Faithful on Fridays Blog

This one chapter, end time message was written by the half-brother of Jesus over forty years after His resurrection. Think about that; Jude, a shortened form of Judas (for obvious reasons), grew up beside the long-awaited Messiah. James was also a brother of Jesus who became the first pastor of the Church in Jerusalem and wrote the book of James. These guys undoubtedly slept in the same room, hung out, maybe wrestled, as brothers do, endured sibling spats, ate meals together, and maybe experienced some jealousy or feelings of unfairness from their parents. What could it have been like to live in the same big, messy, ministry family with the Savior of the World?

As you read the first two verses of this letter is becomes clear that Jude operated in humility; notice that he identified himself as a servant and brother: a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James. Most of us would’ve opened with, “Jesus was my big brother! Whoo hoo, look at me!” Not Jude; yes, he was Jesus’ kid brother, however, he doesn’t mention that glaring truth by putting the focus on the One who died in his place. 

He also identified his audience as those who are called, loved, and kept by God: believers in Jesus Christ. First, to be called is to be invited; we’ve been invited into God’s family. 

Paul wrote,

… you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, … called to be saints: Romans 1:6-7b

… called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Cor. 1:9b

Jude also wants us to remember that we are loved by God, our Father, in the family of faith, who has fatherly love that can’t be earned or deserved. Fathers don’t love their kids because they always obey, never do anything wrong, or are always respectful. They love because their children because they’re part of them and it’s their responsibility to help them realize the true love of their Heavenly Father. 

Jesus said,

And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father  … John 14:21b

And finally we, as believers who trust God, are kept, guarded, and preserved as He watches over us giving us strength to endure any trial or tribulation we face in life. 

For the Lord loves justice; He will not forsake His saints. They are preserved forever, Psalm 37:2a

Because you have kept My word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, Rev. 3:10a

What an encouraging introduction! Jude builds up our faith, remembering the precious promises we have, and then declared God’s mercy, peace, and love to cascade over us as we read his message. I hope you’ll open your Bible and follow along in this short book as Jude warns us, exposes false teaching, and helps us depend on the power of the Holy Spirit becoming ‘ready’ for anything that comes our way.