 |
| Jude (Judas) The Half Brother of Jesus |
The shortest book in the Bible is Jude. It is a one chapter book right before The Book of Revelation. Jude or Judas (Judah) was the step brother of Jesus, "Then they scoffed, "He's just the carpenter's son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers--James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas (Jude in Greek). And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?" (Matthew 13:55-56). Mary and Joseph had children after Jesus was born. Sadly, most of these half brothers and sisters of Christ did not believe in Jesus, "Then Jesus went home, and once again a crowd gathered, so that He and His disciples could not even eat. And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind." (Mark 3:20-21), and "Jesus' brothers said to him, "Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. You can't become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!" For even his own brothers did not believe in him. Jesus replied, "Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime. The world can't hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil. You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come." (John 7:3-8). In response to their unbelieving and antichrist behavior of his family, later when Mary and these brothers and sisters arrive, Jesus says this about them, "While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, His mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to Him. Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you." Jesus asked, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" Then he pointed to his disciples and said, "Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!" (Matthew 12:46-50). Many of the half brothers of Jesus through Mary and Joseph did not believe in Jesus until after the Resurrection (John 20:1-29). James the half brother of Jesus became head of the Church in Jerusalem and wrote the Epistle of James in the New Testament. James met with the Apostle Paul, "The only other apostle I met at that time was James, the Lord's brother," (Galatians 1:19), and is mentioned by Paul the Apostle, "Don't we have the right to bring a Christian wife with us as the other apostles and the Lord's brothers do, and as Peter does?" (1 Corinthians 9:5). I want to make it clear that Christ's half brothers and sisters were not as Catholics believe, from Joseph and a former wife. Joseph and Mary had sexual relations after Jesus was born, "When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and embraced Mary as his wife But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus." (Matthew 1:24-25). This Scripture clearly gives evidence Mary and Joseph had marital rites and consummation after Christ was born, which the fruit are St. James, St. Simeon, St. Jude, and their sisters. Catholics ignore this because of their perpetual virginity of Mary doctrine and the Cult of the Virgin from Middle Ages that makes Mary a Virgin forever and that she comes from a line of virgins (Roman Catholic Catechism pages 920-999), when Scripture contradicts this.
I would like to add that some believe Jude, the brother of Jesus is also the Eleventh Disciple Judas Thaddeus, "And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor./and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor." (Luke 6:16 KJV and ESV). Some thinking Judas Thaddeus is the son of James Son of Alphaeus, but is James Son of Alphaeus same as James the Half Brother of Jesus? No. Hence why people confuse them, there are several James's named James Son of Zebedee, James Son of Alphaeus, and James the Half Brother of Jesus. In same way there are Judas brother or son of James Son of Alphaeus, there is Judas the brother of Jesus, and Judas Iscariot the Traitor. Here is commentary that clears up the confusion, "And Judas the brother of James,.... Of that James, that was the son of Alphaeus; though the Syriac and Arabic versions call him "the son of James", very wrongly: this Judas was also called Thaddaeus and Lebbaeus, and is the writer of the epistle that bears his name." (Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible). Thus Judas or Jude the brother of James Alphaeus is really a cousin of Jesus, because Alpheus is Clopas (Wikipedia), the husband of Mary Clopas the sister of Mary the Mother of Jesus (John 19:25), Mary Clopas is thus Jesus' half aunt. Jesus had two cousins as his disciples, James of Alphaeus and his brother Thaddeus or Judas. Then there is the half brother of Jesus named Judas or Jude who wrote the Epistle and Book before Revelation. I know it confusing with all the similar names.
I want to make it clear, Jesus Christ has half brothers and sisters in that they are children of Mary and Joseph, For Jesus is really the Son of God conceived of the Holy Spirit, Mary only bore Him and gave birth to Him miraculously for Jesus came into her womb not of her power or doing, but by Spirit of God. Jesus does not have a god/spirit brother like Mormons believe, there is only the Trinity: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19, Matthew 3:16-17, 1 Peter 1:2, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Colossians 2:9, John 10:30-36, John 14:16-17, 1 John 5:7-8, Genesis 1:26, Genesis 3:22, Hebrews 1:1-14). Jesus has always existed and made all things, "In the beginning the Word already existed.The Word was with God,and the Word was God.He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him,and nothing was created except through him.The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. God sent a man, John the Baptist,to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’”From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God,[g] is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us," (John 1:1-18), "For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body," (Colossians 2:9), "while we wait for the blessed hope--the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ," (Titus 2:13), "Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours," (2 Peter 1:1), "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me." (John 17:20-21), and then here final proofs Jesus was not conceived by Mary and Joseph, or by another man but by the Holy Spirit,"In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings,favored woman! The Lord is with you, Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end. Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For the word of God will never fail." (Luke 1:26-37), and "As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel,which means ‘God is with us. When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus." (Matthew 1:20-25).
