The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

John 21:21-23, “Peter therefore 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 This saying therefore 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?’”

Communication seems simple, but the person talking and the person listening both have

responsibilities: one is to be clear in what he says; the other is to be clear in what he

hears. Prior to that is the simple fact that some things are just none of our business.

The Apostle John always referenced himself as “the one whom Jesus loved.” He never used

his name “John.” Peter (at least in verse 21) was asking Jesus about what He was going to

do with John. I guess we all get like Peter at times, in that we get concerned about what others

are doing and neglect what we are supposed to do. Sometimes, we have a responsibility to

speak up and neglect it. It’s often difficult to know when to do what.

Confusion often replaces communication. Jesus said to Peter, “If I want him to remain until

I come, what is that to you?” Evidently, some of the disciples heard only a part of what Jesus

said, and a rumor was set in motion that John would not die until Jesus returned. Rumors are

terrible things! I hear and read statements by grown, theologically-trained men – statements

with which I strongly disagree! I need to re-examine them carefully to see if I could have

misunderstood what I initially believed they said. If their statements are still unclear, I need to

read what others have said about those same statements. Sometimes, their understanding

helps to clarify my own. But only after careful examination am I free to express my objection

to what has been said by another.

Benjamin Franklin was a deist, not a Christian –at least, as far as we know. It was he who said,

“For the want of a nail the shoe was lost,
For the want of a shoe the horse was lost,
For the want of a horse the rider was lost,
For the want of a rider the battle was lost,
For the want of a battle the kingdom was lost,
And all for the want of a horseshoe-nail.”

What we do know, however, is that Jesus loves us and died on the Cross for our sins. He wants

everyone to be saved (born from Above) and has charged us with the responsibility to share

Him with them. Narrow your marching orders. Mind your own business. We have enough to do

without concerning ourselves about the responsibilities of others.

We love each of you with His undying love,

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.”