The book of James was written by “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” (James 1:1) This is most likely James, the brother of Jesus. It is remarkable that he describes himself simply as “a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” (James 1:1), without mentioning the relationship. He could have played up the relationship to bolster his own status, but he did not. By this time, he must have realized that Jesus was not like him—Jesus did not have the same DNA, but was the Son of God.

Matthew 13:55 contains a description of the family offered by some local Jews: “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?” So, Jesus apparently had at least four brothers and perhaps some sisters. It is likely that Joseph (the father) had died by then and Jesus would have been head of the family.

James had an up and down relationship with his older brother. At first, he and the rest of the family were quite supportive, even proud, of their sibling. They were part of Jesus’ entourage. John 2:12 says, “After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.”

Later on, John 7:1-4 says, “After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him. But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, Jesus’ brothers said to him, ‘Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.’” This suggests that the brothers were encouraging Jesus in His ministry and perhaps even telling Him how to do it, urging Him to get on with it. But the next verse, John 7:5, suggests that doubts and criticisms were starting to creep in: “For even his own brothers did not believe in him.” They did not believe/trust that Jesus knew what He was doing and wanted Him to do things their way. Perhaps, like many of Jesus’ other followers, they were hoping Jesus would lead an armed rebellion against Rome and restore the Kingdom of Judah—and grant them important posts in the new regime. Jesus told His brothers to go to the festival without Him, saying, “My time has not yet fully come” (John 7:8). Jesus did follow them to the festival but secretly (John 7:10-11).

As time went on, the doubts Jesus’ family had about Him grew. Mark 3:20-21 says, “Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, ‘He is out of his mind.’” This was only a slightly better assessment than that of the teachers of the law, who were convinced Jesus was possessed by Satan (Mark 3:22). Jesus, however, rejected His family’s intervention: “Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, ‘Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.’ ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother’” (Mark 3:31-35). After this, Jesus seems to have been estranged from His family, for they are not mentioned. Jesus’ mother Mary was present at His crucifixion, but his brothers apparently were not. Jesus had to pass on responsibility for caring for His mother to John, one of His followers (John 19:26-27).

However, at some point something changed. In describing Jesus’ resurrection, Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:7, “Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.” This suggests that Jesus appeared to His brother James after His resurrection, turning James from a skeptic to a believer. In any case, James was soon a leader in the Jerusalem church.

The death and resurrection of Jesus changes things. It especially changes people.