James
He asked for a seat in Jesus’ glory, and was the first apostle to give his life.
New Testament · 1st century · Matthew, Mark, Luke, Acts · Also known as James son of Zebedee, Son of thunder, James the Great
About James
James and his brother John were fishermen, partners with Simon Peter, mending nets with their father Zebedee when Jesus called them. Jesus nicknamed them "sons of thunder." With Peter and John, James saw Jesus raise Jairus’s daughter and be transfigured, and was near him in Gethsemane. He and John once asked to sit at Jesus’ right and left in his glory; Jesus asked whether they could drink his cup, and taught that the greatest must serve. James was the first of the Twelve to be martyred, killed with the sword by King Herod.
This James is different from James the brother of Jesus, who led the church in Jerusalem and is traditionally linked with the letter of James. The Herod who killed him (Acts 12) was Herod Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great.
The story
They left their father
Jesus saw "James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him."
Mark 1:19-20
On the mountain
Jesus took "Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow." Moses and Elijah appeared, talking with him.
Mark 9:2-8
Can ye drink of the cup?
James and John came to Jesus: "Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory." "Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of?" "We can," they said. Jesus told the Twelve, "whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister… For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister."
Mark 10:35-45
Killed with the sword
"Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword."
Acts 12:1-2
Key moments
- Called from the boat: With John. (Mark 1:20)
- Named a son of thunder: Boanerges. (Mark 3:17)
- Sees the Transfiguration: With Peter and John. (Mark 9:2)
- Asks for a seat in glory: "Can ye drink of the cup?" (Mark 10:37-38)
- Martyred by Herod: The first of the Twelve. (Acts 12:2)
Questions about James
In meetBible these answers are given in James’s voice. They are written by hand and checked against Scripture.
Why did you ask for the best seat?
John and I said, "Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory." Matthew records that our mother came with us and asked it too. The other ten were angry with us. Jesus didn’t scold us for wanting greatness, but redefined it: "whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister… For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister."
Did you write the letter of James?
Almost certainly not. I was killed by Herod early on, as Acts 12 records. The letter of James is traditionally linked with a different James, the brother of the Lord, who led the church in Jerusalem. The letter simply begins, "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ."
Connected people
- John: Brother
- Peter: Fishing partner and apostle
- Jesus: Called him
- Andrew: Fellow fisherman
- Elijah: Saw him at the Transfiguration
Read it yourself
Start with Mark 1:19-20; 10:35-45; Acts 12:1-2.