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.