The Meaning of True Greatness
It may have been a rainy day — thunder perhaps rolled in the distance. In AD 44, just over a decade had passed since that fateful day when Jesus was nailed to the cross. Now, once again, the disciples’ hearts were heavy. Word had spread that James the Great, one of their own, had been killed by the sword under King Herod’s orders.
But this time, their grief was mingled with something more. Yes, they were sorrowful — but they were also hopeful. James had finished his race faithfully and lived out the words of Jesus: “Can you drink the cup I drink?” And indeed, James had drunk from his Lord’s cup — becoming the first apostle to lay down his life for the gospel.
Do you know what it means to drink the cup that Jesus drinks? Today we’re going to learn what that means as we explore the story of one of Jesus’ closest friends and disciples, James the Great. But before we dive into his story, did you know there are actually three well-known men named James in the New Testament? Let’s sort that out first so we know who’s who.
Among Jesus’ twelve disciples, two of them were named James. To tell them apart, people called James the son of Zebedee “James the Great,” and James the son of Alphaeus “James the Less” or “James the Younger.”
Now, that doesn’t mean James the Great was better or more important, or that James the Less was worse. It was just a way to distinguish them — maybe James the Great was older, or taller, or stronger, and James the Less was younger or smaller. It was simply a practical way for people to know which James someone was talking about!
And the third James, was the brother of Jesus, who wasn’t one of the original twelve but later became a strong leader in the early church — even writing the New Testament book of James!
So — three Jameses.
But today’s story is about James the Great, — a man who learned what true greatness really means.
From Fisherman to Follower
James grew up near the Sea of Galilee. His father, Zebedee, owned a fishing business, and James and his brother John worked alongside him. Fishing was hard work — long nights, rough waters, and heavy nets.
One morning, as they were fixing their nets, Jesus came walking by. He looked at James and John and said, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then something remarkable happened. The two brothers dropped their nets, left their boat, and followed Jesus immediately. No hesitation. No questions. Wow!
Now, we don’t know for sure if they had already heard Jesus preach or seen His miracles, but still — to drop everything and follow Him on the spot? That’s no easy thing to do. Let’s be honest — have you ever had a moment when your parents asked you to do something right away? Did you jump up and do it? Or did you ask why, or grumble a little, or maybe try to finish what you were doing first?
James and John didn’t wait. They obeyed immediately when Jesus called them. Somehow, deep down, they knew there was something special about Jesus worth leaving everything for and they didn’t want to miss it.
Sons of Thunder
Jesus gave James and John a nickname — “Boanerges,” what a funny sounding name, right? But it actually means something pretty cool, it means Sons of Thunder!
Now the Bible never tells us why Jesus nicknamed them Sons of Thunder! But we know thunder can sound pretty scary and we also know that James and John also once said something pretty scary.
Once, when a Samaritan village refused to welcome Jesus, they asked, “Lord, do You want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” Now they meant well, because they were trying to defend Jesus. But Jesus gently corrected their bold fiery passion. Jesus pointed out that He didn’t come to destroy, but to save.
Perhaps James’ had a thundery personality, but it didn’t bother Jesus. Jesus would shape his boldness into courage and compassion.
The Inner Circle
Among the twelve disciples, Jesus often invited three disciples to witness special moments, and they were: Peter, James, and John. This “inner circle” saw things no one else did.
- They saw Jairus’s daughter come back to life from the dead. (Mark 5:37).
- They climbed the mountain where Jesus was transfigured, and saw His face shining like the sun as God’s voice declared, “This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him.” I’ll bet that was an unforgettable experience! (Mark 9:7)
- And they were with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, when He prayed in deep sorrow before the cross.
Jesus didn’t give them special treatment because He loved them more than the other disciples, but because He gave them greater responsibilities. James didn’t always understand everything Jesus said though. There was once when James’ mother Salome brought James and John before Jesus and asked if her sons could sit at Jesus’ right and left hand in glory! As you would imagine, the other disciples were pretty upset when they heard this request. These brothers wanted honor and position — but Jesus again gently turned their idea of greatness upside down.
The Upside-Down Kingdom
Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” — Mark 10:43–45
In other words, the world says, “Be first.”
But Jesus says, “Be humble.”
The world says, “Make others serve you.”
But Jesus says, “Serve others.”
That’s why we call it the upside-down Kingdom of God — because Jesus’ ways are so different from what we usually think.
Jesus asked James and John if they could drink the same cup that He drank. Without thinking much, they blurted out, “We can!” At the time, James didn’t fully understand what he was agreeing to. But later — after he watched Jesus die on the cross — he realized that “drinking Jesus’ cup” meant being willing to face suffering, just like Jesus did.
Now, that might not sound very encouraging, right? Who would want to go through suffering on purpose?
But here’s the thing, James didn’t only see Jesus die. He also saw Him rise again. He saw that death wasn’t the end — and that God’s glory and eternal life await those who believe. James witnessed this hope firsthand. And because he truly believed it, he wanted to share this good news with the whole world — even if it meant giving his own life.
Faithful to the End
And that’s exactly what James did. After Jesus’ resurrection, James preached boldly about the risen Lord for about fourteen years. Some traditions even say that James even traveled as far as Spain — which seems fitting for a fisherman who was used to life on the sea.
But not everyone wanted to hear the good news. In Acts 12:1–2, we read that King Herod Agrippa arrested some believers — and had James killed by the sword.
Remember when James and John enthusiastically said they could drink the cup Jesus would drink? Jesus replied that they certainly would. His words were prophetic. James became the first apostle to give his life for Christ, while John would be the last. Their deaths formed the “bookends” of the apostles’ lives.
James finally understood what true greatness really looks like — it’s not having power or fame. James learned that in God’s Kingdom, the one who serves is the one who is honored.
Why James’ Story Matters
Now let’s talk about why James’ story still matters today.
1. God can use us, even with our flaws.
James was fiery and bold — sometimes even a little… thunderous, like when he and John wanted to call fire down on the Samaritans. But Jesus didn’t reject him. Instead, He shaped James’ passion into courage and faithful service.
God can do the same with each of us — He can use our strengths and even our weaknesses for His purposes.
2. True greatness is about serving others.
James learned that being first in God’s eyes doesn’t mean being the most powerful or the most famous or having people serve you. It means putting others first, loving them, and serving them — just as Jesus showed us.
3. Faith in Jesus gives hope beyond death.
James drank from the same cup as Jesus — he faced suffering and even death for the gospel. But because he trusted Jesus, he knew that death wasn’t the end. God’s glory and eternal life await all who believe. James’ life reminds us that when we follow Jesus, even the hardest things in life have purpose, and God’s promises are forever.
Scripture Reflection:
As Jesus said in Mark 8:34
“But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
The values of God’s Kingdom are “upside-down” compared to the world’s values. Those who serve humbly and trust Jesus are the ones who are truly first.
Takeaway
I hope you enjoyed hearing the story of James the Great. He reminds us that God can use anyone, even with our flaws. True greatness isn’t about power or fame — it’s about serving others, loving God, and staying faithful, even when it’s hard. And when we put our faith in Jesus, death isn’t the end — God’s glory and eternal life await those who believe.
So this week, think about how you can serve others and follow Jesus faithfully in your own life.
And remember: God can use you, just as He used James, to make a difference in His Kingdom.
Grab the free PDF companion guide linked below! It includes a sweet mini devotional and a collection of enriching studies—art appreciation, poetry, music, nature study, geography, and more—for the whole family to enjoy together.
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