Just Who is old Camel Knees?

“James a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.” (James 1:1) ESV

This beautiful letter has been a favorite of mine from the first time I read it.  To think we have the thoughts of a family member of God’s one and only Son is amazing.  The letter is jam packed with many deep and life changing truths given to us through James by the Holy Spirit.  James described as a “Christian how to manual for life,” pretty much sums up the letter.  If I remembered where I first read that I would gladly give the author credit.

James was written somewhere around 44-48AD by James the brother of our Lord Jesus Christ. This makes the letter one of the earliest manuscripts we have. The remarkable fact of James is that he was not a believer prior to Jesus’s ascension. In fact, how did James become this pillar of the church with Peter and John which Paul refers too? (Galatians 2:9) “Not even His brothers believed in Him.” (John 7:5) Also, “when His family heard they went out to seize Him, for they were saying, He is out of His mind.” (Mark 3:21) Obviously this is not a reference to a pillar of the church and a servant for Jesus. What changed James into a believer? All we know is a short description which Paul gives regarding Jesus’s resurrection appearances, “then He appeared to James, then to the Apostles.” (1 Corinthians 15:3) After that appearance James would never be the same. A prime example of once you encounter Jesus you are never the same.

This letter was written to the “Twelve tribes of the Dispersion.” This would be the Jewish Christians descended from the twelve tribes of Israel, the generations of Jacob’s twelve sons. There is no mention of Gentile Christians because the letter was written prior to the council meeting where James welcomed in the Gentiles, under Paul’s Ministry. (Acts 15:1-33) This letter was also prior to Peter’s rooftop experience, given by God. (Acts 10:9-33) James also calls his audience, “my brothers.” (James 2:1) So in summary this letter would be written to all Christians in the “Dispersion.”

What is a “Dispersion?” It seems that the Lord has designed Christians from the beginning to “gather in order to scatter.” They gather to learn about the Lord and then scatter to tell others to have them do the same thing. We have everything that we need in two main forms first the Holy Spirit is in every believer, and His document to the church we have in the form of Scripture. After Peter’s great sermon the church grew quickly. Things were going well for the believers until the great sermon from Stephen followed by his being stoned because of it. (Acts 7:1-60) This led to Paul’s attack on the Christians. “Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.” (Acts 8:3) God used this to forcibly scatter those Christians to all parts of the area to spread His gospel.

So now we know who wrote the letter, to whom it was written, when it was written, the next question is what James wants us to learn from the first verse.

How does James introduce himself in this letter? Some of the titles he could have thrown at us would be: pillar of the church with the authority of Bishop of Jerusalem, Bishop of Bishops, James the “just,” and James the brother of our Lord. James was also referred to as “old camel knees,” because of the thick callouses on his knees from all the time he spent on them praying. Those are just a few titles that others have given him. It is amazing that he introduces himself as, “James a servant of God.” The original language of Greek sheds a little more light on the use of the word “servant.” This word is better translated, as “a slave totally possessed by his master,” or “bond-servant bound by law to his master.” In the Jewish times a bond-servant was one whom after being released during the year of Jubilee, when all slaves were released, choose to stay and serve his master for life anyway. James chooses to throw out titles in his opening, but not his titles. He shows that he is totally committed to God and the Lord Jesus Christ. His choice of words presents Jesus as God and of Supreme authority with the title “the Lord”, as well as, with power like unto God. The title “Christ” is his messianic title showing that Jesus is the Messiah that all the Old Testament Scriptures point to, and would rescue the world from sin and death.

What exactly is a servant or bond-servant in the time of Jesus?  Servants in the days of Jesus would be characterized as having: absolute obedience, absolute humility absolute loyalty, and absolute honor as being representatives of their master. Some characteristics of a slave:

  • A slave served his master and only existed to do the will of his master without question.
  • A slave was owned by his master. He was purchased and possessed by his master and totally subservient to him.
  • A slave had no personal rights or ambitions.
  • As a servant to his master the Slave would represent the master and be punished severely when he disobeyed or even when he did not properly represent his master.
  • As a representative of his master the slave did the work and tasks of his master and carried the master’s authority as his representative.

This beautiful picture of servant-master relationship shows that James gets his authority from his master not from himself. His pride is not in himself but in his master. James writes for God’s Glory not his. He is a servant not a master, a follower of orders not a giver, not in control but under control of his master. Attitude is everything.

We are so blessed to have Jesus as our master and Lord. He is the perfect master who takes care of His own. He will never forsake us or leave us. Are you truly existing only to do His will? How much of your time do you give Him daily? Where does your money go? These two questions if answered honestly will show you who and what you serve. How can we know what our master wants without spending time with Him? “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) Spend time reading God’s word and listening to the Holy Spirit as he speaks to you from the Scriptures. “As the Scriptures says, Anyone who Trusts in the Lord will not be ashamed.” (Romans 10:11)

The Cost of Not Listening

(Matthew 17:1-8)

17:1After six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” 6When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” 8And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.  (Matthew 17:1-8 ESV)

Peter totally missed the point and he also ended the chance of seeing the miracle that Jesus invited him, James and John to enjoy. Not that I would have done anything better or different. I wonder what they would have seen had he stayed silent. Maybe this was a beginning to what our immortal bodies will look like, or at least how Moses and Elijah looked.

