The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Mark 9:2-7, “And six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and brought them up to a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them;

3 and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them.

4 And Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus.

5 And Peter answered and said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’

6 For he did not know what to answer; for they became terrified.

7 Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, ‘This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!’”

Were you ever in a group of people when you suddenly became aware that you were among some very notable individuals? “How on Earth could this be?” you thought. “I would not have believed this in a thousand years.”

And experience like that is one of the most overlooked and misunderstood accounts in Scripture — the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ. Jesus took his closest disciples, Peter, James and John, with Him and ascended to a high mountain. It was a place of elevation, a place of withdrawal from the hum-dum of the world, a place of quiet peace. It was there in the solitude of that place that Jesus’ eternal Self was revealed. It was His pure holiness over-shadowing His humanity. It was Jesus revealing Himself as very God.

Elijah and Moses were there, too. Elijah, one of the only two men to never experience death; and Moses, the Law-giver and leader of Israel, who died and was buried by the LORD Himself in a place unknown to all others. They were real in their audience with Christ. At the same time they represented those who die in the LORD (Moses) and those who will be caught up to meet Him in the Rapture of the Church (Elijah). Moses proves that there is life after death. Elijah proves that there will be a “catching up” of true believers before God’s destructive judgment upon the world and all who refused to accept Him.

Peter was always given to quick speech. It was not enough for him to be there and see this transfiguration of Jesus; he felt the impulse to say something, despite the fact that he didn’t know what to say. The truth was: the disciple were all terrified –scared to death! It was then that the Voice of God the Father spoke saying, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him.”

The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus is coming back to take all true believers to be with Him in Heaven. Those who have died before He comes will be raised from their graves just as Moses was. Those who are alive when He comes will be “caught up to meet Him,” just as Elijah was in Old Testament times (2 Kings 2:11). The key question, therefore, is: are you a true believer in Jesus Christ? Have you truly been “born from above”? Have you asked Jesus into your life –to be your LORD and Savior?

If you’re not sure, take time time to sincerely pray this simple prayer:

“LORD, I know that I am a sinner. I know I’ve done many wrong things

in my life. I’m sorry for my sin. I know that Jesus loves me, and that He

died and rose again to save me from my sin. Right now, in my heart,

I willingly turn from my sin. And by faith, I receive the LORD Jesus Christ

as my Savior. Thank you, LORD Jesus, for saving me. Amen.”

We love you and pray for you daily,

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.”