Who was James?
In the New Testament, there are a number of people with the name James who know Jesus:

1. James, the brother of Jesus, and the author of the epistle by the same name, oversaw the church in Jerusalem.

"Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?" Matt. 13:55

When they finished, James spoke up: "Brothers, listen to me." Acts 15:13

2. James, the brother of the Apostle Judas, we know little about.

Judas, son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. Luke 6:16

3. James, the son of Alphaeus, was one of the twelve Apostles and called "James the Less". His mother, named Mary, was one of the women who accompanied Jesus.

Phillip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus. (Matt. 10:3) Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. (Mark 15:40)

4. James, the son of Zebedee and brother of the Apostle John, was one of the first to be called by Jesus and the one with whom Jesus had a close relationship. He is the one tradition identifies as James of the "Camino del Santiago".

What do we know about his younger years?
We do not know where James was born or where he spent his youth. When Jesus began his public life, he found James near the Sea of Galilee and called him. This was the beginning of a close relationship with Jesus that would grow daily, eventually causing him to become a key figure in the early church.

Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them. (Matthew 4:21)

Does any information exist about his family?
James’ father was a fisherman named Zebedee, from Galilee, who owned at least one boat and hired day workers. This leads us to believe that his was a family of social stature. His mother, it seems, was named Salome. His brother was the Apostle John, the "disciple whom Jesus loved", and the author of the Gospel of John.

When he had gone a little farther, he saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. (Mark 1:19,20)

What kind of relationship did James have with Jesus?
James, together with Peter and John, formed the inner circle of men closest to Jesus.

After six days, Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. (Mark 9:2-4)

James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder). (Mark 3:17)

But the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" But Jesus turned and rebuked them. (Luke 9:53-55)

What special event was James a witness of?
Together with Peter and his brother John, James was present at the Transfiguration of Jesus. He saw with his own eyes how Moses and Elijah (the greatest prophets to have spoken with God in the Old Testament) talked with Jesus and, before them all, heard the voice of God the Father identify Jesus as his own Son.

After six days, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" (Matt. 17:1-5)

What other sorts of things did James hear Jesus say?
Among many other things, he heard Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, call all these people "blessed": the poor, those that weep, those that hunger and thirst for righteousness, the peace-makers, and the persecuted. He learned directly from Jesus' own lips how to pray to the Father. He was in the boat when Jesus calmed the storm and called them all to truly trust in him. He listened when the Master sent them out to preach, taking nothing extra with them except a staff and their sandals, an action which is intended to be reflected in the symbolism of the Camino de Santiago.

Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:1-12)

"This, then, is how you should pray: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Matt. 6:9-13

Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" (Mark 4:38-40)

Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits. (Mark 6:7)

These were his instructions: "Take nothing for the journey except a staff——no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals, but not an extra tunic. (Mark 6:8,9)

What did he ask of Jesus?
On one occasion, James and his brother John went to Jesus to ask him to grant them the places of highest honour whenever Jesus achieved His greatness. Jesus taught them that whoever wanted to be great should make himself the servant of all.

They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory." Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant." (Mark 10:37,42-43)

Where did James end up after Jesus was crucified?
When Jesus was crucified, his disciples ran away. The majority of them returned to Galilee where they had an encounter with their resurrected Master. After that, they returned to Jerusalem. The book of Acts recounts how James was present together with Peter and the rest of the Apostles, praying in an upper room of the city, waiting for the One that Jesus had promised—the Holy Spirit.

Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. (John 21:1,2)

When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. (Acts 1:13,14)

Did James die of natural causes?
The book of Acts itself tells how King Herod Agrippa I, in approximately 44 AD, ordered James' death by the sword. He was the first of all the Apostles to die, sealing with his own blood his love and devotion to the Son of God. It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. (Acts 12:1,2)

What is it James saw in Jesus?
Starting with the first encounter at the Sea of Galilee, James felt drawn to this person whom he perceived as extraordinary. Jesus' lifestyle, the miracles he performed, the words James heard him speak, his death on the cross, his ascension into heaven—all of these things made it obvious that this was not some ordinary man. Jesus was more than a man. James heard Him say, "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30), "He who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9), and "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except by me" (John 14:6). The life and influence of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, produced some truly significant changes in the life of James. Walking with his Master, James realised over the course of time that a relationship with the person of Christ brought about change, not only in him, but also in many others. After the resurrection and the experience of the Pentecost (when they received the power of the Holy Spirit), James and the other men and women saw themselves transformed by the power of the risen Christ who loved them so uniquely. Later, through the disciples, this same message would reach all nations.

What did James intend by following the "Camino"?
Without a doubt, he intended to show others, like you and me, how to have a personal relationship with the living Lord. He followed that path in order to show us how it is possible, through the Spirit of Jesus, to become true children of God. He also intended to tell us that the risen Christ has the power to transform your life, my life, and the lives of all men just as James experienced.