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"A bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James..."

Text: Jude 1

AN IMPORTANT STATEMENT

Jude began his epistle with an important statement. This was his way of introducing himself to his readers.

“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 1

1. “Jude”

a) This identifies the writer.

b) The word “Jude” is the same as “Judas” (Greek: “Ioudas”).

2. “Brother of James”

a) This gives us a clue as to who this person Jude really is.

b) Matthew 13:55 is a note on the names of the brothers of Jesus.

c) James was listed as the first of the brothers.

d) Judas (also Jude) was listed as the youngest.

3. “A bondservant of Jesus Christ”

a) Jude did not wish to claim that he was a brother of the Lord Jesus Christ.

b) This reflects many good things about him.

i) He was not a name-dropper.

ii) He was happy to be identified with James, his eldest brother.

iii) He was not presumptuous.

iv) He did not claim apostleship at any time.

c) “A bondservant”

i) Jude’s perspective is admirable.

ii) He had acknowledged that he was happy to be a bondservant of the Lord.

iii) He joins the ranks of many who have chosen to see themselves as humble servants.

d) “Jesus Christ”

i) There was a time when the brothers of Jesus did not believe that He was the Christ (John 7:5).

ii) Jude had now come to believe that Jesus was indeed the Christ (The Messiah).

iii) Therefore, it was right for him to speak of being a bondservant to the Lord Jesus Christ.