Quote:
Originally Posted by Nucklesack  Jesus's brother James did not believe him to be the Messiah 
James was a major leader for the growth of a Church, but the beliefs of that Church are different than the beliefs you hold.
The Nazarene Jew belief (Different than the Church of Nazaraene) believe that Jesus was a man (not clear if he was a prophet) and after Jesus/Yeshu died, " Nazarenes" after Jesus' hometown of Nazareth, became his followers.
Jesus' brother James, was head of the Nazarenes in Jerusalem until he was also executed by the Romans. The Nazarenes observed Jewish laws. The Romans killed many Nazarenes, for being observant Jews, during the Jewish revolt. Jews believe Jesus was a founder of a religious movement, or more specifically of the sect of the Nazarenes within Judaism.
Jesus/Yeshu own brother didnt believe he was the Messiah
According to Nazarene Jews, Jesus was a Jewish man who was executed and later given divine status by the Christian church, there is a distinction. |
(Excerpts)
After the miraculous conception of Jesus, Mary and Joseph had other children as well. The gospels report that Jesus had at least four brothers and some sisters: “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us?” (Matthew 13:55, also Mark 6:3). And the gospels also record, that while Jesus was alive, his brothers did not believe in Him: “For even his own brothers did not believe in him” (John 7:5). The Scriptures do not sugarcoat this. The lack of belief by James and the other brothers is corroborated by the absolute silence about them in the gospels. None of the accounts of Jesus’ ministry mentions them in any role.
However, after the resurrection, in the earliest years of Christianity, James, the brother of Jesus, became a significant player in the movement. In Galatians 1:19, Paul explicitly identified him as one of the only two individuals he met with during his 37 AD trip to Jerusalem : “I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother.” So, there cannot be any doubt that James, [42] Jesus’ brother, had within four years of the resurrection not only converted to Christianity; he had become a recognized leader in the early church.
All in all, it is a well founded conclusion that James, the brother of Jesus – like Paul – made a remarkable conversion from a non-believer during the lifetime of Jesus to a leader in the earliest years of the Christian movement and was ultimately stoned for his faith. Although the personal appearance of the risen Jesus to His brother James is reported only once in the New Testament, this reported encounter is part of the powerful early resurrection creed dated back to only a few years after the resurrection. And one can wonder: What could have ever happened to James that could have converted him to a believer apart from the appearance of the resurrected Christ? James knew Jesus while He was alive and certainly knew about His teachings and even Jesus’ miracles. None of this, however, convinced him, so what could the apostles have said to convince this man? Logically, only a personal encounter with Jesus, as mentioned by Paul, would explain his 180 degree change in beliefs and actions.
Windmill Ministries - Christian Apologetics