Title
James The Younger
Scripture
Now the names of the twelve apostles are... James the son of Alphaeus.
(Matthew 10:2-3)
Devotional
This James was most likely the half-brother of the Lord,[27] with whom Jesus met personally after the resurrection.[28] James along with Peter and John were the leaders of the disciples and pillars of the early church. The Bible indicates and history reveals that he was the Bishop of Jerusalem.[29] As the author of the book that bears his name, he clearly taught the practical applications of the Christian life. Where the other epistles speak doctrinally of such things as patience, faith, works and prayer, James gives practical application to them. Reading James gives an indication of what it must have been like growing up as the son of a carpenter and the brother of Jesus. It appears to me that James wanted Christ's followers to understand not just the teachings of the Lord, but how to apply those teachings to the church and every day life. Tradition says that at the age of 94 James was martyred for his public claim that Jesus was the Christ.