Why James Didn't Make It

Day 169: Acts 12:1-23

“He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread.” - Acts 12:2-3 ESV

Earlier this year in one of our readings, we saw another Herod (Antipas) kill John the Baptist. Here we see James (one of Jesus' top three disciples) being beheaded by another Herod (Agrippa). Luke mentions it quickly in verse two as a way to talk about the seriousness of Peter's arrest and Agrippa's intentions.

We are told that the church was praying for Peter, but weren't they also praying for James?

Why was Peter miraculously released and James' life came to a seemingly premature end?

These are questions that we continue to ask today when it comes to God supernaturally intervening. Ultimately, we don't know why some are spared, and some are not. A continual dwelling on this can drive us into a deep pit of despair and bitterness toward God. "Why?" seems to be a circular question that never seems to be fully satisfied in this world (see the contrast in Hebrews 11:32-40).

Yet when we turn to God in worship in times of our questioning and we choose to live with grateful hearts, it does, in a wild way, seem to deeply satisfy our souls. Maybe our minds can't fully grasp it, but we know we are powerfully loved by the God of all creation, who will one day make all things right.

Jesus, we trust you. With every second You allow us to live, we will worship You with all we have.

"James was the first of the apostles to meet a martyr’s death; thus he experienced the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to him and his brother John that they would both drink from his cup and share his “baptism” (Mark 10:39)."
- Bruce, F. F. (1988). The Book of the Acts (p. 233)