Earlier in my career, I worked as an automotive engineer. One of the products I helped develop was the wireless garage-door opener. Now they are common. When a user presses a button to open their garage door, they probably have no idea about the amount of work, sleepless nights, and pressure that went into developing that product. They don’t know the backstory.

As we begin our study of James and Jude, it is important to understand the backstory. Did you know that these New Testament books were written by the two half-brothers of Jesus (Matt. 13:55)? Jude’s actual name was Judas, but English translators have used the name Jude to distinguish him from Judas Iscariot. Our Bibles include letters from these two men, but they have a backstory. Just like you and me, God transformed their lives.

Jesus makes this similar statement in all four of the Gospels: “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home” (Matt. 13:57; see also Mark 6:4; Luke 4:24; John 4:44). Jesus was saying that even the people closest to Him did not recognize His greatness. This was even true of His own brothers.

The apostle John wrote, “But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near, Jesus’ brothers said to him, ‘Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.’ For even his own brothers did not believe in him” (John 7:2–5).

It is easy to get discouraged when our faith in God is misinterpreted, especially by the people who are closest to us. If that has happened to you, you are in good company.