JAMES, THE YOUNGER BROTHER OF JESUS, HAS BEEN CALLED TO BE THE UNDERSHEPHERD OF THE FLEDGING CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN JERUSALEM. COULD HE OR THE CHURCH RIDDLED WITH CONFLICT AND DISUNITY WITHIN SURVIVE YET ANOTHER PERSECUTION FROM WITHOUT?

Festus was dead, and Albinue, the new Roman procurator, was yet to arrive in Jerusalem. The Zealot leader, John of Gischala, was emboldened at the prospect of fulfilling his destiny of driving the hated Romans from the promised land. Ananus, the high priest, could see the time was at hand for ridding the Holy City of the despised Christians. James, the leader of the church in Jerusalem, was tormented by threats of persecution from without and strife and disunity from within the church. Why, of all of the followers of his risen Lord, did Jesus choose him to lead the church at this critical time? Could the church endure yet another persecution? Why was it taking Jesus so long to return as He said He would?