The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

John 19:28-30, “After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I am thirsty.”

29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop, and brought it up to His mouth.

30 When Jesus therefore had received the sour wine, He said, ?????????? “It is finished!” And He bowed His head, and gave up His spirit.”

How many times we have completed an assignment and added, “It’s finished!” Breathing deeply, we have also added that we trust never to have such a strenuous task again. The strain is lessened, however, when someone sees our completed task and says, “That is a really good job!” A few more

acolades like that and we’re ready to face a task again.

When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, a sacrifice was needed to satisfy God the Father. The LORD prepared the sacrifice for them, but it was only temporary. Their children and

grandchildren –all their posterity—needed a Supreme Sacrifice to apease and satisfy the LORD.

Once again, the Father prepared a sacrifice –the Perfect Sacrifice, His unique and only one-of-kind

Sacrifice –His only Son, Jesus. The Prophet Isaiah gave what is perhaps the most enlightening

Word on that Sacrifice (Isa. 53:1ff). And that Word was fulfilled in and through Jesus Christ.

When Jesus went to the Cross, He was fully aware of what was coming. Nothing occurred of which He was unaware. The sour wine that the Roman soldiers drank was nearby and they offered Him a

drink. Remember that Jesus first miracle was turning water into wine. Now, as His Life has fulfilled its purpose, the rejecting world reverses the situation and offers Him sour wine. Arguments differ as to whether Jesus actually drank the sour wine. This text would suggest that He did.

In any event, Jesus’ last word from the cross was tetelestai, meaning “It is completed, finished.” All that the Father had intended for His Son to accomplish, was then accomplished, as His cry tells us.

Yet, as momentous a fete as Christ’s death for our salvation is, we must ask, “Is it finished?” His plan for our salvation was finished. Yet, our faith, belief, and acceptance of Him was just the beginning for us. Our tetelestai has yet to be decalred. There is much work left for us to do. We are His children and we have the pleasurable responsibility to share Him with others. Are you doing that? One day we will face Jesus in person. What we want more than anything is for Him to say,

“Well done, you good and faithful servant. Enter into the joys of the LORD” (Luke 19:17).

Our love and prayers are with you all as you labor for the Master,

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 that we need

until He becomes all that we have.”