1 “Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ:”
Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ,
Jude was a common name among Jewish people. Jude is a shortened form of “Judas.” Judas Iscariot spoiled that name.
and brother of James,
Jude sets forth his vertical relationship to Jesus Christ, and then his horizontal relationship to his physical brother James. Jude did not mention his physical relationship with Jesus as his half-brother. He did not say, “I grew up with Jesus; I played in the same sandbox with him.”
Jude was the brother of both James and Jesus. Neither brother believed Jesus was the Messiah until after the resurrection (Jn 7:5). Later, James became the leader of the church in Jerusalem.
PRINCIPLE:
A slave always has a Master.
APPLICATION:
Our horizontal relationships are not nearly as important as our vertical relationship. In eternal value, our relationships on earth are not nearly as important as our vertical relationship to Jesus.
None of us likes the term “slave,” but Jesus expects our undivided loyalty. Everyone is a slave of something–either our sin or our Savior. Are we willing to waive our rights? Would we qualify as a slave of Jesus? This is blessed servitude. We are a slave when we relinquish all claims on self. All of us are slaves to someone or something. If Jesus is not our master, then sin is (Jn 8:34; Ro 6:20). We have a Savior, but do we have a Lord? Do we lay our lives at His feet? Does He come before our spouse, children, money, real estate, everything? Have we given Him our all?
would it be possible to translate your website into spanish because i have difficulties of speaking to english, and as there are not many pictures on your website i would like to read more of what you are writting.
Celia, I am honored that you value Verse-by-Verse Commentary enough to want it in Spanish. That would take an enormous task since it has over 6000 pages!
Hi Grant;
Just wondering how we know that neither James nor Jude believed that Jesus was the Messiah until after His resurrection?
Thanks!
Hello Lori, good to hear from you.
Jn 7:5 says that Jesus’ brothers did not believe on him. Jesus appeared to James especially after the resurrection to demonstrate the authenticity of his Messiahship, 1 Co 15.
Bro. Grant , Was James the real brother of Jesus , If so then why did Jesus say to John the apostle to take care of his mother before his death ????
Sonu, James was the physical brother of Jesus: http://versebyversecommentary.com/books/introduction-to-james/
James and his brothers were in Galillee and not able to take care of Mary.
How do we know that James and Jude were younger brothers of Jesus and not older brothers? How do we know Joseph wasn’t widowed before he married Mary?
Deborah, did you read the Introduction to Jude? There is a link to it at the top of the page.