James is an interesting book.  Written by Jesus' brother who was very Jewish in his writing.  In this, his only letter, he writes to the Diaspora (dispersion of the Jerusalem Christians) who were scattered.  Jewish Christians who were fleeing persecution.  People that James felt responsible for.

Can you imagine what it must have been like growing up in a household where your older brother was perfect.  A brother who never did anything wrong.  Who obeyed his parents in every way.  I think that living with Jesus would have been difficult.  James could never live up to his older brother.

And James must have heard the stories about the circumstances of his mother's first pregnancy.  I'm sure other boys teased him about his mom's "Virgin birth."  However, his father Joseph probably would have told his children about the truth of Mary's first pregnancy.  Would have told them how an Angel of God came to Joseph and told him not to be afraid to take Mary to be his wife.  Would have told them about Jesus being the Son of God.

But it was much later when James became a believer.  He watched Jesus for years and years as Jesus fulfilled the prophecies in the Old Testament, and one day, somewhere along the road, James became a believer.  Jesus was the Son of God.  Jesus was the promised Messiah.

So when James opens his letter to the Jews who have fled Jerusalem, he gives the shortest introduction in the New Testament.  Everyone knew who James was.  He didn't need to introduce himself.  He simply says, "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting."

He declares himself to be a servant.  Of God, and of his half brother, Jesus.  Whom he declares to be not only the Christ, but also to be his Lord.  And James' declaration is to every tribe in the Jewish nation.  All twelve of them.  He vindicates his mother's virgin birth.  He vindicates Jesus.  It takes a very big man not to be jealous of a sibling.  Born of the same mother, James declares that Jesus is the son of the living God. The promised one. The Christ.