Finding Jesus in the Book of James

You may never have considered this question, but James comes under a lot of fire for not mentioning Jesus frequently.  Some have taken up the idea that the epistle was a Jewish document that was later "Christianized."  Whatever its origin, they just don't see it meshing well with Christian doctrine.

Yet, if it is, as we believe, a product of the Holy Spirit, then there is cause for us to mine the text.   There is sufficient cause for us to be challenged in our sin and provoked to worship!

Will Varner, who published a concise commentary on James for the body of Christ, tackles this question in a recent blog post.  Based on the following information, he argues that the Epistle of James is the most "Jesus-saturated book in the New Testament, following of course the Gospels."
Jas 1:2 - Mt. 5:11-12 — joy in tribulation
Jas. 1:5 - Mt. 7:7; Lk. 11:9 — ask and you will receive
Jas. 1:6 - Mt. 21:21 — faith and doubting
Jas. 1:12 - Mt. 5:11-12; Lk. 6:22-23 — blessing on those who endure trials
Jas. 1:19-20 - Mt. 5:22 — against anger
Jas. 1:22-25 - Mt. 7:24-27; Lk. 6:46-49 — doers of the word
Jas. 2:5 - Lk. 6:20b; Mt. 5:3 — kingdom belongs to poor
Jas. 2:8 - Mt. 22:39 — the love commandment
Jas. 2:13 - Mt. 5:7, 13; 9:13 — results of mercy
Jas. 2:14-17 - Mt. 25:31-46 — helping the disadvantaged
Jas. 3:6 - Mt. 15:18-19; (Mt. 5:22) — the tongue defiles (γέεννα)
Jas. 3:12 - Mt. 7:16; Lk. 6:44 — fruit from the tree
Jas. 3:18 - Mt. 5:9 — being peacemakers
Jas. 4:2-3 - Mt. 7:7; Lk. 11:9 — ask and you will receive
Jas. 4:4 - Mt. 6:24; Lk. 16:13 — serving God vs. loving the world
Jas. 4:9 - Lk. 6:21, 25b — those who laugh will mourn
Jas. 4:10 - Mt. 23:12; Lk.18:14b — humble will be exalted
Jas. 4:11-12 - Mt. 7:1-2; Lk. 6:37 — against judging others
Jas. 4:13-16 - Lk. 12:18-21 — boasting of successful businessman
Jas. 4:17 - Lk. 12:47 — knowing master’s will and not doing it
Jas. 5:1 - Lk. 6:24 — woe to the rich
Jas. 5:2-3a - Mt. 6:19-20; Lk. 12:33b — do not treasure up wealth
Jas. 5:10-11 - Mt. 5:11-12; 10:22 — persevere in trials/receive blessing
Jas. 5:12 - Mt. 5:33-37 — oaths
Jas. 5:17 - Lk. 4:15 — Elijah – three and a half years
Jas. 5:19-20 - Mt. 18:12-14; Lk. 17:3-4 — restoring lost sheep/brother
He also spoke on the subject at the 2011 Shepherds' Conference in his "Band of Brothers" talk, if you wish to download the MP3.

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