The more famous half brother of Jesus is James who wrote the Book of James in the Bible (before 1 Peter), but we should not ignore Jude's words despite its shortness, for in it is contained information we need to endure the end times, and how to properly answer Christ's warning, "Lawlessness with increase, and love will grow cold. But you stand firm to the end." (Matthew 24:11-13). Considering the shortness of Jude, I will contain the entire text, and give commentary and cross references to other Scriptures:
"1] This letter is from Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James. I am writing to all who have been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ.
[2] May God give you more and more mercy, peace, and love.
[3] Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people.
[4] I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God's marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
[5] So I want to remind you, though you already know these things, that Jesus first rescued the nation of Israel from Egypt, but later he destroyed those who did not remain faithful.
[6] And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged. God has kept them securely chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the great day of judgment.
[7] And don't forget Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, which were filled with immorality and every kind of sexual perversion. Those cities were destroyed by fire and serve as a warning of the eternal fire of God's judgment.
[8] In the same way, these people-who claim authority from their dreams-live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at supernatural beings.
[9] But even Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels, did not dare accuse the devil of blasphemy, but simply said, "The Lord rebuke you!" (This took place when Michael was arguing with the devil about Moses' body.)
[10] But these people scoff at things they do not understand. Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction.
[11] What sorrow awaits them! For they follow in the footsteps of Cain, who killed his brother. Like Balaam, they deceive people for money. And like Korah, they perish in their rebellion.
[12] When these people eat with you in your fellowship meals commemorating the Lord's love, they are like dangerous reefs that can shipwreck you. They are like shameless shepherds who care only for themselves. They are like clouds blowing over the land without giving any rain. They are like trees in autumn that are doubly dead, for they bear no fruit and have been pulled up by the roots. See Matthew 7:16-20, Luke 13:7-10, Luke 6:43-45, John 15:8, Matthew 3:8, and
[13] They are like wild waves of the sea, churning up the foam of their shameful deeds. They are like wandering stars, doomed forever to blackest darkness.
[14] Enoch, who lived in the seventh generation after Adam, prophesied about these people. He said, "Listen! The Lord is coming with countless thousands of his holy ones
[15] to execute judgment on the people of the world. He will convict every person of all the ungodly things they have done and for all the insults that ungodly sinners have spoken against him."
This passage is a quote from the Book of Enoch, found in Dead Sea Scrolls.
[16] These people are grumblers and complainers, living only to satisfy their desires. They brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want.
[17] But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ predicted. [18] They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. The apostle Peter addresses these scoffers, see 2 Peter 3:1-16.
[19] These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God's Spirit in them.
[20] But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, [21] and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God's love. I believe this is how we deal with problem of Matthew 24:11-13.
[22] And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. [23] Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives. Another translation says have mercy on those who doubt, and reprove those who are headed for the flames of Judgement, see 2 Timothy 3:16.
[24] Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. See Matthew 24:10-13, Revelation 14:12, and 1 Timothy 4:1.
[25] All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord (see Colossians 2:9, and Titus 2:13). All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen." (Jude 1:1-25).
The Book of Jude has much to catch our attention. First he reminds us of the fallen angels and their rebellion (Genesis 6:4-6), then He takes about how Jesus delivered the Israelites out of Egypt, but because they murmured, and would not enter His rest (Hebrews 3:18-20, Matthew 11:28-30), He destroyed many of them in the wilderness. But perhaps the part I find most fascinating and relevant for us in the end of days, is how to actually preform Jesus' words, "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away from faith, and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved," (Matthew 24:9-13), which Jude gives the answer, "But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life (Hebrews 9:28). And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives. Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault." (Jude 1:20-24). Jude gives us a great steps and what to do in the last days to avoid letting up love wax cold (Matthew 24:12). It is for this reason I felt it was important to share this, so that all of you everywhere may be ready for the Return of Christ, in fact this is probably also what is meant by following verse, "(“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is he who stays awake and who keeps his clothes [that is, stays spiritually ready for the Lord’s return], so that he will not be naked—spiritually unprepared—and men will not see his shame.”)" (Revelation 16:15 AMP). To keep spiritually ready for Christ's Return, I argue we should follow Jude's advice (Jude 1:20-24) and Jesus Christ's Own advice (Matthew 22:36-41, and Revelation 2:4-5). Amen.
Comments
Post a Comment