The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

John 21:21-23, “So Peter seeing him said to Jesus, ‘Lord, and what about this man?’

22 Jesus said to him, ‘If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!’

23 Therefore this saying went out among the brethren that that disciple would not die; yet

Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, ‘If I want him to remain until I come,

what is that to you?’”

We’re not the only ones who often misunderstand Scripture. The disciples were there

and heard Jesus speak the words, yet they clearly did not understand. John clarifies

Jesus’ statement –a statement the other disciples ought to have understood. The Greek

language is almost impossible to misunderstand, unless one is careless. “If I want him

to remain…” is a third-class conditional sentence that clearly translates “If I want, maybe

I do, maybe I don’t…” ~ So many times we read and understand what we want the Scriptures

to say instead of what they actually do say. Sometimes we read too fast and miss the Word’s

true meaning. Such always leads to trouble. Saver the Word like you would a delicious food.

God bless you every one,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

John 19:9-11, “…and he [Pilate] entered into the Praetorium again and said to Jesus,

‘Where are You from?’ But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to Him, ‘You do

not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority

to crucify You?’ 11 Jesus answered, ‘You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been

given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.’”

Do judges make mistakes? Pilate thought he was the sole authority. He said so twice.

But Jesus corrected him, saying that the Father in Heaven was the One in authority, and

Pilates’ authority was derived from the Father Himself. Don’t we often make that mistake?

“I’m in charge here!” we think; but we’re not. Our LORD is lord of every situation, from

our personal health to world affairs. ~ Note, too, that Jesus spoke of “greater sin.” Are

there some sins that are greater than others? Jesus said so. Best just to stay away

from any and all sin –from those of the mind as well as those of the body.

Love you all,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

John 18:37-38, “Pilate therefore said to Him, ‘So You are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.’ 38 Pilate said to Him, ‘What is truth?’ And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, ‘I find no guilt in Him.’”

Jesus bears witness to Himself as King, and that He has been born into the world to bear witness

of the Truth. Pilate responds with an eternal questin of mankind, “What is truth?” Today’s world leaders

replicate Pilate’s dilemma in that they are searching mindlessly for truth. Yet, the proclamation of

Jesus Himself was “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Why will mankind not trust

the Word of the LORD? Because in their love for sinfulness, they have denounced the LORD and

His Truth, elevating themselves as kings. “None is so blind as them who will not see.”

Learn and embrace the Truth! It will set you free!

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

John 17:13-18, “’But now I come to Thee; and these things I speak in the world,

that they may have My joy made full in themselves. 14 “I have given them Thy Word;

and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not

of the world. 15 “I do not ask Thee to take them out of the world, but to keep them

from the evil one. 16 “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

17 “Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth. 18 “As Thou didst send Me into the world,

I also have sent them into the world.’”

John 17 is the LORD’s Prayer. Matthew six is the Model Prayer. In His prayer, our

LORD prays that we may have full joy. He prays that we might be kept from the

the Devil and his nefarious ways. He prays that we might be sanctified, made holy.

As we are physically strengthened by eating wholesome food, we are made holy by

living in His Word, which is Truth. And why does He pray that we may be holy? It is

so that we might be sent into the sick, evil world with His remedy.

We love you all! Live in and by His Word alone!

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

Dear Grands,

Isaiah 5:20-25, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes And clever in their own sight! 22 Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine And valiant men in mixing strong drink, 23 Who justify the wicked for a bribe, And take away the rights of the ones who are in the right! 24 Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes stubble And dry grass collapses into the flame, So their root will become like rot and their blossom blow away as dust; For they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.”

There is no good way to shorten this passage. Every word within it speaks to our

nation today. While we allow the abortion of millions of babies, we celebrate so-called

“gay” rights with parades in the streets of our cities. While we provide space for Muslims

to worship in our military bases, we forbid chaplains from have Bibles on their desks.

Are we not calling “evil good and good evil”? We have indeed rejected and despised

the Word of the LORD God. How can we expect Him to bless us?

Stay strong, beloved ones, the worst is yet to come,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas