian Orthodox Church. Basking Ridge, NJ: Monastery of St. Mark of Ephesus, 1978. Painter, John. Just James: the Brother of Jesus in History and Tradition. 2nd ed. Columbia, S.C.: Univ of South Carolina Pr, 2004. Bütz, Jeffrey J. The Brother of Jesus and the Lost Teachings of Christianity. Rochester, VT: Inner Traditions, 2005.