Here is a brief, informative and entertaining video (7:44 minutes) covering our book this month - Jude. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UoCmakZmys&vl=en
You will hear that Jude can be pronounced Judah. (Other sources give Judas as an alternate name.)
You will learn that Jude was one of Jesus' brothers and that while none of the brothers followed Jesus during Jesus' time on earth, they did follow his teachings after the resurrection and ascension.
You will see that Jude's brief letter is chock-a-block with references from Jewish texts - some from our Bible, some not - that his compatriots would have understood and been very familiar with.
You will notice that Jude's letter explicitly faces up to incorrect Christian teaching. Jude's purpose is to "urge [them] to contend for the faith" (verse 3, NIV), something we today must surely also do in our prayers. (In verse 12, he refers to the mistaken teachers as "shepherds who feed only themselves".)
The final verses provide a beautiful benediction (blessing):
"To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen." (NIV)
Those more familiar with the King James Bible, will remember that last verse promises that we are kept "from falling" - always a comforting promise to take away with us when the First Reader gives us this verse as a benediction on Sunday morning.
Julie Swannell
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