Life is fragile. It takes years to build a life, but can end so quickly. In our devotions this week I was intrigued by the destinies of James and Peter. Both were fisherman called into the band of brothers known as the 12 disciples. They were both of that inner circle – who had seen the glory of transfiguration and been invited to walk with Him into the torment of Gethsemane.
They were both there in that upper room, witnesses of the resurrection, empowered at Pentecost. Yet in Acts 12 we are told very simply that Herod had James, brother of John, put to death with the sword. That’s it. No explanation, no complication. Just done. James life is cut short in a moment.
By contrast, Peter receives miraculous deliverance. An angel of Lord appears to him in prison and delivers him from his chains and the sentries who guarded him. The prayers of the church were answered and God’s kingdom advances. By the end of the chapter Herod has been brought to account, “but the word of God continued to increase and spread” (Acts 12:24).
Two people. Two followers of Christ. Two different destinies in this life. Intriguing, isn’t it? Why James and not Peter I asked myself? Peter was also called to suffer for Christ and in due time experience his own martyrdom (as forewarned by Jesus – John 21:18,19), yet God had much more for him to do. Yet for James it was quickly cut short.
How bitter it must have been for the mother of James, who at an earlier time had come to Jesus to seek places of honour for her sons – I wonder if this death in faithfulness to Jesus wasn’t part of that honour. James received honour and was no doubt welcomed to the cloud of witnesses in heavenly glory where just maybe something more needed awaited him. His brother John, it would seem, went on to lead a long life and whose writings have become foundational witnesses to all that took place.
How do we make sense of this? Do we need to make sense of this? I wonder if this isn’t part of the mystery of our faith. In places like Sudan today, or Syria, or North Korea, or many other places, young men and women are cut down on account of their faith. Or they are cut down by accident or illness. For some there may be miraculous deliverance, like Peter. For others there is a sword in the side, like James.
We, too, have a life and a destiny. Our life, like James and Peter, is called out by Jesus. We leave our nets, our modern day fishing boats, to be in service. Life is still fragile. Life may end prematurely in a hear- beat or may extend a full quota of years, but the vital thing is that we fulfil our calling so long as we are granted this time upon the earth.
Ultimately James and Peter shared the same destiny – to be united with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit for always, but they were called along different paths.
It reminds me that there is an urgency to our lives – not to put off the things that really matter, that even for our children it is important that they get set on the right path. For they, too, have a destiny – and a part to play in God’s sovereign plan. We may not understand why James and not Peter, but we can be thankful that in God’s sovereignty all His people will share His resurrection life. It was James and not Herod who was the true victor.