Having said that, I would not wanted to be the one that was talking when God interrupted with A Greek imperative command, which basically means a very strong command. Just the words invoked terror and fear throwing the three of them on their faces. Then it was so intense that they lost time and did not record or know what happened next. Jesus rescued them with another Greek imperative strong command, “Rise, and have no fear.” (v. 7)

Maybe Peter was overwhelmed by what he saw. I know that I tend to open my mouth when I am nervous or uncomfortable. I am so Jealous of him. I would love to have seen Jesus in His Glory and to hear the voice of God, what an amazing experience. The kind of faith that would be generated by that one event is mind boggling. Yes faith comes from believing what we cannot prove, however, It would be nice to be a participant of such an amazing experience.

Many people today try to claim that all the actions or God are over now. That the God of the New Testament and the Old Testament has basically wound up the clock and let the world go on its own. This is not Biblical. All you have to do for proof that He still acts in mighty ways, is to read Biographies of Christians or follow Him in obedience. You can read about it or you can experience Him. Of course, God moves on His own clock in His own way not our ways, methods, and/or timeframes.

Just a few Scriptures to elaborate are:

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord.

For as the Heavens are higher than the earth.

So are My ways higher than your ways

and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55: 8-9)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him and

He will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3: 5-6)

“For I know the Plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans for welfare and Peace and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

(For extra credit and blessing read Jeremiah 29:11-14.)

Yes God still speaks to His children. However, like Peter we have to stop talking and listen. Although as Peter found out the hard way when God wants to be heard He is always heard!

Do you want stronger Faith? Do you want to hear from God? Do you want to be a “child of God,’ with all the things that come with it?

For a start lets look at what words God used:

“This is my Beloved son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.” (Matt 11:7)

Everything we need to know is very simply stated. who Jesus is and emphatically what we are to do regarding Him. He is the son of God, and we need to listen to Him. Did you answer “yes” to any of the above questions? Jesus is God’s Beloved Son who pleases Him so Listen to Him. Adoption is free and by faith, however, joy, peace, fulfilment, and abundant life come from “listening to Him.”

How much time do you give to God? Where does your money go? Answer those questions and you will know how to hear From God. “Jesus is the Good shepherd He Gave His Life for the sheep.“(John 10:11) He said this immediately following the famous quote, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10). How can we “listen to Him,” (v. 5) If we spend no time reading His words, and doing His commandments? Remember the phrase,” You get out what you put in?” How many times have you heard or used that phrase? Well it applies here!

The next thing that must be learned from this passage has to do with how we respond to listening to Him. We must acknowledge that these three Apostles were already “children of God,” Saved, Christians, or if you want Believers. This is not about how to earn salvation. Salvation is free! We cannot earn it or lose it we can only freely accept it through faith. The price of our Salvation was paid in full by Jesus who was fully God and fully man and 1/3rd of the Godhead.

This is all about what is next. We must be very careful with what we do and say in the name of God. Peter’s intentions were good, if not a little impulsive. He was trying to participate and please God’s son, Jesus. The problem is that when we open our mouth to speak our ears are shut off for the most part. Peter should have been listening instead of speaking, as James and John were. Maybe for this exact situation James wrote the following:

My beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger the anger of a man does not produce the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20

Quick to hear and slow to speak those words are so much easier to say than to follow. James devotes a large part of his letter to the dangers of the tongue. James goes even further to say!

“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.” (James 1:26)

Yes we must note that Peter was not trying to sin with his words. He did not bridle his tongue though, he should have been listening rather than speaking. His pride made him speak to try to feel a part of this amazing experience, when he should have just been learning from it.

I am reminded of Elijah when he was waiting to hear from God. God told him:

“Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” (I Kings 19:11)

The answer that came next is one that I try to use to close my mouth when I want to hear from the Lord. Listen to how God spoke to Elijah:

“And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lard was not in the earthquake, and after the earthquake a fine, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.” And behold there came a voice” (I Kings 19:11-13)

God was not in the strong wind, or the earthquake, or the fire, He was in the sound of a low soft whisper. The thing about a whisper is that you cannot hear one while you are talking. You must be quiet to hear a whisper. So we should be “slow to speak and quick to hear” If we want to hear from God especially If He comes with the whisper.

So back to the transfiguration of Jesus the Son of God.

“He was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the Sun, and His clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. (Matthew 17:2-3)

So had Peter been slow to speak and quick to listen, I wonder what he would have seen and been able to tell us about the experience that he missed by talking. The point is don’t miss out what Jesus has in store for our lives by acting on our own from our pride. Instead let’s listen and learn from Jesus. Then we can be as James puts it,

“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving ourselves.” (James 1:22)

Let’s do better spending more time with the Lord and spend more time listening and doing what He says and does. If we do this we will not miss out on the amazing things that God has in store for us.

Do not miss out on abundant life.  Listen for His whispers and He will direct your paths.