A Servant of Jesus
In the post "Who is Jude," I speculated that Jude might be Jesus' brother. Aside from that, we only know one other thing about him. Jude views himself simply as "a servant of Jesus."
Today, in a time when religious people parade their titles and promote their education as if they were badges of godly distinction, someone who calls himself a servant would be shockingly countercultural. When people introduce themselves as "Reverend," "Bishop," "Elder," "Doctor," "Prophet," or my favorite, "Reverend-Doctor" so-and-so I wonder about their motives.
Who are they trying to impress? Others? God? Or maybe it's a futile attempt to convince themselves they are someone who they truly know they are not.
How refreshing it would be for someone to simply say that he or she is a servant of Jesus. What a great and significant credential it would be, perhaps the best one possible.
I don't think titles and degrees mean much to Jesus; he is looking for servants. After all, Jesus himself said he came to serve. Shouldn't we — as his followers — do the same?
[Jude 1:1, Matthew 20:28]
Today, in a time when religious people parade their titles and promote their education as if they were badges of godly distinction, someone who calls himself a servant would be shockingly countercultural. When people introduce themselves as "Reverend," "Bishop," "Elder," "Doctor," "Prophet," or my favorite, "Reverend-Doctor" so-and-so I wonder about their motives.
Who are they trying to impress? Others? God? Or maybe it's a futile attempt to convince themselves they are someone who they truly know they are not.
How refreshing it would be for someone to simply say that he or she is a servant of Jesus. What a great and significant credential it would be, perhaps the best one possible.
I don't think titles and degrees mean much to Jesus; he is looking for servants. After all, Jesus himself said he came to serve. Shouldn't we — as his followers — do the same?
[Jude 1:1, Matthew 20:28]
Posted by Peter DeHaan at 8/11/2011 6:00 AM 
Categories: reflections
Tags: Jesus Jude author Peter DeHaan the Bible blog Peter DeHaan Peter DeHaan blog postmodern biblical spirituality Bible meditations Bible information
Categories: reflections
Tags: Jesus Jude author Peter DeHaan the Bible blog Peter DeHaan Peter DeHaan blog postmodern biblical spirituality Bible meditations Bible information
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