Radical Restoration

Did you idolize a big brother or sister when you were growing up? Or was that older sibling just a "pain" to you? How do you think you would feel if your older brother started acting like he was God? What if he started traveling around, preaching and gaining disciples? Well, you probably can imagine how James, the brother of Jesus felt.

We have no indication that any members of Jesus' family had faith in him or even respected his ministry while he was ministering on earth. In fact John 7:5 tells us the "not even his brothers believed in him". In fact, Jesus' family thought he was "out of his mind" (Mark 3:20-22)!

So how did this skeptical younger sibling become a leader in the early church and write one of the first books of the New Testament? Well, his older brother didn't give up on him! Jesus got a hold of James, appearing to him after his resurrection (1 Cor 15:7)! And then, in a restoration rivaled only by Peter's restoration, Jesus raised James up to leadership in the Jerusalem church.

So, what's the lesson here? First, don't give up on the person you think would be the last person to become a follower of Christ. Jesus has a pretty good track record of making skeptics (along with cynics, atheists, head-bangers, hypocrites, and other sinners) into disciples. Maybe that "long-shot" was you!

Or maybe you think you have let Jesus down one too many times. Maybe you think you have used up your allotment of grace. Maybe you think you are out the door, or at least relegated to groveling at the threshold. Just remember, Jesus is in the business of radical restorations. Just ask David, Paul, Peter, and especially, James!

The well wisher of your soul's happiness,

Pastor Tom