This week we’re continuing with a new chapter in the Jude Series. This series is all about a much-misunderstood and oft-forgotten book of the Bible, and in Part Two we’l be looking specifically at Jude’s introduction and the reason the letter was written in the first place.
This is Chapter I of Part II, in an online ‘serialised book’ which I’ll be releasing over the next few months. In addition, I’ll be releasing fortnightly articles on other subjects, all for the Glory of God and the good of his people. Thanks so much to all of you who have subscribed recently, and to those who’ve been reading for a long time already. If you enjoy this piece, please do share it with others who might be encouraged by it.
To check out other instalments in the Jude Series, click here:
Part II - Chapter I // Hey, Jude - Jude’s Humility and Our Calling
First impressions last.
The way we present ourselves can say a lot about our character, our profession, and our temperament. Letters are no different, but in the two millennia since the New Testament epistles were written, the church seems to have trained herself out of noticing them. Introductions and ‘Final Blessings’ are often relegated to a secret collection of Bible passages, alongside lists of laws, genealogies, and the Song of Solomon.
The truth is though, that if you took this collection and try examined it you’d find that it was written with the same care, and intention as the rest of the Bible. Let them make an impression on you, and hopefully that impression will last a lifetime.
Here’s how Jude introduces himself:
Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James:
To those who are the called, loved, by God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.Christian Standard Bible, (Holman Bible Publishers, 2020) Jude 11
Humbly Yours, Jude
Of all the New Testament authors, two have seemingly more claim upon Jesus than any other. These two, Jude and James, had grown up with him, in the same household. We know very little about them, certainly not enough for an extensive biography, but what we do know is that however close they had been with Jesus throughout the course of his life, neither believed in the truth of who he was during the time of his earthly ministry2. In fact, it seems that when Jesus was hung on the cross for their sins, for yours, and for mine, they weren’t even present to support their mother. Jesus instead called upon his beloved apostle John to take up that role3.
At some point after this, however, after he’d died, and risen again, Jesus’ brothers came to believe, and to pray, and shortly after they’d even taken up the mantle of leaders alongside Jesus’ apostles and disciples.4
These men might not have enjoyed the kind of relationship they ought to have had with their brother in life, but by the writing Jude writes this, both he and his brother had placed all of their faith in meeting that same brother in eternity.
Even so, of all the apostles and teachers, these two surely had the right to lean upon their brother’s name? Yet, neither does. In fact, the only claim either of them makes5 in connection with him is to call themselves his slave6, and he their master (Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ δοῦλος.)
Jude goes one further, and submits not only to Jesus, but also to James!
Whilst Jude was a leader in the church, James was very likely the head of the Elders of the church in Jerusalem. Whilst calling Jesus his brother might have signified an attempt to exalt himself, calling upon the authority of his brother to lend credence to his own letter seems to suggest humble submission.
I say all of this for two reasons, firstly, because as Jude becomes more bold through his letter, it’s important to understand that this isn’t a character flaw, but an outworking of necessary and humble exhortation. It’s a bit like the commentators currently covering the European Football Tournament, the Euros7, when one of them lauds a certain player’s ability they aren’t boasting in themself, but praising the skill of another. Jude isn’t boasting because of his own ability to teach or in his own perfection, but in Jesus’ finished work on the cross.
Secondly, because as we look from his introduction of himself to his address to us, Jude provides us with a helpful example to follow and imitate.
Called
Unlike other letters which were addressed to particular churches, Jude’s intended audience seems to be far broader, yet, the question of whether we belong to “those who are the called, loved, by God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ” is one that people still struggle with today.
It can be a temptation sometimes to go to Jesus and ask, “What must I do?”
Whilst it is important that we follow in the footsteps of our saviour, picking up our cross daily, loving our neighbour, and giving our all to God, the called come into the kingdom instead saying in awesome wonder, “Look what you have done for me!”
There is a delight in seeing that overwhelming feeling of love that washes over new believers as the Spirit baptises them; that sense and knowledge that from before the creation of the earth the Lord had planned to redeem, restore, and refashion them with eternal heavenly bodies and eternal life.
As Paul says in the book of Romans:
For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.Christian Standard Bible, (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ro 8:29–30.
What does that look like now that we have entered into a group of “many brothers and sisters” with our brother Jesus as the firstborn among us, well it looks Jude’s example. Our salvation isn’t bolstered by the efficacy of our works, but rests solely in the love, grace, mercy, and unchangeableness of our saviour; who despite our sinfulness, overwhelmed us—the people of God—with his sacrifice, and now lovingly sustains our faith.
Thanks be to God, because that’s something none of us could ever have mustered alone.
As such, our response isn’t to elevate ourselves to his station, to look down on those who haven’t yet been blessed with such compassion, but rather to see ourselves as the last, one who could have so easily been lost.
However.
Authorised
What are we called to?
That’s not an easy question, but it does have at least one simple answer. Whilst some of us are called specifically to teach, other to minister to the sick, we are all called to this:
'“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you.
And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."Christian Standard Bible, (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Matt 28:19-20
How then are the humble supposed to minister to sinners and saints? As I mentioned earlier in this chapter, Jude hardly lacked boldness. We’ll see the evidence of that throughout his letter, but it was a boldness birthed by a reliance on his Saviour rather than on himself.
The passage above is predicated upon Jesus words:
"All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.”
Christian Standard Bible, (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Matt 28:18b
That authority is what we are to call upon when we preach, teach, minister, pray, and even cast out demons. Everything in heaven and on earth is under his authority, both now and forever, and it is an unfathomable blessing that we can now call upon that authority to carry out his work on earth. That should change the way we write, work, play, pray, eat, sleep, and spend time with others. That same God that gave us the faith that he now sustains in us has commanded us to commend that faith to others, trusting in his authority and power to aid us.
Throughout this book, we’ll look at how Jude not only commends but contends for the faith we have been blessed with, in the next chapter though we’ll be looking at Jude’s hope that Mercy, Peace, and Love would be multiplied among us.
Grace and Peace,
Adsum Try Ravenhill
Recommended Reading (& Watching)
It’s a little past midweek now, but this encouragement for John Hobbs is still just as helpful as it was a couple of days ago!
Wendy Willard just moved over to Substack to host her ongoing writing projects and I can’t explain enough how much I recommend that you subscribe to her work.
Here’s a short piece that helps to illustrate her empathy and insight:
Jeremy Writebol was recently invited to speak, encouraging a group of pastors in their vocation and particularly for those of you in ministry, I think you’ll be just as encouraged as they were. If you haven’t had a chance to pick up Jeremy’s book either, I would highly recommend that too—more on that here.
Further Reading: Matthew 13:55, Mark 6:3, Romans 1:7, 1 Corinthians 1:24
For not even his brothers believed in him.
Christian Standard Bible, (Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), John 7:5
“Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing there, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.”
Christian Standard Bible, (Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), John 19:25-27
They all were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
Christian Standard Bible, (Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Acts 1:14
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ:
To the twelve tribes dispersed abroad. Greetings.
Christian Standard Bible, (Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), James 1:1
The kind of slavery denoted here is quite different to what we imagine in the 21st century. The ESV has a great breakdown of this in the its introduction. If you would like to know more, however, let me know and I’d be happy to expand on this.
As you can probably tell…I’m not a sports guy.
Thank you for sharing my post! Thankful you’re spending time with Jude - easily overlooked!