The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Matthew 28:1-8, Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave.

2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.

3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his garment as white as snow;

4 and the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.

5 And the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.

6 “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.

7 “And go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going before you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.”

8 And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples.”

For centuries the Nation of Israel had awaited her Deliverer! Now that He had come, Israel was faced with two monumental decisions: she must conform to Him as the Messiah, or she must contend with Him. Unfortunately, Israel chose the wrong alternative! Jesus was crucified at the hands of Gentiles, and through the promotion of the Jewish religious leaders….

First, hear the angelic annunciation: “He is not here…” (vv. 5-6). This announcement is important because of its implication of His past presence. They disciples as well as the angels knew He had been there (Mat 27:59ff).

“And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in

his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large

stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away. And Mary Magdalene

was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the grave.”

At the same time, there is affirmation of His absence from that very place. It was a place of the dead. The angels asked the women, “Why do you seek the Living One among the dead” (Lk. 24:5), when Christ is the God of the living? Jesus said of Himself, “‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die” (Jn 11:25-26).

All of this is true, and it is of supreme value! Jesus made us to live; sin invaded us with death. Don’t spend your time with devilish things! Don’t allow the world’s ways to invade and take over your life! To do that is to spend your life in a well manicured graveyard.

Jesus arose from the grave, and so must you. He did it to save you from your sins. You

must accept Him in order to live with Him forever in Heaven. And while we are still on this Earth, we are responsible to tell others of His saving grace! Let’s get to it!

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

P. S. Rose Marie was moved out of ICU into another unit of less intensive care. It is a step in

the right direction, yet there are still some serious aspects of her care of which the doctors

are aware. The doctors need your prayers, too. God bless you for your prayerful concern.

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.”