My favourite book to read - ever - is the Bible, and I find myself 'in' it often. Jude is a one chapter letter found in the New Testament, just before Revelation. It begins...
Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are called, sanctified (beloved) by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ: Mercy, peace, and love by multiplied to you. - Jude 1-2
Who is Jude? Well, he tells us that he is a brother of James. The next question then, I suppose, is who is James? James also wrote a letter which can be found in the New Testament. He begins...
James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve trives which are scattered abroad: Greetings. - James 1:1
We first hear of James in Matthew 13 when Jesus returns to his own country and teaches in their synagogue - all were astonished and responded 'Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?'
James is the brother of Jesus. Jude, we conclude, is a younger brother of Jesus. We hear reference made to them also in 1 Corinthians 9 by another apostle - 'Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?'
While they are both brothers of Jesus, they do not claim this, but claim to be bondservants of Jesus who is Christ. Next question: what does Christ mean? It is derived from the greek word khristos which means 'the anointed' referring to the promised Messiah of the Old Testament (the term messiah is derived from the Hebrew). These two brothers both recognised that their 'big brother' was not just like them, but the promised from the Old Testament - Christ.
As Jesus is Christ, they have chosen to be bondservants of Him. That is give up whatever is required in order to follow Him - to spread the Truth. This is what made them true brothers of Jesus Christ - as it does with us also.
The middle part of this opening to Jude's letter is a brilliant reminder of just where we are - what is true for us, as Christians, followers of Jesus. We are called. We are sanctified (beloved). We are preserved.
Called? God is sovereign - from eternity to eternity - and he has chosen us, called us, away from the sinful life which we would choose of our own free will to instead follow Him.
Sanctified? Beloved? God loves us. Even in our sinfulness - He still loves us. And because He loves us He has set us aside - consecrated us - made us Holy. He made this possible for us and accomplished it completely.
Preserved? Death isn't the end. Through Jesus Christ we are able to live eternally to worship our God, our Lord. We are kept, not just thrown away and disposed of.
The latter part of the opening to Jude's letter is not completely uncommon. It was common to have some kind of greeting similar at the beginning of a letter - ours today would probably be something along the lines of 'How are you? I hope you are well.' Kind of dull in comparison, is it not? This particular greeting however is not common and it is linked to what we have just heard. God shows these things to us through those things. Mercy, peace, and love. But also, these qualities can be attributed to the three persons of the trinity, Father brings Mercy, Son effects Peace, and Spirit gives Love - although all are true of each as well.
And so I say, be encouraged! May Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.
Question: what kind of greeting would you like to receive - would be good to have as a common greeting?
Coming up: Jude, Part 2
God Bless
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