*Note: This lesson was part of our EPIC Youth Weekend, which focused on the book of Jude and the theme of “Fire & Rescue.”

“Save others by snatching them out of the fire … ” (Jude 23)

A Clear and Present Danger

On the morning of October 8, 1871, Catherine O’Leary lit an oil lamp and went out to milk her cow and feed it some hay. But when the cow knocked over the lamp, the hay caught fire. It was nothing historical at first, just a little farm with a bit of fire, but it spread for three days. All told, it swallowed 17,000 buildings and killed over three hundred people. It left 100,000 people homeless. Finally, on October 10, firefighters — with the help of some rain — put out the Great Chicago Fire.

Our key verse, Jude 23, uses the metaphor of fire and gives us a mission to rescue people stuck in the conflagration. But that’s not the only mission. This weekend, we’ve aimed to equip young people for the three missions Jude sets out for us: Save people (Jude 22-23), fight for the faith (Jude 3-4), and keep safe (Jude 20-21).

Fight the Fire

Jude’s short, 25-verse letter is terse, urgent, and focused. He says he can’t write about what he wants because danger threatens God’s house. There’s no time to discuss whatever’s on your mind when the house is on fire. So, alert to the threat, he sounds the alarm.

“Although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).

The danger Jude warns about is no accidental kitchen fire. Destructive fire-starters have snuck into the house (Jude 4). He reminds them of three Old Testament examples of rebellion and its fiery consequences (Jude 5-7) to help us see the threat. But these false teachers aren’t just a danger to themselves. In Jude 11, he adds three more Old Testament examples of people who led others into rebellion. He commands us to “contend.” To contend is different than being contentious; it means to struggle on behalf of the faith, the gospel truth God wants us to believe. We need to bring the water of the word to protect the holiness and health of God’s temple — his church.

Rescue the Perishing

Firefighters have become known for the Firefighter’s Carry, where they put another person over their back and shoulder and bring them to safety. Jude calls every Christian to “save others, snatching them from the fire” (Jude 23), making each of us a volunteer fire and rescue worker. He identifies three groups: the doubters, the desperate, and the dangerous. And each requires a different approach. He says, “have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh” (Jude 22-23). We need to look for those who need Christ’s salvation. We must have compassion on doubters, seeking to support and stabilize their faith. There are also those dangerous souls around us who can hurt us while we try to influence them positively, so we need caution.

FDNY Captain Jay Jonas and five other firefighters from Ladder 6 responded immediately to the attacks on the World Trade Center on 9/11. When they entered the north tower lobby, the south tower got hit. Carrying pounds of gear, they ascended the south tower’s stairwell. When they reached the 27th floor, the building began to shake. Jonas ordered his men to evacuate. When they got to the 20th floor, they saw a woman, Josephine Harris, standing in the doorway who was paralyzed in fear, crying. Instead of leaving her, they decided to carry her down. When they reached the 4th floor, the building caved in around them. They survived because they were still in the stairwell. Ironically, their lives were saved because they risked their lives for another. Part of keeping ourselves in God’s love is loving others enough to bring his love to them. That’s how we save our lives: we lose our lives.

Keep Safe

But to help others, we need first to ensure our safety. No firefighter ever saved anyone while unconscious from smoke inhalation in a corner. From the coat and helmet to the training and precautions, a part of the job is keeping as safe as possible while bravely stepping into danger to help others. While Jude wants us to understand the risks, he doesn’t want us crouching in terror. At the start and end of his letter (Jude 1,24), he emphasizes that the Lord can keep us secure. Then he says to “keep” ourselves (Jude 21).

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life” (Jude 20–21).

We secure our walk while on this mercy mission by surrounding ourselves with God’s love, his word, prayer, and hope.