James the Less, the son of Alphaeus
Sunday, March 22nd, 2009
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“James the Less, the son of Alphaeus”
Mark 15:40
Introduction: As we continue our study on the “Master’s Men – "The Twelve Chosen Men, who changed the World " would you turn to Matthew 10:1-4 and again notice Jesus’ call of the twelve disciples, “And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. (2) Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; (3) Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; (4) Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.”
Henry Drummond, an author and preacher, was once invited to speak at a very elite, high-class, West End Club in London. He began his speech with this very provocative truth: “Ladies and gentlemen, the entrance fee into the Kingdom of heaven is nothing, but the annual subscription is everything.” We have been examining men who were willing to give everything and go to the ultimate sacrifice.
They were willing to turn their backs on their professions, their lifestyles, their homes, and their own choices in life, to follow Jesus Christ.
They walked away from their nets, their tax tables, their political involvement, and their enterprises.
Why? Because they were totally committed to following Jesus Christ wherever He led them. Additionally, these Twelve were the few among the many who were not so willing to be committed.
Jesus had many followers. Unnumbered multitudes followed Him because they were attached to His personal magnetism, the power and truth in what he said, and His ability to do miracles, signs, and wonders. This mass of people who followed Jesus could be classified as disciples. The Greek word for “Disciple” means “a learner.” These people were learning about Him, but the word “disciple” doesn’t say anything about commitment. This is why Matthew 10 starts out with twelve disciples and then one verse later calls them “apostles.” First they were “learners,” then they were “sent ones” after they showed that they had learned their lessons.
There were many disciples who were not willing to make a total commitment. Luke 9:57-62 gives us an account of some disciples who wanted to follow Jesus, “And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. (58) And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. (59) And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. (60) Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. (61) And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. (62) And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” While reading that passage, you should have noticed that:
one of them wanted to first bury his father;
another wanted to say good-by to his relatives;
still another wanted comfort.
In contrast to the twelve, these disciples weren’t willing to pay the price of commitment.
Now, why am I saying all this? Because I’m about to introduce you to three Apostles about whom we know very little. However, at least we know with certainly that they were totally committed to Christ. Sometimes when the obscure names of James the son of Alphaeus, Lebbaeus (surnamed Thaddaeus), and Simon the Zealot are read, the tendency is to see them as second-class or out-of-the-way stragglers, or just tag-along disciples. But the fact of the matter is that they made the same commitment that the other Apostles made, they too crossed over the line in total obedience to Christ.
Now we are going to look at the disciple known as “James the son of Alphaeus.” There is something strange about this man who steps out upon the pages of divine inspiration as one of the members of the Lord’s cabinet. The only thing the Bible tells us about “James the son of Alphaeus” is his name. That’s all!
No doubt he went out preaching because he was a disciple.
No doubt miracles were wrought under his ministry because God gave all of them power to do so.
It is not known if he ever wrote anything; and nothing he ever said, asked, or did is recorded in the Bible. He is only mentioned EIGHT times in the New Testament. Four of those references are in a list of the names of the twelve disciples. Four times he is mentioned in connection with his parents.
He is known as “James the son of Alphaeus.”
He is called “James the less.”
Again we need to distinguish which James this is. There are three men in the New Testament named James. Two of the men named James were disciples
There is James the brother of John, one of the “sons of thunder.” In the gospels, this James is always mentioned with John. The brothers, James and John, along with Peter formed the inner circle of disciples around Jesus.
There is James the half brother of our Lord, who is the author of the epistles of James.
Then there is “James the son of Alphaeus.” who is called “James the less.”
In Mark 15:40 we read, “There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;” Did you notice this disciple is called “James the less.” The Greek word for “less” means “little.” In other words, he was “little James.” You will notice that the word “less” does not begin with a capital letter. It is not a title, only a description of him.
The word basically means “small in stature.” So it is possible that this James was a little man. Today we would call him by a nick name, “Shorty” or “Pee wee.”So we have “little James.”
The word can also mean “young in age.” If he had been older than James the son of Zebedee, they probably wouldn’t have called him “Little,”because it would have been confusing. If anything, they would have called him “James the elder” or “older James.” So, it probably indicates that he was younger.
“Little James”could also have had reference to his having little influence. If he had been a very influential man, he probably would have been nicknamed “bold James” or something like that, but not “little James.”
So, it may well be that James was just a small young guy with a personality that was not particularly powerful. With that description, I am reminded of the verse found in I Samuel 16:7 referring to the time Samuel was looking for the next king over Israel. We read, “But the Lord said Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or even on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth: for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” It’s not the outward appearance that impresses God, maybe man is impressed, but not God. It is what you have inside, your character and spirituality, your heart that God looks at.
I learn by James the less that the Lord can take anybody and use them. The Lord can take a little “Shorty” and use him. The Lord can take a runt and make a giant out of him.
I learn from James the less that physical appearance is not that important.
It’s encouraging to know that the Lord doesn’t depend upon superstars, isn’t it? Amen!!
Looking at this disciple brings us to some interesting family relationships:
First: James the less could be a brother to the disciple “Matthew.” Both “James and Alphaeus” are common names. But another disciple named Matthew also had a father named “Alphaeus.”. According to Mark 2:14, “Levi” (or Matthew) is refereed to as “the son of Alphaeus” So there’s a remote possibility that James and Matthew were brothers. If this is true, then there were three sets of brother known as disciples. Six of the twelve disciples were brothers.
There was “Peter and Andrew.”
There was “James and John” the “Sons of thunder.”
There was James the less and Matthew, both the sons of Alphaeus.
