James, the son of Alphaeus, is sometimes called “the lesser” to distinguish him from the other apostle names James. Nonetheless, for James “the lesser” we have an identity crisis. First, James “the lesser,” even in ancient times, was confused with James “the just” (or righteous), the “brother” of Jesus; brother in the sense that he was a natural child of Joseph and Mary. They both ministered in Jerusalem, thus the confusion. Second, James “the just” the “brother” of Jesus, has solid historical coverage. Eusebius gives much information about James “the just.” [1] The reason is he was the first overseer. The apostles picked James "the just" as the overseer in Jerusalem. Noteworthy that the first overseer, or bishop, was not one of the Twelve.
When it comes to James “the lesser,” there is a lack of information. James the “lesser” seems to be the apostle lost in history.
From 1998 to 2000 I was a Youth Minister in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. And then as a volunteer, I did much youth ministry work at that same church from 2002 to 2009. That church was named after James, but which James was the church named for? Everyone assumed James “the greater,” but there was no proof.
Whoever it was named for, looking back that church fit much more the ministry of James “the lesser.” The ministry work there was in the shadow of nearby churches like Crossroads and Faith Bible Chapel. The number of people who worshiped at our church were few. And that little church had some big problems over the years. Yet, there were loving people at that church who followed Jesus thanks to His mercy and grace. There were blessings of Jesus at that church! There are people from that church I will see in heaven!
Following Jesus may not lead to making history books, as James the son of Alphaeus failed to do. Following Jesus leads to people gaining their name in our Holy God’s Book of Life!
And in heaven, there will be no “lessers,” only blessed children of God who will be loved for all eternity by God.
Again, Jerusalem was where James the son of Alphaeus ministered.
The Anglican tradition says he was sawed, but this theory is totally lacking. He may have been murdered by people stoning him.
Hunter Irvine
I have long been a fan of Jaci Velasquez, and I saw her in concert in the early 2000’s at Cherry Hills Community Church in the Denver metropolitan area in a co-concert with 4Him. So here is Jaci with one of the great songs of all time!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2INmmjOQKTQ
[1] Eusebius, Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History, trans. C.F. Cruse
(Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson, 1998), 35-36.
