Martyrs of the Bible: James

 Jesu Juva

Mark 10:35-45/Acts 12:2                               

 March 25, 2026

Midweek Lent 5                                         

Witness with James

Dear saints of our Savior,

        Martyrs of the Bible.  That’s been our theme for these midweek Lenten services.  Of course, the number of martyrs in the Bible is actually a small number.  The number of martyrs in the Bible is tiny compared to the number of martyrs who are not in the Bible—men and women who lost their lives for the sake of Jesus long after the Bible was completed.

        Tonight’s martyr—St. James—he barely makes the cut.  His martyrdom is barely mentioned.  Even though this “James” was one of the very first apostles called by Jesus—even though James was an eye witness to so many key events of our Lord’s ministry—and even though James was the very first of the Apostles to be martyred—the account of his departure barely registers in the book of Acts.  You heard it earlier:  [Herod] killed James the brother of John with the sword.  And that’s it.  That’s the entire account.

        After all the ink spilled a few chapters earlier about the martyrdom of Stephen, it seems strange how streamlined the death of James gets reported by comparison.  Now, while we can’t read too much into that, I wonder if James’ martyrdom was somehow expected or anticipated.  Maybe people saw it coming.  Maybe it was not a surprise.  Maybe James’ fate to be the first of the Twelve to be baptized in blood was something of a foregone conclusion.

        Why do I suggest that?  Well, let’s back things up by a matter of months. . . .

        One thing you can say for James and his brother John:  they took Jesus at His word.  Ask and you shall receive, our Lord famously said.  So, James and John asked for what they wanted with the full expectation of getting it: Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.  No hem-hawing around.  No pious pleasantries.  Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.  Simple enough.  Straight to the point.

        It’s tempting for us to wag our fingers at these two brothers.  But notice that Jesus doesn’t scold them outright.  He does have a few words of correction, all right; but it was the other ten disciples who got ticked off.  They were the indignant ones—perhaps because they coveted those glorious seats for themselves but didn’t have the gumption to ask.

        In response to their request that day, Jesus said:  You do not know what you are asking—no idea.  And in a sense, we’re all together in the same boat with these two “Sons of Thunder.”  For like them, we do not know what to pray for as we ought.  We are like toddlers on Ticktock throwing tantrums, demanding more sugar, more screen time, more attention.  We want what’s easy and comfortable and successful.  And if it’s not asking too much, we wouldn’t mind a little more money, a nicer car, and a successful season for the Brewers.  It’s true, like James and John: We do not know what we are asking.

        But even though James and John were told “no,” Jesus didn’t chew them out for making that request.  They may have been immature.  They may not have known what to ask for. But they got one thing right:  They knew who to ask.  And that’s important.  For even if we don’t always pray piously for all the right things in all the right ways—what matters is that we ask Him.  What matters is that we know and believe that God is indeed our true Father, so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear Father.

        The request of James and his brother may have been audacious and over-the-top; but when you make such requests in faith—just know that those prayers are heard and answered.  He may give you what you ask for.  Or He may give you something better—something better for you.   

        To James our Lord would give indeed the cup from which He Himself would drink and the baptism with which He Himself would be baptized.  To the lips of James would be pressed the chalice of martyrdom.  James would receive a baptism of blood.  The sword of Herod baptized the body of James.  He was first of all.  He was number one.  He shared in the true glory of Jesus.  He was the first of the Twelve who died as a witness to Him who died and rose again.  And in that, James finished the race in first place and received the crown of glory that does not fade away.

        Did James get what he asked for?  He certainly received an answer to his request.  What James requested was to be beside his Lord Jesus.  He wanted to sit not twelve seats away, not six, but right there at His right hand.  And Jesus gave him something better.  For not only was James beside Christ, he was in Christ, and Christ was in James.  James was conformed to the death of Jesus.  He died in Him and is now forever with Him who is the resurrection and the life.  He was crucified with Christ, such that he no longer lived, but Christ lived in him.  James was able to give his life as a witness to Him who gave His life as a ransom for many—as a ransom for you.

        St. James shows us that our prayers are heard, that our sins are forgiven, that what God ordains to give us is always, mysteriously, good.  In fact, He gives you Himself.  He has given you a wet and wonderful baptism with which to be baptized—in which you are buried in the tomb with Him and raised up together with Him.  He holds a cup to your lips and invites you to drink of the blood given and shed for you, for the forgiveness of sins.  He has given His life as a ransom for you, so that now you are His own.  He has bought you at a price.  You are His and He is yours.  And nothing in heaven or on earth can change that.

        In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.