Many of you I’m sure have read the Book of James in the Bible. A virtual manual on the topic of faith, James’ teachings are vital to anyone on the spiritual journey. His instruction on faith is an eye-opener for every believer. But did you know that if Jesus had not risen from the dead, James, Jesus’ own brother, would not have become a believer?
James would have lived
and grown up with Jesus yet did not believe that Jesus was whom He claimed to
be, after all John 7:5 clearly states that His brothers did not believe in Him
and in Matthew 13:57, Jesus Himself says that He had no honour among His own
family. James belonged to the category of persons of whom Jesus asked, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” (ref. Matthew 12:48).
Even Peter, Jesus’ most zealous disciple
and one of three in His inner circle, who walked with Jesus throughout His
three years of Ministry, was a witness to every miracle that He performed, was
atop the mountain at the time of the transfiguration, was himself a
walker-on-water, though just for a moment, and, through the divine wisdom
declared the truth of Jesus’ identity, did not fully understand Jesus’ earthly
assignment until after His death and resurrection.
This is evident simply because even though
Jesus had told the disciples what was about to occur, mere hours later, it was
Peter who drew his sword in the Garden of Gethsemane, in an attempt to stop
Jesus' arrest.
Simon Peter had a
sword, which he pulled out. He struck the servant of the high priest and cut
off his right ear. – John 18:10 (ERV)
If Jesus had not risen from the dead, Peter
may have remained ignorant of Jesus’ purpose for coming to earth.
Where would we have been today if Jesus had
not risen from the dead? Can you imagine?
James’ teaching is critical to our
understanding the working of our faith, the joy that is found in various trials
we face, the importance of controlling our tongues and the tremendous power
that is made available to us through our earnest heartfelt prayer. The
Book of James, filled with divine wisdom for proper living, would not have been
written if Jesus had not risen from the dead.
Peter was instrumental in the establishment
of the Church, for it was Peter who, by the power of Divine wisdom acknowledged
that Jesus was “the Christ, the Son of the
living God.” (see Matthew 16:16). To which Jesus,
proclaiming “on this rock I will build My
church” (see Matthew 16:18),
established His congregation upon the truth of Peter’s testimony, yet at the
time, Peter himself did not truly grasp the verity of it.
“Christ
(the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for our sins in accordance with [what] the
Scriptures [foretold], That He was buried, that He arose on the third day as
the Scriptures foretold, And [also] that He appeared to Cephas (Peter), then to
the Twelve.” (AMPC)
According to 1 Corinthians 15:3-5, Peter
was the first disciple to see Jesus alive after the resurrection and was the
first to preach the Good News of His resurrection by the power of the Holy
Spirit, as recorded in the Book of Acts.
Beloved, the church would not have been
built if Jesus had not risen from the dead, for Christ’s resurrection is
essential to Christianity.
Amen†
Shelley Johnson “If Jesus had not
Risen from the Dead” © 2017 revisited April 6, 2026
