A caring warning
After a two day break, I want to resume EmmDevs with a short series based on the second last book in the New Testament - the letter of Jude... 
The consensus is that the author is Jude (Judas), the brother of Jesus. Jesus had 4 brothers James, Joseph (Joses), Judas (Jude), and Simon. During Jesus' public ministry, the brothers were mocking and skeptical. At one point they even felt He was out of control and out of His mind.
But the resurrection changed everything!
James became the head of the early church, Jude wrote this letter and Mary and her sons were prominent in the early church. Neither James nor Jude claim to be Jesus' brothers, but the early church recognised them as such.
From his letter it is clear that Jude cares about the church and is worried enough to write a letter when he sees trouble brewing...
Scholars think it was written somewhere between 65-80AD at a time where the church was threatened by a form of false teaching that said that because you had been forgiven, you could do whatever you liked with your body because your soul was going to heaven. These false teachers took pride in their intellect and argued that the rules didn't apply to them...
This was called "Gnosticism" (from the Greek word "Gnosis" which means "knowledge.")
Jude wanted to protect the early church from this early form of Gnosticism. He uses a very rich grounding in the Old Testament to warn his readers from the pending threat.
Jude isn't an apostle and doesn't claim to be one. He does not parade his credentials. He doesn't pull the "hey-I'm-Jesus-little-brother" card. What makes his letter so appealing is his very very obvious love for the church... It is said that "people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care..."
From the "feel" the letter has, it is obvious that Jude cares greatly for the church.
But, first and foremost, Jude conveys God's love for the church!
Look how he describes believers as "Called", "Loved" and "Kept".
This is who we are:
"Called" (by name and for a purpose)
"Loved" (so much that He gave His Son)
"Kept" (sustained by God's faithfulness and care)
Next time you pass a mirror, stop and gaze at your reflection and remind yourself: "I am Called, Loved and Kept!"
| Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ: Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance. (Jude1:1-2) |
