Upcoming Sunday Scripture Commentary (March 30)

Sermon (March 30) - “Who Were the Twelve Disciples of Jesus? James the Greater”

Acts 12:1-5

Our New Testament reading from Acts chapter 12 describes how James the Greater became the first of Jesus' disciples to die for his faith.

Who was King Herod who killed James the Greater by the sword? He was King Herod Agrippa I who was the grandson of King Herod the Great who tried to kill the infant Jesus in Matthew chapter two. He was also the nephew of King Herod Antipas who killed John the Baptist in Matthew chapter six and he was also the father of King Herod Agrippa II who would end up hearing the Apostle Paul’s defense while on trial before Festus in Acts chapter twenty-five.

Since Herod wanted to keep in good standing with the Romans by quelling any possible political disruption in  his region, he sought to stamp out the new Christian movement and keep the status quo. This is why he had James the Greater, one of the disciples killed. This chapter marks the last that we hear about “the twelve disciples” as a group. As the book continues, another James, James, the brother of Jesus, becomes the focus since he is the leader of the Jerusalem Church.

Matthew 20:20-28

The mother of two of Jesus' disciples, James and John asks Jesus to offer her sons places of prominence in his kingdom. In response to this request, Jesus explains what it means to serve in his kingdom.

James & John (and their mother) were making a power play. They were positioning themselves for greater power in Jesus’ kingdom.

Jesus responds by referring to “the cup.” This comes from the OT in which the cup was seen as a symbol of the pain and suffering that will result from God dealing with sin and death in the world. See Isaiah 51:17,22

This scripture shows that Jesus’ understanding of the Kingdom of God was very different than the disciples’ understanding of the Kingdom of God. Jesus’ understanding of the kingdom is in line with Isaiah 53:10-12. Jesus will give his life as a ransom for many.

We are to remember this story when Jesus is on the cross with one on his right and one on his left. These are the “positions of power” in Jesus’ kingdom.

[Note: The resources used for these scripture reading commentaries are based on the Everyone series by NT Wright, The Wesley Study Bible, and the “Montreal-Anglican”lectionary commentaries.]