Servant of Christ (part 2)

"Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ"

Jude v 1



                In my last post we looked at the fact that although we have been made free from the power of sin, we are not now our own. But, we belong to and serve Christ. It is our purpose and our delight to do what He commands. Now I would like to consider Jude being a servant of Christ in a different aspect. What makes this statement so remarkable is the fact that Jude is the brother of Christ. But instead of calling himself Christ’s brother he calls himself His servant.

                We love for people to know when we are associated with someone who is important or famous. If someone were to even meet a celebrity on the street they would post a picture of it to Facebook or Instagram in the blink of an eye. Here Jude is introducing himself to his readers. This would be a perfect opportunity for him to earn a little honor and respect and make sure everyone knows exactly who he is. He could have told them that he is the actual brother of Christ. That this Jesus whom his readers are believers in and followers of is his brother. That would be an absolutely incredible thing to tell someone! But Jude does not introduce himself in that way. I believe Jude found being a servant of Christ of more honor and to be more precious to him.

                There is a certain honor in being a servant of Jesus Christ. Some names and titles seem important to us and we wear them proudly. When we work for a reputable company we are anxious to let people know. This is true in the companies we work for, the sports teams we cheer for or even the countries we live in. I name I wear proudly is the term Baptist. This is a designation that I take great pride in having and I hope to call myself one for the rest of my life. But there is a name that I view in much more esteem, that is the designation of “Christian”. To be a servant of the true and living God and of His Son Jesus Christ, what an amazing honor is that! “I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness” Psalm 84:10. The Psalmist is claiming that there is a great privilege in being even a doorkeeper for God. There is a much higher privilege and honor to be a lowly doorman for Christ than there is to be a king without Him.

               But not only is this of honor, it is also very precious to us. Being an unmarried man I speak out of concept or idea rather than experience, but I would imagine when a woman marries a man she loves and takes his name as her own than it becomes precious to her. Imagine being those believers in Antioch, who were the first people to be ever designated with the term or name “Christians” Acts 11:26. I don’t think they were ashamed of this but gladly bore such a name to be associated with their blessed Savior! We who are believers are the bride of Christ, and He has in a sense given us His name, we are now “Christians”. This is an idea that should be very precious to us. Every time we are called Christians we are reminded that we are servants of Christ the almighty creator and precious redeemer.

                The name of Christ should be a name of that is very dear to us. We should be as the woman who said of her beloved “Your name is like perfume poured out” Song of Solomon 1:3 NIV. Just as a sweet fragrance as a way of delighting and refreshing us, how much more when we have the precious name of Jesus fall on our ears. There is no other word, sound, or name that refreshes our weary souls as the name of Jesus. Surely, when we view any achievement we may have gained, or any title we may have earned we should be able to say with Paul “What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea I doubtless, and count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord” Philippians 3:7-8. To Jude, to be Christ’s brother did not compare to being His servant. The Lord of all creation, Son of God and Son of Man, has died and purchased you with His blood and called you unto Himself to be His servant. “Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth I desire besides thee” Psalm 73:25. There is no other name we should ever hold in more regard or should ever be as precious to us as the blessed name of Jesus.