The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Luke 2:25-39, “And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law,

28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

29 ‘Now Lord, Thou dost let Thy bond-servant depart In peace, according to Thy word;

30 For my eyes have seen Thy salvation,

31 Which Thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples,

32 A light of revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Thy people Israel.’

33 And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him.

34 And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, ‘Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed–

35 and a sword will pierce even your own soul– to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.’”

Most of us have looked into the face of a newly born child and wondered what he would become, what would be the characteristics he would reveal –characteristics of his parents, his grandparents. With Simeon,

it was far more. The LORD had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the LORD’s Christ.

I knew a man, a preacher, who was so infirmed that he could not stand as he preached. He sat on a stool in the face of his congregation as he declared the Word of the LORD whom he served. I heard him say that he had been assured of the LORD that he would live to see his children’s children. He cited Psalm 128:6, “Indeed, may you see your children’s children…” And he did live to see them.

Simon stood, as it were, on the precipice of history, as he announced the presence of the Savior that the Father had prepared for all people. The Child was destined to be the light of the Gentiles and the glory of Israel. Yet, His ministry would be met with defiance, just as it continues to be in our own day. He is the rock over which many fall. Still, He is also the rock on which many will rise. He is the Light that has come to show salvation to all mankind.

Yet, in the midst of His invaluable ministry, His own life will suffer and the heart of His mother will be pierced. What anguish troubles a mother’s heart can only be known by mothers. As one writer says, “In such a world as this there can be no victory without conflict, no achieivement without strenuous effort, no joy without pain, no perfection except through suffering.” Yet, He prevailed to the very end. And so must we! For those who followed closely with Him, “…rejoiced that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame (dishonor, ridicule) for His name” (Acts 5:41). And so must we! For “…the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall (one day) be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18).

Prayerfully and lovingly yours,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

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.”