Leadership through Discipleship #9

James – The Power of Secondary Leadership

“Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him” (Matthew 4:21-22).

The priority of James is seen throughout the Gospels. James is always mentioned first in relationship to his brother John. Initially, John is only known as the brother of James. When the inner circle of disciples is specified it is always, “Peter, James, and John.” If the order of arrangement is significant it at least suggests that James was the older of the brothers and recognized by the synoptic Gospel writers as one having precedence.

Perhaps as youths James would have defended his rights that came with being the eldest. They were both called “sons of thunder” by Jesus. They seemed in agreement when they made a request of the Lord that they be given special seating in the new kingdom on each side of the throne of Jesus. (See Mark 10:35-45.) The other disciples hearing the request were indignant. Jesus used the occasion to teach them a lesson about leadership and striving for position. Among the rulers in the world there is jockeying for advancement with the intention of flaunting their authority, but Jesus taught that his disciples should not be that way.

Jesus taught that disciple leaders would be greatest when they learned to serve. “Whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.” Apparently, James learns the lesson in leadership. Never again is there a request for position or any evidence of selfish promotion. If anything James becomes less known as Peter and John assume leadership roles in the emerging church. Peter becomes the spokesman for the entire group, the preacher at Pentecost. John leaves an enduring legacy through his writing: the Gospel, the epistles, and the Revelation of Jesus Christ. There is nothing unique to James. But he teaches us something about leadership through his discipleship. He was in the big three but was contend to let others shine.

James learned that leadership is not always who is “first” or “eldest” or “positions of authority” but to serve from a secondary place, to prefer others, to prefer his brother. John will become one of the better known disciples. In Acts, for the first time James is referred to as the brother of John. It is in the context of his final epitaph, “Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword” (Acts 12:1-2). James paid the ultimate price for his faith, martyrdom at the hand of King Herod but his example in secondary leadership lives on.

James followed the example of the master, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45 NLT).