The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Matthew 2:19-23, “But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said,
20 “Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.”
21 So Joseph got up, 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. Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee,
23 and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

Regardless of the intensity of evil, it ultimately comes to an end for those who love and follow God. Herod died. His warring against the people of God had come to a timely end. Whatever sinister matters His people face, there is always an end to them. The LORD is faithful to guard and guide those who have trusted Him and followed the teachings of His Word.

If we are honest, we have to admit that we often fail to listen to God’s instructions or respond to His teachings. Yet, the Bible is our only instruction regarding God’s activities and His guidance for those who trust Him.

People who go against the LORD’s instructions pay a high price. Those who neglect His instructions have cause to worry because there is no satisfactory instruction outside of the LORD. Those who ignore Him, simply live life, die and spend eternity in Hell.

When people listen to the instruction in God’s Word, however, they are assurred of His Love and care. The LORD provides for them as He did for Joseph and his family. They untimately returned to Israel unharmed. Once again, the Angel of the LORD spoke to Joseph in a dream. Joseph possessed no Bible. You and I possess the Bible; and as we read it, it begins to possess us. There is no book anywhere like the Bible! When you have problems, look in the Book! It’s God’s Instruction Manuel for Life.

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

Dear Grands,

Matthew 2:13-16, “Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.”
14 So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt.
15 He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON” (Hosea 11:1).
16 Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi.”

Just about the last thing imaginable is seeing innocent people to run away. Running spells guilt. Yet, there are 89 instances in the Bible of people “going away,” mostly from unwholesome situations. In this case, it was the LORD’s directive for Joseph and his family to run away. They may have known that Herod possessed a violent temper; but it appears that they had no clue that he was planning for the innocent children. He was insanely maddening in his effort to do away with Jesus!

What Joseph and Mary did not know, the LORD knew; and encouraged them to escape in the effort to save young Jesus’ Life. Joseph obedience also demonstrates his love for his family as well as his trust in the LORD.

In the end, Herod the Great was tricked (??????? empaizo, literally mocked), which doubtlessly only added to his already violent temper. He cruelly slew all the male children (pais), which numerous scholars say numbered about 20.

Satan himself is exceedingly cruel! He’s the father of all hatred and deceit. When we engage in such ourselves, we are simply following him and his ways. He is always tricking us. We need to run away. Running away is not cowardice anymore than staying indoors when we have a serious fever. It was God’s directive to Joseph, and it proved to be their salvation.

Practice running away from evil whatever its origin. Evil is always from Satan and works to bring us down. God bless you in this Christmas Season. Show love to everyone, and run, Run, RUN always away from evil.

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

Dear Grands,

Matthew 2:11-12, “After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.”

There’s nothing like the giving and receiving of a gift. In many instances gifts are costly; in many, they are not. Yet, regardless of the cost, simply knowing that the gift was given in love and that you were thought worthy, is quite enough.

The young Christ-Child, Jesus, may not, at that time in age, have known the value of the magis’ gifts. They would, however, show their value in the coming days when the small family would, at the LORD’s direction, escape the wrath of Heron by moving into Egypt.

The inimitable Australian scholar, Dr. Leon Morris, offers the following thoughts regarding the magi and their offerings to the young Child Jesus:

“The magi prostrated themselves before the Baby in lowly worship. They proceeded
to open their treasure chests and offer gifts…gold…frankincense (‘a white resinous
gum, obtained from several kinds of a certain tree in Arabia…) and myrrh (the resinous
gum of the bush ‘balsamodendron myrrha). Clearly all three were valuable, and together
they formed a munificent gift, suitable for offering to a king. Christians have often seen symbolical meanings in them gold for royalty, frankincense for deity, and myrrh pointing
to suffering and death…”

It is shameful that we so often undervalue the LORD’’s gift of His Son, Jesus. It is equally shameful when we only seek Him when there’s trouble beyond what we oursleves can resolve. Let this Christmas be a new beginning! Set your mind to focus on Him this coming year! If you’ve never trusted Him as your Savior and Lord, do it today! If you have trusted Him, but never grown in your Christian life, start growing today! Read His Word daily, and set a daily time for serious prayer. He loves you and wants to store His Word and Love in your heart. Love Him like your life depends on it because
It does! God bless you!

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

Dear Grands,

Matthew 2:8-12, “And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.’
9 After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
11After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.”

There is nothing to indicate whether the magi believed the words of King Herod –words that said he himself would “come and worship” the Child. Yet, the star they had followed from their home country was still visible and ultimately guided them to the place where the Child Jesus was.

The Child, however, was no longer in the manger in Bethlehem, when the shepherds visited Him. He was then a newly born baby (?????? brephos). With the arrival of the magi, significant time had elapsed and He was now a “young child” (??????? paidion), and living in a house (????? oikia) with Mary, His mother. This lapse of time also indicates the earnest determination of the magi to find Him. Oh, that people today were driven by such determination!

The magi had diligently followed the star in their search for the Child. Now, upon finding Him, they “fell to the ground and worshipped Him.” There were no bells or drums or hands waving mindlessly in the air. It was an incredibly, solemn moment, a quiet, worshipful time. They were in the presence of the Savior of the world and doubtlessly in a state of breathless, worshipful awe.

The gifts the magi had brought, honored Him exclusively! Our trivial offerings pale by comparison of value and in the attitude of bestowal. What the mind of the young Child Jesus comprehended of all of this, we are not told. What He thinks of the gift of ourselves, (body, mind, soul, spirit) is revealed in the Word He has preserved for us through the ages. We are responsible to give ourselves to Him and to attend to the duties He assigns, until He comes again! Are we ready for Him to come? Are we willingly, fully yielded to Him? I pray that I am; and I pray that you are, also.

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

Dear Grands,

Matthew 2:7-10, “Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.”
9 After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.”

Up to this point in Matthew’s account of Jesus’ early years, there has been no open trouble. The magi (wise men) had reached out to King Herod for information, and it was quickly substantiated by the religious documents searched out by the Jewish religious leaders. But now, Herod was troubled. The magi from the east had brought trouble to his heart, saying that a child, the King of the Jews, has been born. And if that were not enough, the religious documents substantiated all that the magi had said.

Herod, who had been legally titled “King of the Jews” by the Romans, has a serious rival in the person of a small Child. Taking advantage of the magi, Herod ordered them to search out the young Child and report back to him. The magi, so far as we know, had no knowledge of Herod’s true temperament, nor of his secret intention to take the life of the Christ-child. What the magi witnessed was Herod saying that he, too, wanted to worship the Child.

Determined to find the Child, the magi once again observed the Star. Sometimes, despite our honest intentions, we lose sight of the Light that exists to show us the LORD’s person and plan for our lives. We need to remember that it is His intention that we are the ones clinging to our initial determinations.

Lying was not new to Herod; nor did it cease as he lived out his life. He was constantly endeavoring to protect his position, no matter what the cost. In the meantime, the magi, thinking they were doing the king a favor, followed the star which led them to the house (????? oikia) –not the manger (????? phatne) — where the Child (??????? paidion) now lived. What is more, the magi had brought the Child gifts.

It is appropriate, is it not, to offer a gift to one who has offered a gift to you? Since God the Father gave His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the Cross; and since God the Son yielded Himself as the Sacrifice; can we fail to yield ourselves in faith and trust to Them? Think about it. It will be well with your soul.

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