Today is the feast of St. James the Elder. He was one of the pillars of the Apostle's, along with his brother St. John and St. Peter. He was martyred for the faith by beheading by Herod Agrippa I in either 42 or 44 A.D. This doesn't seem like the best way to end a career. Remember James and John's Mom came up to Jesus and asked Him to let her little boys sit at Jesus' right hand and His left? Remember she wanted them to sit in places of honor, and let's not kid ourselves, James and John wanted this as well. Sitting next to Jesus seemed like the perfect retirement plan, but instead St. James died by losing his head to a corrupt earthly ruler. Instead of living large in this life, St. James was martyred, and now lives the big life in Heaven where he sings with all the heavenly host before the throne and the Lamb.

Martyrdom doesn't seem like something in which we should have much joy, either in the death of others or in our own possible martyrdom. For martyrdom is not death based on our agenda, or death by accident, but death by persecution. For Jesus says, "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matthew 5:11-12).  Martyrdom is being put to death because of the faith. If you are persecuted because you are being mean, that doesn't mean you are a martyr, it just means you aren't good at being kind to people and therefore no one likes you, or they seek to stop you. Martyrdom comes to those who in patience and humility proclaim the Word and suffer whatever the world, devil, and sin throw at them. Martyrdom is something to rejoice in because you are being put to death, not based on your merit and worthiness, but based on the merit and worthiness of the Gospel. We rejoice in persecution because in it we know that our reward is great in heaven, not because of our steadfastness, but because Jesus purchased and won our reward of forgiveness on the cross and we die in the confidence that Jesus promises to save us. We rejoice in James' martyrdom, not because he earned his salvation by it, but because we see in it the confidence of dying in the faith that Jesus has done everything for his eternal salvation and Jesus does the same thing for us as well. James could bow his head in joy, and so can we, because we know that Jesus loves us, died for us, rose for us, and forgives us all of our sins. Yes, martyrdom in the eyes of the world is not something to rejoice in, but rather we seek the good life here on earth. However, in Jesus things are reversed, turned upside down, and now in martyrdom we see great joy, rather than something to despise. We rejoice that St. James now dwells in a greater place than on an earthly throne next to Jesus. Yes, James dwells in heaven, with all the other saints who are robed in Christ's righteousness that covers all there sins. We rejoice in knowing that we have received and still receive in the means of grace that same robe, so that now we are no longer seen as filthy sinners, but as pure children of the Father because of Jesus obedience and mercy. Let us rejoice then in persecution, in martyrdom that comes to us and is placed on us, for this place is not our home, heaven is. 

Peace be with you. May the devil be silenced, the world be hushed, and the Old Adam be drowned anew so that you hear only the voice of your Savior Jesus who says, "I forgive you. I love you. I claim you as My own forever," Amen.

Jesus' Sheepdog,

Pastor Hull