James, the Great

James – Son of Thunder (A.D. 44)

James was the first apostle to face martyrdom and the account of his execution is given in the Acts of Apostle written by Apostle Luke.  This was the second martyrdom and it occurred ten years after Stephen slept in the Lord.  James and his brother John were sons of Zebedee and were among the first few to be called by the Lord Jesus Christ to discipleship when they were mending their nets in the shores of the Sea of Galilee.  Later, James also became one of the three close inner circle members of the Lord who also witnessed the transfiguration of Christ in the Mount Hermon.  The character of the two brothers would have been straightforward with thunderous attitude, and maybe that’s why they had earned the nickname Boanerges, meaning Sons of Thunder from the Lord. 

At the beginning of Christ’s ministry, little did Salome and her two children, James and John knew what was in store for them in the future when they had asked for a place on either side of the Lord Jesus in His kingdom.  The positions were not assured though, but however, what they received was a promise of obtaining the Lord’s cup of drink with which to drink someday.

James, the Great

Herod Agrippa didn’t have any respect for the churches and when he laid hands on James and beheaded him with a sword, he saw that it pleased the Jews.  From then on, he began to persecute the Christians.  The Foxes book of martyrs describes the account given by an early writer Clemens Alexandrinus that, as James was led to the place where he would be executed, his accuser repented witnessing the courage and faith of the apostle James.  He fell down at the feet of James and accepted Christ.  Later, both were beheaded at the same time.  Thus, the apostle who by then knew what was the cup of the Lord drank from it cheerfully and willingly.  The whole story of James gives an extraordinary courage in our hearts even today.  From a thunderous one to a truly courageous person, James had come a long way in faith.  We see a resolute, mature and calm believer who was not afraid of the dangers that seemed to persecute him for loving the Savior, Lord Jesus.