James must have taken Jesus’ exhortation to heart, because not many years later he did indeed drink the same cup that his Master had.
Around Passover time in the year a.d. 44, King Herod Agrippa, grandson of the murderous Herod the Great, began persecuting the Christian community in Jerusalem:
- “He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword” (Acts 12:2).
- According to an early church tradition passed on by St. Clement of Alexandria, the accuser who brought James before Herod was so moved by the apostle’s courage and testimony to Jesus
- that he became a Christian on the spot and was beheaded along with James.
James lost his life because he was committed to serving the fledgling church.
- He could have run away to Cyprus or Antioch and hidden from King Herod’s rage.
- But he chose instead to stay where God had called him and give himself to the very end.
- As a result, the church in Jerusalem was able to stick together and grow during a very dangerous time.
In the ancient world, offering another one’s own cup to drink from was considered a great sign of friendship.
James didn’t shrink from sharing Jesus’ cup, although it meant spending himself in service and even sharing in his Master’s suffering.
- Jesus has called us his friends (John 15:14-15),
- and he offers us his cup, too.
- Therefore, in every relationship we are in
- —with our family members, friends, coworkers, and neighbors—
- and in every situation in which we find ourselves, our primary question is,
** “How is Jesus asking me to serve here?”**
- As we generously respond,
- we’ll see God’s grace flow through us as it did through James,
- and we too will bear fruit in God’s kingdom.
“Lord Jesus, make my heart like yours. Give me the love and courage to look beyond myself and to serve others generously, as you did.”
