James, traditionally understood as the author of the book bearing his name, was Jesus’ half-brother. During Jesus’ early life, there was no sign of familial unity among the siblings of the King. In fact, they thought Jesus was out of his mind. (Mark 3:21)

 

Joseph’s sons and daughters would surely have been rich sources of information regarding Jesus’ early years. I would have loved to hear the advice he doled out to his younger siblings. I wondered if they listened.

 

But alas, all we know is that they did not particularly believe Jesus was the Messiah. Would you though, if your sibling came along telling you that he/she had a kingdom not from this world?

 

But then something happened. An event shook Jerusalem – Jesus of Nazareth was brutally nailed to a cross – that day was a catalyst for change in James’ heart.  

 

In "No God But One, Allah or Jesus", Nabeel Qureshi is at pains to point out, “The cross often came after a flogging, as in the case of Jesus, which was itself a horrendous torture. The whip was designed to rip into skin and turn muscle into pulp, making a victim’s ‘blood flow in streams.’ Josephus tells us that victims were ‘whipped to the bone’ and that their intestines were at times exposed by the flogging.”

 

In "Unlocking the Bible", David Pawson notes: “It is said that when Jesus died on the cross, his brother James was so deeply upset and full of regret about what he had said about him and how he had teased him that he said he would never eat food again. He would have fasted until he died, except that three days later Jesus appeared to his followers and to James personally. From that moment on, James called himself a bond-slave of Jesus.”

 

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18)

 

My own sister often says, “A lot can happen in a day.” When it comes to that day at Calvary, I couldn’t agree more. Are you struggling to believe that your family can come to faith? Then there is good news.

 

Because of that day, we can have hope for all of us, our families, and for dispelling any brokenness or disunity. For good, for ever.

 

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for us. May our unsaved family members also come to know you, the power of the cross, and so be saved. Amen.

 

 

Jakobus, wat tradisioneel beskou word as die skrywer van die boek wat sy naam dra, was Jesus se halfbroer. Gedurende sy aardse bestaan, was daar geen gesinseenheid onder Jesus en sy broers en susters nie. Inteendeel, hulle het geglo Jesus het van sy kop afgeraak. (Markus 3:21)

 

Josef se seuns en dogters sou werklik 'n ryk inligtingsbron gewees het oor Jesus se vroeë jare. Ek sou graag wou hoor watter raad Hy aan sy jonger broers en susters gegee het. Ek wonder of hulle geluister het.

 

Helaas, al wat ons weet is dat hulle nie juis geglo het dat Hy die Messias is nie. Sal jy jou broer of suster glo as hulle kom vertel dat hulle 'n koninkryk het wat nie van hierdie wêreld is nie?

 

Maar iets het gebeur. 'n Gebeurtenis het Jerusalem geskud – Jesus van Nasaret is wreed gekruisig – en daardie dag was 'n katalisator vir verandering in Jakobus se hart.

 

In "No God But One, Allah or Jesus", verduidelik Nabeel Qureshi: "Die kruisiging het dikwels, soos in die geval van Jesus, gevolg na lyfstraf wat op sigself 'n verskriklike marteling was. Die sweep was ontwerp om die vel te skeur en die spiere in 'n pappery te verander en dit het die slagoffer se bloed in strome laat vloei." [vrye vertaling] Die antieke historikus, Flavius Josephus, beskryf hoe die slagoffers dikwels tot op die been gegesel is en dat hulle ingewande dan hierdeur ontbloot is.

 

In "Unlocking the Bible", sê David Pawson: “Daar word gesê dat toe Jesus aan die kruis gesterf het, was sy broer Jakobus so diep ontsteld en vol berou oor wat hy oor Hom gesê en hoe hy Hom bespot het, dat hy gesê het hy gaan nooit weer eet nie. Hy sou tot met sy dood gevas het, as dit nie was dat drie dae later Jesus aan sy volgelinge en aan Jakobus persoonlik verskyn het nie. Van daardie oomblik af het Jakobus na homself as 'n slaaf van Jesus verwys." [vry vertaal]

 

"Die boodskap van die kruis van Christus is wel onsin vir dié wat verlore gaan, maar vir ons wat gered word, is dit die krag van God." (1 Korintiërs 1:18)

 

My eie suster sê dikwels: "Baie kan in 'n dag gebeur." Dink ek aan daardie dag by Golgota, kan ek nie anders as om saam te stem nie. Sukkel jy om te glo dat lede van jou gesin tot geloof kan kom? Dan is daar vir jou goeie nuus.

 

As gevolg van daardie dag is daar hoop vir ons almal, ook vir ons gesinslede, dat enige gebrokenheid en onmin herstel kan word. Goeie nuus, vir altyd.

 

Gebed: Jesus, dankie dat U aan die kruis vir ons gesterf het. Gee dat ons ongeredde gesinslede U en die krag van die kruis ook sal leer ken en sodoende gered word. Amen.