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Christian Life Church
March 22, 2026 at 9am & 11am
Insensitivity - He lived in the very presence of Jesus but had little idea of who his brother was.
Locations & Times
Christian Life Church Columbia
2700 Bush River Rd, Columbia, SC 29210, USA
Sunday 8:30 AM
The Strange Case of ‘The Brother of God’ March 22, 2026
John 17:1-5 NKJV After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. 2Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. 3His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. 4For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5For even His brothers did not believe in Him.
Introduction
I. James, the brother of Jesus
A. No Prophet is without honor except in his own house.
B. His brothers did not believe in Him: James, Joses, Simon and Judas - and at least two sisters. (Matthew 16:35 and Mark 6:3)
C. Jesus appeared to James. (1 Corinthians 15:1-8)
II. James - “James the Just”
A. Bishop of the Church in Jerusalem
B. Presiding Elder during the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15)
C. The Epistles of James - establishing the roles of both faith and works in Christian doctrine.
D. In Galatians 2:9 he is named with Peter and John as three “pillars of the church.”
E. His martyrdom - possibly AD 62 or AD 69
F. “The knees of a camel”
III. “James the Brother of God”
IV. The error of James
A. Insensitivity - He lived in the very presence of Jesus but had little idea of who his brother was.
B. Ignorance - He was a devout follower of the Law but missed that the Messiah that was the sum and substance of the Law. (Only by Spirit)
1. Unsanctified religion
2. Jerusalem missed the hour of her visitation.
3. The Foolish virgins of Matthew 25
C. Individualism - He was a master of Form, but not of True Righteousness.
D. Insufficiency - Like the Scribe who questioned Jesus about the greatest commandment, James was not far from the kingdom, but neither was he in the Kingdom yet. (Mark 12:34)
1. Carnal efforts
2. Like Martha, we substitute service for sacredness.
3. Not a set of scales
V. Getting on the right track
A. Stop judging and “second guessing.”
B. Start giving God the time He calls for.
1. When GOD saw that Moses turned aside, He spoke to him out of the bush.
2. “Take heed how you listen.”
a. Listen for the trumpet.
b. Look for the Cloud.
C. Be open to “God Moments”
1. Jacob - “God was in this place, and I didn’t even know it!”
2. James met with Jesus after the resurrection.
3. Like Samuel, James did not yet know the voice of God.
4. Joseph Garlington’s admonition
John 17:1-5 NKJV After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. 2Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. 3His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. 4For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5For even His brothers did not believe in Him.
Introduction
I. James, the brother of Jesus
A. No Prophet is without honor except in his own house.
B. His brothers did not believe in Him: James, Joses, Simon and Judas - and at least two sisters. (Matthew 16:35 and Mark 6:3)
C. Jesus appeared to James. (1 Corinthians 15:1-8)
II. James - “James the Just”
A. Bishop of the Church in Jerusalem
B. Presiding Elder during the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15)
C. The Epistles of James - establishing the roles of both faith and works in Christian doctrine.
D. In Galatians 2:9 he is named with Peter and John as three “pillars of the church.”
E. His martyrdom - possibly AD 62 or AD 69
F. “The knees of a camel”
III. “James the Brother of God”
IV. The error of James
A. Insensitivity - He lived in the very presence of Jesus but had little idea of who his brother was.
B. Ignorance - He was a devout follower of the Law but missed that the Messiah that was the sum and substance of the Law. (Only by Spirit)
1. Unsanctified religion
2. Jerusalem missed the hour of her visitation.
3. The Foolish virgins of Matthew 25
C. Individualism - He was a master of Form, but not of True Righteousness.
D. Insufficiency - Like the Scribe who questioned Jesus about the greatest commandment, James was not far from the kingdom, but neither was he in the Kingdom yet. (Mark 12:34)
1. Carnal efforts
2. Like Martha, we substitute service for sacredness.
3. Not a set of scales
V. Getting on the right track
A. Stop judging and “second guessing.”
B. Start giving God the time He calls for.
1. When GOD saw that Moses turned aside, He spoke to him out of the bush.
2. “Take heed how you listen.”
a. Listen for the trumpet.
b. Look for the Cloud.
C. Be open to “God Moments”
1. Jacob - “God was in this place, and I didn’t even know it!”
2. James met with Jesus after the resurrection.
3. Like Samuel, James did not yet know the voice of God.
4. Joseph Garlington’s admonition