Ok, it is important to have a little background on this one. First, the James who wrote this book is believed to be a brother of Jesus. The entire book of James is being written to the Jewish Christians, who have been scattered from Jerusalem because of persecution. The persecution had actually began when Stephen had been stoned for his faith in Christ Jesus years before.
Although the book of James is found toward the end of the New Testament, it is actually one of the earlier books in the New Testament that was written, somewhere between 44 to 50 years after the Resurrection had happened.
The thing to remember is when reading James....he ministered primarily to Jewish Christians.
Jewish Christians had a hard time understanding the Gentile conversion to Christ. After all, to a Jew this was their personal religion....the God of Israel...the Law of Moses...the Messiah.
Now, enter Saint Paul. Paul was one of them....a full blooded Jew...but is now proclaiming the Gentiles are receiving the "Jewish Messiah" as their Lord and Savior. The Gentiles have no experience with the God of Israel....no teaching regarding the Law of Moses...and didn't even know of the Coming Messiah.
Paul meanwhile has been gossiped and lied about by others within the Jewish faith. It was
thought Paul "hated the Law of Moses" and for that matter hated anything that was a part of his Jewish background...even though he was Jewish himself.
James meanwhile, one of the leaders of the Christian church in Jerusalem, was a part of the meetings with the other leaders of the Christian faith when Paul arrived in Jerusalem...with the so-called "Gentile Believers in the Jewish Messiah".
And to be honest, I kind of see why the Jewish Christians were pretty upset. It was an intense situation. I can relate it in this way: When I lived in Houston Texas, it is a very cross cultural environment. You have not only Hispanic culture, but you have strong Asian, Middle East, and various nationalities. One of my personal friends, who is Hispanic...from Mexico...had recently received his U.S. citizenship...classes were ongoing for all those who wanted to become American citizens....which by the way is not as easy as one might think.
Anyway, he comes running up to me one day, and with his strong accent, says : "Yoe (the j is silent in Spanish)...I am now a United States citizen...yust like you!" I won't forget my initial reaction....thinkin' to myself.."Really?...you really don't look American...and you certainly don't sound like an American". Yet the truth was, my good friend was every bit an American as me.
Yet...I can kind of can understand where the Jewish Christians were coming from. The other thing about James and Paul, is when Paul did arrive in Jerusalem with the so-called "Gentile Believers"...that was definitely.."A Situation"...or using the famous line in the Apollo movie..."Jerusalem...we have a problem."
So, here is what James suggested to Paul. Go to the Temple (Jewish) and worship...this will show to the other Christian Jews you respect them. So, Paul agreed and did so. The problem was...he took some Gentile Believers along with him....the result...Paul and his friends almost got killed...in fact, if Roman soldiers had not been called...Paul and his buddies might have gotten stoned to death.
Nowhere in Scriptures does it record any follow-up conversation between Paul and James, but I bet it was a "doosey". I mean, couldn't you hear Paul: "Great idea James...you about got me KILLED!" Then I could hear James: "Well I didn't know you were going to a JEWISH synagogue with a bunch of Gentiles! What are you...nuts?!"
PAUSE
Now, 45 to 50 years later, James is writing.... still to basically Jewish Christians...spread out everywhere because of persecution of their acceptance of Christ Jesus as their Messiah.
James has seen a lot in those years...he has lost good friends...both Jewish and Gentile...because they have put their faith in....Christ Jesus. James has learned that in spite of the differences within the framework of the Christian faith....we are all "Companions" in Him. Companion is a word of Greek origin: Cum meaning with, and Pan meaning bread. We as Christians are companions..."we come to each other... with bread" In other words...James has learned the value...of needing one another...whether we be Jewish or Gentile...
Starting in verse 13 of chapter 5 of James it reads: feom the Amphlified Translation.
"Are there any afflicted among you?, Are you hurting? Are you suffering hardships?
Here is what you do...you need to pray.
We are not meant...to go this alone.
Is anyone happy? Does your heart have joy? Are you feeling good about life at the moment?
Here is what you need to do...offer up Songs of Praise.
This is an act of encouragement to others around you.
Are there any among you sick? You need to find yourself a strong believer and friend among you. Perhaps an elder or a leader within your own congregation, let them pray over you...using oil as a symbol of God's healing...in the very name of the One who died for us...Christ Jesus our Lord.
These type of prayers offered in faith...has the potential to bring healing to you.
Now, if sin is an issue in regards to your healing....perhaps stemming from a lack of trust, or stress has overtaken you, or perhaps worry is ruling in your life...all these things can be forgiven...and you can still count on your healing!
Remember this saying: "The prayer of the Innocent is a force to be reckoned with."
It's no secret how highly regarded is the prophet Elijah in Jewish history. Yet, Elijah was just like any one of us, and he prayed from his heart that it would not rain for 3 1/2 years. And, it didn't. Then he prayed from his heart that it would rain again. And, it did. Those showers brought much needed life to crops...to plants...and to all things that grow from the ground itself.
So, my dear friends, if you can rise above your own circumstances, and you really want to help others...precious lives from destruction....if you want to prevent an epidemic of seeing others turn their hearts from the God of the Jews and the Gentiles....then go after them..by showing in both word and deed what Christ Jesus means to you. By doing so, your love for them can save many from death, bring about the forgiveness of many sins...whether they be a Jew or a Gentile."
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