The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Matthew 2:19-23, “But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
saying,
20 “’Arise and take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are
dead.’
21 And he arose and took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there.
And being warned by God in a dream, he departed for the regions of Galilee,
23 and came and resided in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, ‘He
shall be called a Nazarene.’”

Joseph, the husband of Mary, was not the first Israelite named Joseph to reside in Egypt. The Joseph who much earlier had ruled Egypt was his ancestor and it was he in whose legal lineage the Child Jesus now stood. Through Joseph, the husband of Mary, Jesus lineage extended to Abraham. Through His mother, His lineage extended to Adam. Thus, Jesus was both “the Son of Man” and “the Son of God.”

Communication regarding the Child and His safety came to Joseph by way of dreams. The Child had been led to Egypt by a dream the LORD had given to Joseph. Now, with Herod dead, Joseph is once again instructed through a dream to take the Child back to Israel. Yet, the knowledge that Archelaus, Herod’s son, was reigning over Judea, produced fear in the heart and mind of Joseph. Fear is often the method by which the LORD guides us. Fear is an
indication of human insecurity; and when we are insecure, we ultimately look to God for direction.

The humility of the Child is referenced in the words of the prophet Isaiah: “Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit” (Isa 11:1). The word Nazarene is believed to have come from the word nettzer, meaning a small twig or sprout, in contrast to a stately tree. Thus, the word Nazarene, which is never mentioned in the Old Testament, is given to this little city as a designation of contempt. “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” (Jn. 1:46). Yet, it is from this contemptuously insignificant city that Jesus would come forth to be the Savior of the world. If the LORD can do that with a city, what can He do with us, if only we are willing?

Humility is a spiritual virtue not often visible in our day and time. Yet, we are directed to be humble, just as Jesus was.
A friend of mine once said in my hearing, “It’s amazing how so many proud and haughty people claim to be followers of the lowly Nazarene.” We can well be thankful for Jesus; but we must resist being proud of ourselves. All praise and glory belong to Him, who came into this world to deliver us from our sin. Thank You, LORD!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom