James (Son of Zebedee)

Biblical Record

James was the son of Zebedee, a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee, and the brother of John. According to Mark 1:19-20, he was mending nets in a boat with his father when Jesus called him, and he and John left to follow Jesus. The passage notes that the family had hired servants. Luke 5:10 states that the brothers were partners with Simon Peter.

In the lists of the Twelve Disciples (Matthew 10:2; Mark 3:17; Luke 6:14; Acts 1:13), his name always appears near the beginning. Jesus gave James and John the name "Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder" (Mark 3:17).

James frequently appears with Peter and John in scenes at which the other disciples were not present. Examples include the raising of Jairus's daughter (Mark 5:37), the Transfiguration, in which Jesus' appearance was changed (Mark 9:2), and the prayer in Gethsemane (Mark 14:33). When a Samaritan village refused to receive Jesus, he and John asked that fire be called down from heaven and were rebuked (Luke 9:54-55). The brothers also asked to sit at Jesus' right and left hand in His glory (Mark 10:35-45); in Matthew 20:20-28, the request is made by their mother.

Acts 12:2 briefly records that King Herod "killed James the brother of John with the sword." This Herod is generally identified as Herod Agrippa I, and the event is usually dated to the early A.D. 40s.

Significance Within Scripture

James's death is commonly read as the fulfillment of Jesus' words in Mark 10:39: "Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of." The disciple who had sought a place of honor ended his life as a martyr. His consistent inclusion in the inner circle of disciples also suggests his prominence in the early community of disciples.

Interpretation and Points of Discussion

• Distinction from others named James: The New Testament mentions several people named James, among them James the son of Alphaeus and James the brother of the Lord. The Epistle of James is traditionally attributed to James the brother of the Lord; the view that James the son of Zebedee wrote it is rare. The epithet "James the Greater" arose to distinguish him from "James the less" in Mark 15:40.
• His mother: Some interpreters identify "the mother of Zebedee's children" in Matthew 27:56 with Salome in Mark 15:40. This, however, is an inference drawn from comparing the two passages; neither text states it directly.
• Extrabiblical tradition: The story that James preached in Spain and that his remains were laid to rest at Santiago de Compostela is a tradition that spread widely in the Middle Ages. It has no basis in Scripture. The Catholic Church observes his feast day on July 25. Protestants generally do not accept this tradition as historical fact and are critical of the practice of venerating the relics of saints.

In the Korean Church

In Korean preaching, the passage in Mark 10 about the disciples' dispute over places of honor is frequently addressed. Together with Jesus' teaching on becoming a servant (Mark 10:43-45), it is used to explain servant leadership. The impetuous temperament of the "sons of thunder" and James's later transformation are also common themes in sermons and Sunday school lessons on growth in discipleship. As the Camino de Santiago has become known in Korea, some church members have walked the route, but this is a matter of personal travel or a pilgrimage to holy sites.