The Book of Jude

Tuesday, June 17th, 2008
by Justin

So I have been reading through the book of Jude the last week or so and I really have been intrigued by it. I really don’t know why because it is one of the shortest books of the Bible with only one chapter. Really, how much content could be in there right? So anyway books of the Bible for me I know are going to be good when I get stuck in the first verse (Jude 1).

Judas (full name), starts off letting us know that he is the brother of James. James was an apostle of Jesus, one of the 12, and also a half-brother of Jesus, then making Judas a half-brother of Jesus also! Before the crucifixion and resurrection, Judas had denied Jesus as Messiah (Matt. 13:55, Mark 6:3; John 7:5), but afterward came to humbly acknowledge himself as His slave. Think of that. And this may be really easy to see if you have a sibling. Can you imagine worshipping and submitting your life to your sibling? This had to be one of the toughest things in the world for all of Jesus’ brothers and sisters to do. Acts 1:14 says that they all trusted Him as their Savior. But even that sounds weird… Savior of my siblings? Because He was the big brother? And all big brother’s look out for their younger siblings? No because they watched their brother illegally tried, beaten, and then crucified on a cross…for them. And the coolest thing is that they got to see him after his resurrection. That has to seal the deal for them.

Judas goes on to say that he was a servant, bond-slave, slave of Jesus Christ. Not only was Jesus his brother, Judas says that he is His slave. Figure that one out. A slave is someone who has one goal…to submit to the will of their Master. They do only what their Master wants. And here is where I struggle. I kind of find myself in Judas’ shoes. I am believing in the least likely candidate as a Savior and Master. Judas, His big brother. Me, a complete stranger. Chew on that one!