Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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ST. JAMES APOSTLES DAY
              Mark 10:35-45
   V 44-45 “If any one of you wants to be first, you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served; he came to serve and to give his life to redeem many people”.
                              James  the son of Zebedee, along with his brother John, was one of the 12 disciples of our Lord. He was greater than the other disciple James the son of Alphaeus. James the greater was distinguished as being a member of the Lord's inner circle of  three disciples, along with Peter and John.  St. James apostles day is celebrated on July 25th  every year  remembering his martyrdom.
He was put  to death  by  King Herod Agrippa I, in AD 42 probably, and, it is the only martyrdom  recorded  in New testament  (Acts12:2).  Jesus  gave  the name Boanerges  to the sons of Zebedee.  Mark recorded Salome as their mother. On several Occasions Jesus  took these three aside to witness  special events, including Jairus' daughter being brought back to life, transfiguration on the mount  and  while Jesus prayed  in agony   at Gethsemane.  According to a later tradition, Apostle James brought   the gospel of Jesus to Spain.  He is the Patron saint of that country, and his supposed place of burial, Santiago de Compostela,  which became a  renowned place of pilgrimage.
                                Despite the fact that the disciples journeyed with Jesus, they were unable to comprehend the true messiah and  His mission.  This is why James and John along with their  mother were requesting Jesus to appoint them as chief advisors in his Kingdom.  Jesus' prediction of his impending crucifixion and  Kingdom of God  was not conveyed in them.  Christians today are not different in their prayer requests and are more interested in listening to prosperity gospel, instead of the message of cross, sacrifice and the servant hood ministry of the Lord.
                                  Jesus was equipping them to a new Kingdom quite different from what  they were contemplating. Jesus said "Whoever you wants to become first among you shall be a servant of all”.  Jesus explicitly told them that honor in the Kingdom of God is reserved for whom it is prepared, and  His mission as an obedient servant of  Father God, Son of Man in human form is to serve sinners by giving His life, not to gain glory and honor according to worldly standard.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, we submit ourselves before the will of God.  Lord you may strengthen us to focus our attention  to render selfless service to the society in order to establish your Kingdom in this world. In Christ Jesus' name we ask. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Apostle James  challenges us in the mission of the church. He knew that service is the prior concern of servant hood ministry, to serve and not to be served.
Rev. Jacob Thomas, Vicar, Bethany and Tabor MTC, New York
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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