The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

John 13:1-5, “Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that

He should depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He

loved them to the end.

2And during supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon,

to betray Him,

3Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth

from God, and was going back to God,

4rose from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself about.

5Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them

with the towel with which He was girded.”

The original Passover was in Egypt. It was the preparation for Israel’s departure, and certain procedures demanded by the LORD God had to occur. One was the slaying of a lamb that was eaten, and the sprinkling of its blood on the door posts and on the cross piece that connected the two sides as they formed the doorway. It was the beginning of a new era for the Nation of Israel.

Now, centuries later Jesus and His disciples partook of the Feast of the Passover as the end of the Old Testament era. It was at the Passover that Jesus announced Judas Iscariot as His betrayer. Satan had convinced Judas to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. John 13:30 reads, “And so after receiving the morsel he (Judas Iscariot) went out immediately; and it was night.” Leaving Jesus, Who is the Light of the World, always and only leads to darkness.

After Judas Iscariot departed from the Passover, Jesus introduced the LORD’s Supper with His disciples. Many today call the LORD’s Supper “Communion.” Yet, there are multiple ways in which we are able to commune with the LORD. Prayer and the study of the Bible are means of communion. There is only one LORD’s Supper. It is only for born-again Christians and speaks of our LORD’s death, burial, and resurrection. It has no saving graces or powers to change human life. Only the blood of Jesus can do that. All of this is to say that Judas Iscariot, as a Jew, was a part of the Old Testament Passover, but since he was never saved (born again), he had no part in the LORD’s Supper.

Jesus’ washing the disciples’ feet is emblematic of His humility. Only the lowliest servant washed the feet of strangers that came to one’s dwelling place. Jesus demonstrates His consideration of Himself as a servant of God the Father. There is a lesson in this for all of us. First, we must be His children to have the right to sit at His Table. To become a child of God (a true Christian), one must willingly turn away from sin and commit his life to Jesus Christ, much like one does when entering military service. Second, once accepted, you belong to Jesus forever! You’re committed to doing His will, while simultaneously, receiving live-saving protection forever. Then, still in His service, you are to witness of Him to others, leading them to faith and to eternal life.

If you’ve never trusted Him, give Him a chance with your life! If you have accepted Him, start telling others that they, too, may know Him in eternal love. God bless you abundantly!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(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.”