The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 1:6-9, “So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, ‘Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?’
7 He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;
8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.’
9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.”

Did you ever start something you didn’t finish? a book … a movie… a letter…?
Of course, you have! But, have you ever read a book that wasn’t complete in itself? You have if you’ve read the Book of Acts.

Luke is the author of Acts –the same person who authored the third Gospel. Acts covers the LORD Jesus’ post-resurrection events, up to His Ascension into Heaven. There are three divisions of the book.

The first division is concerned with the LORD’s work in Jerusalem (1:1-7:60). The Holy Spirit descends and the Church is officially founded.

The second division widens the LORD’s work in Judea, reaching ultimately into Samaria. Saul of Tarsus, chief antagonist of the Christian faith, is himself converted through faith in Christ after the stoning of Stephen. Peter also continues his ministry (8:1-9:40).

The third division focuses on the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church – an outpouring that led to Peter’s arrest and the LORD’s deliverance, Paul’s three missionary journeys, and ending with Paul’s imprisonment and death in Rome (10:1-28:31).

None of these true believers shunned sharing their faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
Not everyone, of course, died as a result of his witness. But these early Christians believed witnessing to be their responsibility. And it was! Their witness rocked the
world! What does that say that you and I should be doing today? Are we what we ought to be, do we love Him as they did; or is the crowd sound of “Crucify Him!” still ringing frightfully in our ears?

Jesus is coming again! He is coming for His own. Will we be found faithful? Prepare for His coming by living daily in His Word and in prayer. Your heart will be
strangely warmed and you will be noticebly blessed!

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,

John 20:26-31, “After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
28 Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”
30 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;
31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”

It’s doubtful that there is a single person on earth who has never had a doubt. We doubted that we could swim—until we did! We doubted that we could skate or ride a bicycle –until we did! A host of naturally brilliant people have never gone to college because they doubted that they could do the work required.

Thomas, however, had a different kind of doubt. It’s almost beyond belief that he would have doubted the LORD Jesus’ resurrection. Yet, having been absent on Jesus’ first post-resurrection appearance, Thomas had difficulty believing when he encountered Jesus Himself.

Jesus never chided Thomas for doubting; rather, He invited Thomas to see the prints of the nails in His hands and the place in His side where the spear pierced Him. It was then, when he saw the imprints on Jesus, he cried, “My LORD and my God!”

It is very unlikely that anyone this side of Heaven will see what Jesus revealed to Thomas, but you can believe in faith as Thomas ultimately did. Don’t be a doubter!
Trust in the LORD! He will change your life –and for the better!

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,

Luke 23:36-43, “The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine,
37 and saying, ‘If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!’
38 Now there was also an inscription above Him, ‘THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.’
39 One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, ‘Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!’
40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, ‘Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
41 And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.’
42 And he was saying, ‘Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!’
43 And He said to him, ‘Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.’”

Human personalities in biblical days were very much like they are today. People laughed and cried, agreed and disagreed, fussed and argued, and loved and forgave one another. The verses above reveal an argument, a repentance, and a forgiveness all in the midst of an execution!

Executions in biblical times were viewed by many of the people as entertainment. It was to them like a circus or a concert would be to us. But the execution on a cross was anything but a hearty event. Ultimately, the accused, having been found guilty, were stripped naked, nailed, hands and feet, to a cross and left to die. Failing to die as quickly as the authorities desired, their legs were broken, disenabling the victim to be able to erect his body, so as to breathe.

Around the foot of the cross, the family and friends of the victim gathered to mourn their loved one’s dying, while others filled the air with cheers and mockery. As if that were not sufficient, there was a cry to Jesus from one of the victims saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” But, the other dying thief rebuked him saying, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation…this man has done nothing wrong.”

Jesus then said to this second thief, “Truly, I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”

Luke, the writer of this book, was a Gentile, writing to the Greeks. He was a physician, possibly previously owned by a high-ranking Roman official to attend his family. Luke came to faith in Jesus and traveled extensively thereafter with the Apostle Paul.

The Grecian ideal of a perfect man differed signifigently from that of the Romans. The Romans were concerned with governing; the Greeks emphasized wisdom and beauty and with education that elevated and ostensibly perfected mankind.

Time and space prevent all that could be said here, but the vital question is: have you trusted Jesus like the repentant thief, and are you growing into the likeness of the One who died on that cross for you? I pray daily that you come to know Him!

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,

Mark 1:1-5, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: ‘BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY;
3 THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.’
4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
5 And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.”

Have you ever attended an important event where it took several, notable personalities to introduce the main speaker? Such is an introductory pattern lifted from Mark, who introduces us to Jesus, the Messiah of God the Father.
Mark, the same John Mark, who was related to Simon Peter and is often seen throughout New Testament as a close companion to the Apostle Paul, is here initiating his account of the gospel of Jesus Christ by quoting the prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah long ago introduced John the Baptist, who, in turn, now introduces the LORD Jesus Christ first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. Perhaps, that is why the New Testament writers often quote the Old Testament prophets.

The central importance of today’s Scripture, however, is that John the Baptist (literally, “John the baptizing one”) was preaching a “baptism of repentance.” When crowds heard and believed John’s message, they acknowledged their sin and testified of their belief in the coming Messiah by submitting themselves to immersion in water. Baptism was, and remains to this day, the observable, overt act by which believers acknowledge repentance of sin and trust in the LORD Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. He came not only for the Jews, but for Gentiles also.
But all of what Jesus Christ did –His death on the Cross and His Resurrection from the dead— is available to us today. If you have not trusted Him, you can do it today. Pray this prayer earnestly and sincerely:

“Dear LORD, I know that I am a sinner and need to be forgiven of my sins. I believe that You died on the cross as God’s sacrifice for my sins. Please forgive me of my sins and help me to live for Jesus, my Savior. Amen.”

Now, believe what Jesus did for you and mean seriously what you prayed. That is what makes you His child! You are in my prayers.
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 1:18-21, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.
19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.
20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
21 “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

What a blessing it is to occasion the birth of a child! Although births are largely the same,
each child is unique and precious to its parents and ultimately to the world-at-large. At the same time, there was never a birth like that of Jesus. His mother was human, but His Father was the Holy Spirit of God.

Engagement to the Jews in biblical times was considered as sacred as marriage itself; therefore, when Joseph discovered that Mary was pregnant, he immediately surmised that she had become so by another man and decided immediately to divorce her. But the LORD God had a plan to preserve the Child.

Dreams were often viewed quite sacredly in those days; thus, when the LORD visited Joseph in a dream, revealing to Joseph that this Child was truly a miracle of the LORD, Joseph altered his intention to divorce Mary and from that point accepted the Child as the Son of God.

From the Child’s lowly birth in Bethlehem, through the visit of the Magi in His formative years, He was divinely protected all the way to the Cross. He was His Heavenly Father’s
intentional Sacrifice for the sins of every generation of the entire world. He is the Father’s
Sacrifice for your sins and for mine.

I trusted Jesus as my Savior when I was seven years old. I viewed and trusted Him as the only One who could forgive my sins. All that was required was a simple, honest prayer. It can be that way for you, too.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Prov. 3:5-6 ).

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