Then He Appeared to James...

There are some places in scripture that seem so rudimentary that we just skip past them. These include the "begats," and the temple measurement passages. We often force our way through them because they don't "do anything for us." Then there are portions of scripture that seem as if something might be there, but it's presented as if one would've had to be there to understand why what was said is meaningful. For example, Mark 15:21 reads, "And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross." None of us read that and think, "Oh! Alexander and Rufus' dad! Now I know who you're talking about!" But to the original recipients of the letter, that relational connector would've added meaning to the story that is lost to us.Another such passage happens in Paul's 1st letter to the Corinthians. In chapter 15, as he is listing off those whom Jesus appeared to, he says in verse 7, "Then he appeared to James..."

Then he appeared to James.

It seems like a small thing, almost like a begat. The temptation is to hurry past it. "He appeared to James, got it! What's next?" Hold on for just one second. Because there is more to it than meets the eye in that phrase. The James being referred to is, as many scholars believe, none other than one of the brothers of Jesus. The same brothers who did not believe in him. (John 7:5).  James, therefore, was an unbeliever in his own brother! And it's not as if he came around to it eventually, but their glaring absence throughout the rest of the gospel narratives communicates to us that their unbelief was an abiding one, and it led to them not even being around their brother. Where were his brothers during passion week when Jesus needed them? Why did a stranger (Rufus and Alexander's dad, remember) have to carry his cross? One would think his brothers would stand up and say, "Give me the cross, I'll help him." Why is it that from the cross Jesus looks down and says, "Woman, behold your son!" and to his disciple, "Behold your mother!"The answer to all of this must be because his brothers were not there! Why? Because they didn't believe in him.This makes 1 Corinthians 15:7a explode with meaning, does it not? Because now, "Then he appeared to James," has a backstory. James, the unbeliever. James, the one who didn't show support. This is the James that Jesus appeared to. And in appearing to James, Jesus is sending an emphatic message that past behavior does not, can not, and will not, keep him from inviting people into the kingdom of God.No doubt James must've been feeling the guilt and shame that descends upon a person when they've been proven wrong. And I'm sure it didn't help hearing so many people come around saying, "We saw Jesus! It's true, he is alive!" Meanwhile James must've wondered, "Will he ever appear to me?" And as Jesus delays his appearance, perhaps James began to think that he missed his opportunity. Maybe he would've said, "Who can blame him for being done with us? After all we were family and we didn't support him."This is actually the cry that comes from many people who have come to realize the truth about Jesus. They look at their lives and lament, "It's too late for me... Not after what I've done... God will never accept me." This is an understandable reaction. We react that way, because that's our experience with one another. We wouldn't "appear to James" if we were in Jesus shoes. But thank God we're not, because in appearing to James we all hear the message that  their is no chasm that the Lord Jesus will not cross to bring reconciliation and peace to those who were once far off. He appeared to James, he will appear to you if you so desire. The story gets better. James became a believer, but what of his brothers?

“And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.”‭‭Acts‬ ‭1:13-14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Brotherssssssss! Plural!So Jesus appears to James, James must go and tell his brothers. Now those who did not believe, believe!Such a short and seemingly meaningless verse. But what power it contains. Then he appeared to James!Listen to audio here.