The Identity of Jude

It's been a while, but I promised we'd start looking at the book of Jude. Having gotten a gentle nudge from a reader, I did a little reading this afternoon while tending my father while mom was at the store. Bear with me!

"1a Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James,..."

The author of the book of Jude is none other than the half-brother of Jesus and the brother of James, also a half-brother of our Lord. That is his physical identity.

But in reading the text, did you notice we can see a bit into the identity of Jude through his character? Read the half-verse again. He refers to himself as a "bondservant". A "doulos" submitted to the Lordship of Christ. He was bound to do whatever His Lord and Master bid him to do. He had genuine faith -- the real thing -- a faith that shows itself in its works, for genuine faith shows itself in its obedience as Paul says twice in Romans, once in chapter one and once in chapter 16..."the obedience of faith" or "the obedience that comes from faith". So we see his Identity in Christ marked by genuine faith in the Living God.

We also see his character, which is part of his identity. How tempting would it have been to you or me to have reminded our readers that "I'm the half brother of Jesus!...You know, the God of the Universe! The one Who holds all things together!". How simple it would be to turn it to our own glory.

But he didn't do that. Instead of claiming his earthly, physical relationship with the Lord, he points to his spiritual relationship, reminding us only that he was an earthly brother to James. That is, humilty that results from death to "self" and is fruit that serves as evidence of his conversion. Mark 8:34-"Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." This isn't a frill, it's just saving faith.

And how rare for our day. So many are boastful. Or, they drag the Lord down to their level, alluding to Jesus as a "homeboy" or "buddy" or some such nonsense. Yet Jude knows he has a bond servant relationship to a transcendent, holy God.

Although I can't recall who it was, I remember hearing someone saying that 'false religion breeds pride, the true breeds humility." Maybe it was Oswald Chambers. I don't remember. But compare this attitude with many of our day which is really not that different from Jude's era. False teachers abound, drawing people to themselves and boasting great things. Visions and such. Promising to solve the world's problems, without mention of the Lord they profess to know.

True faith breeds humility out of a denial of self and dependence on God.

So how do we measure up? Are we self reliant or do we realize our position in Christ as Lord and submit to Him, giving Him the glory?

More next time.

Blessings.