The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Matthew 1:18-21, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.

19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her, desired to put her away secretly.

20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

21 ‘And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins.’”

I held my great-grandson, Joseph David VerHoeven, the other night. It’s an awesome experience to hold a fourth generation child, knowing his relationship to me. Questions multiply on such occasions: Who does he look like? He has this one’s ears…that one’s nose…another’s chin…” More importantly, what personal characteristics will he come to have as he grows to boyhood, to manhood?

Mary must have been smothered with such questions, even before the birth of her Son. Her pregnancy and her Son’s birth would be the most momentous experience of its kind in all of human history! Girls married

early in those days; thus, in all probability, Mary was an early teenage girl. She was engaged to a probably older man, say in his 20s or even 30s (we’ll never know exactly); yet, they had guarded their intemancy carefully. True love is clearly demonstrated in that when Joseph learned of Mary’s pregnancy, and knowing himself to have been a righteous man, he did not want “to disgrace her” with a secret divorce.

The intervention of the LORD’s angel staighten out the thinking of Joseph when he said, “…that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.” Let me state clearly and without equivocation, I believe in the Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ. That being said, it might more accurately be stated, “I believe in the miraculous conception of Jesus Christ. His birth was ‘natural.’” Further, the angel declared his gender (Mary “will bear a Son…”); he declared the Son’s name (“…you shall call His name Jesus…”); and he declared the

Son’s destiny (“…it is He who will save His people from their sins.”).

The phrase, “His people,” certainly indicated the Jewish people. Yet, it might also be extended in meaning to “all people,” inasmuch as all human births are traceable back to Adam, the first human creation of the LORD God. Regardless of the specific meaning of “His people,” Jesus is the sole designate of the Father to deliver His creation from the shackles of sin. He is available to all –all, who will believe upon Him and trust Him as the sacrifice for their sins. Surely, He looks upon us, as Mary and Joseph once looked upon that new-born Child. Yet, He knows our destiny. Still, He leaves to us the responsibility of trusting Him as LORD and Savior of our lives. Yes, He knows Joseph David VerHoeven’s days, just as He knows yours.

What a joy it is to pray for you,

Nana & Dado III

(Gene & Rose Marie)

P. S. One or two Grands Letters have been missing recently. Rose Marie is back at Regional Hospital in Fayetteville

with pneumonia, but is in a recuperative stage. While we personally regret her circumstances, we continue to

have opportunities to meet and bear witness to new contacts of the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Please pray for

her. She is in excellent spirits!

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.”