Are You Living Like a True Christian? St. James Has 5 Lessons You Can’t Ignore!
Do you know who St.James the Greater is? He is also known as the son of Zebedee and was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus in the New Testament. His feast is celebrated on July 25th and is traditionally considered the first bishop of Jerusalem.
What’s interesting is that St. James was a fisherman by trade and was born in Bethsaida, a small village on the Sea of Galilee, in the first century AD.
St. James, his brother, and father were among the twelve men whom Jesus chose and appointed as his apostles. They were Jesus’s closest companions and had to carry on his teachings after his death. You probably already know that James and John were known as the ”Sons of Thunder” due to their passionate personalities. The brothers and their father formed the inner circle of Jesus’ disciples and were present at significant events in Jesus’ life, such as the Transfiguration and the Agony in the Garden.
James is an important figure because after Jesus was resurrected, he became a leader in the early Christian community in Jerusalem. He was one of the most important people who spread the Christian message.
St. James’ Legacy
The traditions say that James preached in Spain, which led to the name Santiago as the Spanish name for him. St. James offers a very Christian roadmap to courage, commitment, sacrifice, and unwavering loyalty. His legacy stretches far beyond the New Testament.
When Christ met James and his brother, Je didn’t just see fishermen. He saw warriors for the Kingdom. Jesus nicknamed them Boanerges, which means ”Sons of Thunder”. It was a signal of their passion, their fire, and their fierce loyalty. So, when James left his nets behind, he wasn’t just changing careers, but he was changing destinies.
Considering that Hames was part of Jesus’ inner circle, alongside Peter and John, the trio witnessed some of the most intimate and divine moments of Jesus’ ministry, such as the Raising of Jairus’ Daughter, the Transfiguration of Jesus, and Jesus’ Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.
This closeness wasn’t accidental. James had the spiritual depth and trustworthiness to be present when others were not. He stood at the mountaintop when Jesus’ divine glory shone through, and he knelt in the garden when the weight of the cross began to crush the Savior’s soul.
It’s not enough to believe in Jesus; James teaches us to walk with Him in both the glory and the grief. Read on and let’s explore 5 transformational teachings from the life of St. Hames the Greater and what they mean for Christians today.
5 Things Every Christian Must Do
1. Drop everything when Jesus calls
”Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.” – Matthew 4:22. When Jesus needs help and tells you to follow him, all you need to do is drop the net. Don’t wait. Don’t stall. Don’t plan a strategy to exit your comfort zone. All you need to do is take James as an example and leave everything behind.
He walked away from his family business, financial security, and his father. Unfortunately, many people hear God’s call but answer too late or not at all. The first thing every Christian must do is say yes to God without delay, even when it’s inconvenient.
2. Let God channel your passion
”He called them ”Sons of Thunder.” – Mqark 3:17
You must be passionate about God, but never let your passion turn into pride or aggression. James was so zealous that he once wanted to call fire from heaven to destroy a village. Jesus lovingly corrected him. His passion wasn’t the problem; it was just uncooked zeal. So, you need to let the Holy Spirit shape your energy. Redirect your boldness to fight injustice, love your neighbor fiercely, and most importantly, speak your truth with grace.
Christianity isn’t about being quiet and passive. It’s about being brave and kind. James teaches that it’s okay to burn hot, just make sure not to burn any other people.
3. Walk with Jesus even when it’s confusing
James was present in some of the most crucial moments of Jesus’ life. He was present at the Transfiguration and Gethsemane, moments of both glory and agony.
So, all you need to do is stay close to Jesus through both the mountain highs and garden lows. James didn’t always understand what he was witnessing, but he stayed present. When Jesus glowed with divine light, James watched in awe. When Jesus sweated in blood in anguish, James was near (even if he fell asleep).
Faith isn’t about always understanding what God is doing; it’s about trusting Him anyway. Being a Christian means staying awake, showing up, and not walking away when things get hard or unclear.
4. Be willing to sacrifice, not just shine
”Can you drink the cup I’m about to drink?” – Matthew 20:22
Stop chasing titles and attention. Be like James, who learned that following Jesus means carrying a cross, not climbing a ladder. He once asked to sit at Jesus’ right hand in glory, and Jesus told him that greatness requires suffering. Later, James would become the first apostle to die for his faith, executed by Herod with a sword.
Real Christianity costs something. It means dying to ego, comfort, and sometimes even safety. What James’ teachings are trying to tell us is that James drank the cup, and so must we.
5. Live a legacy, not just a life
James’ body may be buried in Spain, but his influence lives on.
Make sure to live in a way that outlives you. James never wrote a gospel or performed famous miracles. But his loyalty, courage, and sacrifice are what helped him build the early church. He’s remembered as the patron saint of Pilgrims, and the Camino de Santiago that still draws millions who walk in his spiritual footsteps. That’s a legacy of faith in motion.
God doesn’t need you to become famous. He needs you to become faithful. James teaches that even a life of quiet obedience can shake history.
What Would James Tell YOU?
If James the Greater could sit across from you today, he wouldn’t hand you a checklist, but he’ll most likely encourage you to simply trust Jesus and believe in your path on Earth. He’ll advise you to strengthen your faith and stay close to God when times get rough. He’ll also tell you to give more than you take.
We often look for flashy miracles, but James shows us that the truest acts of faith are sometimes silent, steady, and deeply personal. His life calls us to respond boldly when Jesus speaks and to channel our God-given passion with humility.
Today, we don’t need to be perfect Christians. We just need to be present and open-hearted. James didn’t start as a saint. He started out as a fisherman with a temper. But through walking with Jesus, he became someone whose name is still whispered in prayers and carried across continents.
Let the life of St. James remind you that greatness in the Kingdom doesn’t come through loud declarations, but through quiet obedience, bold faith, and a heart willing to follow wherever Christ leads. The path is not easy. But it is holy. And like James, you were made to walk it.
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