The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

John 7:10-17, “But when His brothers had gone up to the feast, then He Himself also went up, not publicly, but as if, in secret.
11 So the Jews were seeking Him at the feast and were saying, ‘Where is He?’
12 There was much grumbling among the crowds concerning Him; some were saying, ‘He is a good man’; others were saying, ‘No, on the contrary, He leads the people astray.’
13 Yet no one was speaking openly of Him for fear of the Jews.
14 But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach.
15 The Jews then were astonished, saying, ‘How has this man become learned, having never been educated?’
16 So Jesus answered them and said, ‘My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me.
17 “If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.’”

As we’ve seen in our previous letter, Jesus’ half-brothers did not believe Him to be the Messiah. Others, who were attending the feast, did not believe Him to be the Messiah, either. Unfortunately, there are those today who don’t believe Him. People are substituting various things to replace Him. Yet, the one thing they cannot do is find a suitable substitute for Him! Jesus is unique! He is the “Only begotten Son of God!”

Refusing to believe Christ, however, in no way effects who He truly is. Having reached the feast, He went to the temple and immediately began to teach. Imagine how that affected the Jews! They challenged Him as one who had “never been educated.” Oh, Jesus was educated! He had just never needed to attend a Jewish school. There is a vast difference between having attended a school and being truly immersed in Scriptural Truth.

True education goes beyone having a certificate from a formal institution. “Education apart from Christ simply makes ‘smart devils.’” It’s an immersion, an absorbtion of Scripture –the teachings of Jesus Christ—that truly matters! Far too many institutions today emphasize things that don’t matter –teachings that neither emphasize nor care about the LORD Jesus Christ. Jesus’ words come from His Father.

Those who have trouble believing Him today have allowed the thoughts and teachings
of others to replace His truth. “Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved…” (Acts 16:31). It is so simple. Don’t allow the simplicity to crowd out your belief.

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