The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

John 1:14-18, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 John bore witness of Him, and cried out, saying, ‘This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’

16 For of His fulness we have all received, and grace upon grace.

17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

18 No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.”

Did you ever wonder what it would be like to meet someone truly distinguished? Then, when it occurred, it was even more

exciting that what you had thought it would be? That’s how the Apostle John felt about meeting Jesus. The Bible says that

“God is spirit…” (Jn 4:23), but when He decided to manifest Himself to those whom He had created, He “became flesh, and

dwelt (pitched His tent) among us.” Jesus was more than any of them had ever imagined!

Immediately, “John bore witness of Him.” There are several men in the Bible named “John.” John, who was the apostle,

always referred to himself as “the one whom Jesus loved.” So, the John whom he cites here is John the Baptist. It was he

who witnessed of the LORD Jesus saying, “He who comes after me has a higher rank than I.” And so He did! Remember

that they were all Jews, John the apostle and John the “baptizing one” had been adherents to the Law of Moses. Remember,

too, that the Law of Moses was never intended to be a redemption of the Jewish people. It was given to remind them of their

sin. Jesus did much more. He offered “grace and truth.” One Greek lexicon calls grace (charis) “a religious technical term for

God’s attitude toward human beings, kindness, grace, favor, helpfulness.” Truth (aletheia) is “absolute truth, opposed to pretense

or mere appearance.”

Then in verse 18, John says, “No man has seen God at any time…” What we have never known about God the Father,

His Son, Jesus, has now explained to us and to all mankind. The knowledge of God the Father –as much as He desires to

reveal of Himself – is contained in and demonstrated through the life and teaching of Jesus. Is it any wonder that we believers

are near to death, they delight in their homegoing? As for believers left alive on Earth, we can join the Baptist in telling all we know

about His Son, Jesus! Share Him fully and lovingly. Some day you will meet Him face-to-face!

Our daily prayers always include you,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”