Second: James the less could also have been a cousin to our Lord. In John 19:25, when our Lord was dying on the cross, it says, “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary, the wife of Cleopas…” We can assume that no mother would name two of her daughters Mary, so Mary the wife of Cleopas was the sister in law of Mary the mother of Jesus. Since Cleopas is another form of the name Alphaeus, it’s possible that Alphaeus was Joseph’s brother. If that was the case, Jesus and James the less were cousins.
Further, this idea is substantiated by the fact that Mark 15:40 refers to Mary as “the mother of James the less.” So, it’s possible that James was the brother of Matthew, or the cousin of Jesus or both. Now if it’s true he was Jesus’ cousin, he might have tried to throw his weight around a little, but we don’t see him doing that. He just remains obscure. So what do we know about James the less? Nothing!
His distinguishing mark is obscurity.
He sought no recognition, displayed no great leadership, asked no critical question, and demonstrated no unusual insight.
It just may be that he was so obedient that there wasn’t a lot to say about him.
It is possible that he went where he was sent by Jesus, fought the good fight, finished his course, and kept the faith without any need for applause or notice.
Only his name remains, his labors were lost in obscurity. Yet God will remember him, for in Hebrews 6:10 we read, “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”
The Lord uses ordinary people, silent, unknown soldiers to do extraordinary things. “James the son of Alphaeus” reminds me of the nameless people mentioned in Hebrews 11:33-38, “Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, (34) Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. (35) Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: (36) And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: (37) They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (38)(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. (39) And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: (40) God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” The writer of Hebrews mentions all these nameless people who died for their faith, and then he adds, “of whom the world was not worthy.” The world wasn’t worthy of these silent, unknown soldiers of faith.
“James the less” was a true disciple of Jesus. He was a learner. When you read of a disciple, you are reading of someone who embraced, believed and accepted all the teachings of another. A disciple of Jesus was one who said, “I accept the teaching, the truth of Jesus.” There are seven earmarks of a disciple in the Word of God.
First: A disciple must have been with Jesus, Mark 3:14, “And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach.”
Second: A disciple was sent forth by Jesus. In John 20:21 Jesus said to the disciples, “…as My Father hath sent me, even so send I you.”A disciple is sent forth to be a soul winner.
Third: A disciple obeys God’s Word, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.”John 8:31.
Fourth: A disciple is one whose life is governed by love, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:35
Fifth: A disciple bears fruit, “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”John 15:8
Sixth: A disciple is one who forsakes all. Remember In Luke 9:57-58 in response to a man who said, “Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest” Jesus said “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”
Seventh: A disciple must put Jesus first. Again in Luke 9:62 in response to a disciple who said, “I want to follow You, but suffer me first to go bury my Father” Jesus said, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Let me leave you with this thought as we conclude. The Apostles demonstrate to us that the emphasis in the Kingdom work of God is never on the worker.
This is seen by the fact that the New Testament never focuses on the Apostles. It doesn’t say: “Now, it’s very important to study these twelve men. You must study their career, their style, their method, and their means.”
The Bible doesn’t pick out the beast preacher and give his homiletic method, or the best healer and give his technique, or anybody who’s the most effective at anything. The Bible doesn’t even deal with them.
The only time the Apostles are even mentioned is when they intersect with Christ for a specific purpose. HE IS THE FOCUS. The human instrument is immaterial to God. THE HUMAN INSTRUMENT IS NEVER THE ISSUE BECAUSE THE FOCUS IS ALWAYS ON JESUS CHRIST.
An illustration of this comes from the great artist who painted a picture of the Last Supper. When he finished, he called in his friend to look at it and give his evaluation. After gazing at it for some time the friend remarked, “Those cups that are on the table are the most magnificent cups I’ve ever seen!” To the astonishment of the dumfounded friend, the artist immediately picked up his brush and painted over each cup, saying, “I failed; I wanted you to see Christ, but you saw cups.”
Here is the point. It’s a wonderful thing to be a vessel fit for the Master’s use, but that’s not where the focus is to be. ONE OF THE GREAT TRAGEDIES OF MODERN CHRISTIANITY IS THAT WE FOCUS ON THE CUPS AND DON’T SEE CHRIST. We are personality oriented, studying the means of men rather than experiencing the power of God. And I believe this “Christian superstar” mentality is part of the reason for the impotence in the church. CHRIST IS TO BE THE FOCUS, NOT PERSONALITIES. Amen!
So the Lord used an obscure, little, unknown man. He may have been able to claim that he was Matthew’s brother or even Jesus’ cousin, but he went quietly unnoticed through the entire Gospel narrative. Someday, we’ll be able to read the heavenly record for ourselves and find out all about him.
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If God has spoken to your heart after reading the sermon on “James the Less, the son of Alphaeus”
then right now talk to God about what He has spoken to you.
Do you have the assurance that one day you will go to heaven? If you have no assurance that you know Jesus Christ, then I trust you will decide to accept Him as your personal Savior. The Bible tells us in
Acts 16:31, “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…”
Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
This prayer is here for those who need to ask Jesus to be their personal Savior: “I do want to go to Heaven. I know I am a sinner, and I do believe Jesus Christ died for me. I realize I cannot buy this great salvation, nor can I earn it. Knowing Jesus died on the cross and arose from the grave to pay my sin debt and to purchase my salvation, I do now trust Him as my Savior, and from this moment on I am completely depending on Him for my salvation.”
If you made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, would you please let me know? Please send me an e-mail to pdmikBBM@aol.com. and in return I will send you some literature that will help you in your Christian life.
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