He calls them “sons of thunder”, reprimands them for their outbreak of violence and refuses to give a favorable answer to their offers and demands. If he doesn’t seem to be irritated by James and John’s feisty nature, Jesus doesn’t hesitate to put them back in their places. The other apostles are outraged by their behavior, as clearly reported in the Gospels right after the brothers’ share their cheeky wish. Without shame or restraint, they demand the privilege of seats by his side in the eternal life. The 2 brothers also have some nerve, as they ask Jesus to grant them personal wishes. On this latter occasion, James and John offer to destroy a whole city to avenge the Christ after an offense.

First by an apt nickname given by Jesus, second with an anecdote that tells of their excessive zeal. Obviously shared with his brother John, this personality trait is such as it is depicted several times in the Gospels.

He is an energetic man, completely devoted to the Christ and seemingly able of violence to serve him better. James follows Jesus and is quite passionate about his master and his teaching. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. Matthew 4,18-22 (almost identical version in Mark 1,16-20 and more detailed version in Luke 5,1-11)Īnd Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. This is true for James’ mother, who will become a member of a small circle of women close to Jesus (according to the interpretation of various sections of the Gospels by the Christian tradition). Some of them will commit themselves to him and help spread his word. Whatever the version, many men and women will later join the 4 men to follow the teachings of Jesus. The 2 first are brief to describe the fishermen’s recruitment, while Luke gives us more details about it and puts the event after a lecture from Jesus and the episode of the Miraculous Draught of fish.

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke are slightly different. He invites them to leave their lives as fishermen behind to become his followers and help spread his word around. The 4 men agree and drop their nets and boats: James becomes one of the first apostles of Christ. Bethsaida, saint James’ birthplace in nowadays IsraelĪ day like any other when the men are busy fishing, Jesus comes to meet Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John and makes them an offer.

Book of james background