We’re currently preaching through the book of James at our church, and I kicked off the series the other week with some introductory reflections, about the author, his letter, and the central theme of faith.

One of the things people are often struck by when reading this letter is its weightiness. I’ve felt the challenge of that as I’ve read it in preparation for our preaching! James is indeed a weighty letter, full of warnings and strong words. But it is a deeply pastoral book, written by someone who dearly loves his readers, and wants to warn them strongly where they are in danger of straying from the gospel.

I think there are two main keys in the letter, which demonstrate this pastoral concern. They come in the first and final verses.

Personal Experience (1.1)

James opens his letter by calling himself, ‘James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.’ In one sense, it’s a fairly unremarkable opening. Similar to how Paul or Peter might refer to themselves in Romans 1; Galatians 1; Philippians 1; Titus 1; 2 Peter 1… and so on.

What makes this different is that neither Peter nor Paul were direct relatives of Jesus. James was one of Jesus’ siblings, alongside Joseph, Simon, Judas, and various sisters (Matthew 13.55-56). But he doesn’t announce himself as ‘brother of Jesus.’ Rather, he freely identifies himself as the servant of his older brother. That’s quite something! I could not imagine in a million years saying of my brother, “This is my master and I am his humble servant.” Never gonna happen.

Yet James doesn’t hold up his relationship with Jesus as some special identity marker, to be used for his advantage. He’s not some nepo-sibling. He doesn’t claim any special status. Nor does he even refer to his leadership role in Jerusalem, or call himself ‘a pillar of the church’ as he is referred to in Galatians 2.9. No, James humbly puts himself on par with Paul, Peter, his readers, you and me, and indeed every Christian who has ever lived, and says, “I am, in my core identity, a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

This is especially remarkable, when you consider that for many years that wasn’t the case! John tells us that on one occasion,

‘Jesus did not want to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him. But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” For even his own brothers did not believe in him.’ (John 7.1–5)

I’ve written on this passage before, particularly focussing on the lure of celebrity. But consider this for a moment. Jesus’ own brothers, who had grown up with him for decades, seen how he lived, the miracles he performed… they did not even believe in him. In fact, they taunted Jesus and goaded him into travelling to Judea, knowing that there were people there looking to kill him! That is how little regard James had for his brother.

And yet now, all that has changed. Following Jesus’ death and resurrection, James has had a complete change of heart, such that he now presents himself not even as a brother, but as a servant of Christ.

The author of this letter is deeply aware of the life-changing power of grace. And having experienced it so powerfully, he has now given his life to serving the church of Jesus Christ. In fact, he went on to give his life fully – being martyred in 62 AD for his belief in Jesus Christ as the Messiah. A remarkable turnaround.

This is a letter oozing grace, because that has been the experience of its author.

Familial concern (5.19–20)

The final two verses of the letter give us an additional insight into James’ pastoral concern. After five chapters of challenging material, he writes,

‘My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.’ (5.19–20)

Can you feel the tenderness? James – the one who is actually a sibling of Christ – calls us brothers and sisters. We are part of the very same family. As such, we have a duty to care for one another.

“Am I my brother’s keeper?” asked Cain. “Yes,” replies James. And where we see one another veering off the narrow path that leads to life (Matthew 7.13–14), we are to bring them back to the truth. To Jesus himself, whose perfect love covers our sins.

Remember, this was James’ own experience! Having grown up as close to Jesus as one can possibly be, James still rejected him, mocked him, and gave him over to death. But now he has experienced the life-transforming, sin-covering, unending power of grace, thorough the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

So in these final verses, James instructs us to do what he himself has done throughout this letter. Out of love, we are to keep drawing one another back to Jesus, in whom there is immeasurable grace, forgiveness, and life.

Preaching James Pastorally

James is a challenging letter to preach – not least because of its warning that teachers will be judged more strictly (3.1)! Because of its weightiness, it can be hard to know how to strike to correct tone in our preaching. But I believe these two keys help us.

Like James, we need to speak as those who understand ourselves as servants of Christ, and are deeply aware of the grace we have received. If we preach as those who have forgotten our own need for grace, then from our mouths James’ words will come across as harsh, condemning, and holier-than-thou. A deep dependence on grace will help us strike the right tone.

And also, like James, we need to speak to our listeners as family. Our words need to be saturated with love. When we do address difficult topics (and we must – it isn’t loving to dodge or soften them!) we should do so with a tone that seeks to firmly-but-lovingly draw our brothers and sisters back to Christ, in whom there is immeasurable grace.

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