Jude – A Bond-Servant Of Jesus Christ And Brother Of James - Jude 1 V 1-2 Series

JUDE – A BOND-SERVANT OF JESUS CHRIST AND BROTHER OF JAMES - Jude 1 v 1-2

MESSAGES IN JUDE – MESSAGE 1. Jude 1 v 1-2

Jude 1 v 1 “Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ. Jude 1 v 2 May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.”

This amazing, small letter was written by Jude, who says three things about himself, the first being his name. The second is that he is a servant or bond servant of Jesus Christ. Simply stated, he is the Lord’s servant. Now when you write important letters, it is customary you use the authority that lies in you. For example if the Minister for Immigration wrote to someone, it would come with the letterhead of the Minister of Immigration, not just any man in a department. Authority is the key to acceptance. Well, what authority did Jude claim? Well, it is simply put – a bondservant of Jesus Christ.

What was the greatest authority held by the writers of the New Testament that made their writing credible? It was their apostleship, and that is why you have Paul often introducing his letters as “an apostle of Jesus Christ”. You could have no greater authority. Yet, not all the New Testament books were written by apostles. In fact, only two of the four Gospels were written by apostles. One was written by a doctor and historian, and one was written by a cousin of Barnabas.

Too many people who write, are self-seeking and want praise and glory. They don’t write as servants of the Lord. They write to see how many books can be sold. If Jude wanted to be self-seeking, instead of stating he was “a servant of the Jesus Christ”, he would have written, “a brother of Jesus Christ”. That would have given him the greatest authority of all, for no one knew the Lord longer than Jude and James. The third thing he says about himself is that he is a brother of James. This is the James who wrote the book in our bibles after Hebrews.

What is grace? Grace is what brings an underserving sinner into the forgiveness and love of God. Grace is the greatest work of the Holy Spirit that converts a man because God’s love is extended to him. Let us look at how this applies to Jude. We need to trace the path of God’s dealings with him. Let us look at this passage – {{Mark 6 v 1 “He went out from there, and He came into His home town and His disciples followed Him. Mark 6 v 2 When the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue and the many listeners were astonished saying, “Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands? Mark 6 v 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, and Joses, and Judas, and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” and they took offence at Him. Mark 6 v 4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honour except in his home town and among his own relatives and in his own household,”}}

Although some say that the 4 brothers mentioned in verse 3 are actually the sons of Mary and Cleophas (Mary’s sister), using the word “brothers” in the widest sense of “cousins”, I just can’t take that stand. They are the half brothers of the Lord. We note this passage carefully in Matthew - Matthew 1 v 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” Matt 1 v 24 Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took her as his wife, Matt 1 v 25 and kept her a virgin UNTIL she gave birth to a Son and he called His name Jesus. (It is unfortunate that the NIV has omitted the word “virgin”). After that, normal relations occurred between Joseph and Mary as in a married couple. It is a lie to believe the Roman Catholic teaching that the blessed virgin Mary was ever an eternal virgin, a perpetual virgin. Mark 6 v 3 clearly names 4 sons and says that there were sisters also. It was a pretty big family. In verse 25, the word “until” completely dismisses a perpetual virgin idea. Unless there were relationships it was never a marriage. Plain and simple.

Now, just to digress a little, there is an amazing Old Testament verse that speaks of Mary and her children, a verse that forever crushes the Romanish myth of Mary being a perpetual virgin. Did you know that? Psalm 69 is a Messianic psalm, and along with Psalm 22, it details the events and sufferings of Calvary, all very prophetic in nature. (A Messianic Psalm speaks of Jesus Christ). Here are three verses from that psalm – {{Psalm 69 v 7 “because for Your sake I have borne reproach. Dishonour has covered my face. Psa 69 v 8 I have become estranged from my brothers and an alien to MY mother’s sons. Psa 69 v 9 Zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.”}}