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.”

Several times in my life I have been in the same room with some famous and notable men. My thoughts were, “So, this is what he look like!” I can remember one man being much shorter than I had previously thought. It’s a strange feeling to be in the very presence of important men.

That must have been how those felt when they heard the announcement that “the Word –the LORD– (had become) flesh” in the person of Jesus Christ and was physically somewhere in their presence! Yet, for the moment, all eyes were upon John the Baptist, who was introducing the Messiah. Have you noticed that when someone of high standing is announced, it is someone also of high standing who introduces him? The President of the United States is never introduced by, say, the manager of Joe’s Chicken House.

The introduction of Jesus Christ to the Jews and to all mankind was a supremely notable event. The Jews looked with reverence upon Moses. He had given them the Law by which they were to live. But this announcement was of One greater than Moses. He has come straight from God, and through Him they were to be given grace and truth, both of which superseded the Law. It was indeed a momentous and unforgettable time!

Do you remember when you first met Jesus? I’m sure you do. An experience like that is not to be forgotten. You believed upon Him, and He forgave all your sins. Your life was clean; your heart felt full of His glory! Not only is that not to be forgotten, it’s something to be shared with others; it’s your time to introduce Him to your friends. That’s what the Jews did. It’s what He wants us to do, too.

We’re praying for you to be brave. Pray that we will be, too.

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

John 1:6-13, “There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John.

7 He came for a witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him.

8 He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light.

9 There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.

11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Before the President of the United States sits down with any head of a foreign government, he first

sends an envoy –usually the Secretary of State—to determine that there is a true need for him to come.

John the Baptist (literally, “John, the baptizing one”) was Jesus’ witness, His forerunner or envoy. John

came to announce the coming of the LORD Jesus Christ and that they might trust Him when He came.

Jesus’ coming was “the true light” that gave every man the opportunity to believe upon Him and be saved.

Jesus’ coming “to His own” refers to the Jewish people. Abraham was a Chaldeen, when the LORD called him out to become the head of a different people, the Jews. They Jewish people were intended to carry the witness of the LORD Jesus throughout the world. But, as a nation, they refused. Still, some did

believe on Him as their Messiah, and to them the LORD Jesus gave the right to be called the “children of

God.” They were not physically God’s children, but they were called that by Him because they believed the witness that John the Baptist had given.

When you and I trusted Jesus as our Savior, He gave us the same title: “children of God.” And He gave us the same responsibility to witness of Him as the Creator and Savior of mankind. What we often forget is that when He came into the world, He “enlighten(ed) every man.” That means that every, single person on Earth in every generation has within himself an awareness of God. So, when we share the Gospel with them, it “rings a bell” in their innermost being – a bell that is calling them to believe on Jesus Christ.

We don’t actually “win” them; the LORD Himself does that. He encourages them to answer the bell, so to speak, encouraging them to believe. And when they do believe upon Jesus and trust Him, He gives them the Holy Spirit to live within them. Our witnessing is to awaken the awareness God has put in every man.

To return to my original analogy about the President, as witnesses, we act as his envoy, telling that he

is coming. When the people respond in belief, they get a ticket to attend the gathering. See, it’s not as hard to witness as you think. Of course, we must do so prayerfully and lovingly. It’s not something we’re to handle flipantly. Still, the pressure is off of us in that there is no failure on our part if we witness. So, let’s get started!!

We lovingly and sincerely pray for you every day,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”