The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Matthew 28:1-7, “Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the
first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at
the grave.
2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord
descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.
3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
4 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are
looking for Jesus who has been crucified.
6 “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place
where He was lying.
7 “Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and
behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold,
I have told you.”

The crucifixion of Jesus was hardly past when the two Marys returned to
tomb where He had been laid. It’s impossible to ascertain what all they were
saying as they walked together; still, it is understandable that their hearts had
been broken. Possibly, they were expecting to find that He had already arisen.

Subsequent to their journey, a “severe earthquake had occurred,” and possibly
they might have surmised it to be connected somehow with Jesus. In any event,
the ladies encountered an angel, and it was he who had come from Heaven,
rolled away the stone, and declared to them:

He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said.
Come, see the place where He was lying…
Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen
from the dead.

What the angel said to the two women now falls upon us. “Go quickly…
and tell…that He has risen from the dead.” His wish is our command.

Do you know Him? He wants you to know Him. And if you do, how long
has it been since you told someone about Him? Use my Gospel Tract
below.

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 27:57-64, “When it was evening, there came a rich man from
Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus.
58 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered
it to be given to him.
59 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he
rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away.”

Who knows what enterprise occupied Joseph of Arimathea throughout the day?
Rich men cannot always be available for responsibilities that offer no compensation.
Nor are true believers fearful to approach those who occupy high offices with great
responsibilities.

Notice, too, that “Joseph took the body” of Jesus “and wrapped it” appropriately
for burial. It might have seemed a menial task, but genuine spiritual love always
takes president and oversees those “lesser things.” Note, too, that it was Joseph
who “rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb.”

62 Now on the next day, the day after the preparation, the chief priests and the
Pharisees gathered together with Pilate,
63 and said, “Sir, we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver said,
‘After three days I am to rise again.’” One has to wonder if a goodly portion of
the interest of the chief priests and Pharisees regarding Jesus’ resurrection was
that Jesus might physically arise from the dead as He had said.
64 “Therefore, (Pilate gave) orders for the grave to be made secure until the third
day, otherwise His disciples may come and steal Him away and say to the people,
‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.”

Jesus’ resurrection is living proof that all He proclaimed was and is true!
“Believe in the LORD Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household”
(Acts 16:31). Trust Him, and experience His power in your own 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,

2 Corinthians 6:1-11, “And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain–
2 for He says, “AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU.” Behold, now is “THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,” behold, now is “THE DAY OF SALVATION “–
3 giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited,
4 but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,
5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger,
6 in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love,
7 in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,
8 by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true;
9 as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death,
10 as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.
11 Our mouth has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our heart is opened wide.”

If you believe these eleven verses from Paul are long and tedious reading, you have
a snapshot of my first public sermon. I was eager and overly well prepared. The audience
expected a rather brief, maybe 15-minute, address from this teenage boy. Unless my
octogenarial years have distorted my memory, I spoke for some 45 minutes! My pastor,
who has now been long with the LORD, had some choice words, doubtlessly intended
as encouragement.

What has the Scripture above to do with the timing of my first sermon? Perhaps, it’s that
last verse: “Our mouth has spoken freely…our heart is opened wide.” My defence to my
pastor was that the Apostle Paul spoke quite long (Acts 20:9). It’s sufficient to say that his rebuttal was pointedly instructive. All of that being said, I should note that the Scripture above speaks of the day of salvation and quite pointedly notes that it (was) Paul’s responsibility to lead others to Jesus and to teach us to do so as well.

The day in which we are living is quite parallel with the day of Paul. Sin is rampant! Evil
permeates the world in which we live. People are lost; and the Holy Spirit lives and works in and through believers to bring the lost to faith in Jesus Christ. You know people who are lost. So do I. Let’s pray for one another and be prepared to reach those who need 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,

Matthew 28:1-7. “Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first
day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave.
2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord
descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.
3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
4 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking
for Jesus who has been crucified.
6 “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where
He was lying.
7 “Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold,
He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him, behold, I have told
you.”

This passage of Scripture always brings to mind my first solo visit to Israel. I had
visited the Garden Tomb and returned to my living quarters, when I encountered
a Canadian Military Officer, who told me he visited Israel every year. He insisted
on showing me the Garden Tomb, despite my having already been there.

Subsequently, I yet again visited the Garden Tomb –this time alone. It was quiet;
no one else was there. I entered the Tomb, sat quietly and allowed my mind to
recall the Scriptures that placed the LORD Jesus right there, centuries past. I
tried to pray, but my emotions resisted even prayer. Yet, what I envisiioned that
day was related only to that glorious time when Jesus arose. Then and there,
He was not there. He had risen!

Now, I am awaiting another glorious time! He is returning home to this Earth—not
to the Tomb He once briefly occupied, but in the air! –coming from His glorious
Heavenly Home, where we, who have trusted Him as LORD and Savior of our
lives, will be caught up to meet Him. ”…and so we shall always be with the LORD”
(2 Cor. 12:2, 4; 1 Thes. 4:17). What a glorious, breath-taking experience that will
be!

Like the Garden Tomb I visited, this glorious rising to meet Him in the air is more
glorious still. Besides, it’s free! Jesus Himself paid the price at the Cross many
years ago. He has given us the opportunity to meet Him in the air when He comes
again. The only “cost” to us lies in our confessing our sin and accepting Him by faith
as our LORD and Savior. You can do that, if you haven’t already! It’s important to
be ready, because we do not and cannot know the precise time of His Coming.
That’s why the Scriptures say, “Today is the Day of Salvation.”

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,

1 Samuel 16; 17-21, “So Saul said to his servants, ‘Provide for me now a man
who can play well and bring him to me.’
18 Then one of the young men said, ‘Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a mighty man of valor, a warrior, one
prudent in speech, and a handsome man; and the LORD is with him.’
19 So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, ‘Send me your son David who
is with the flock.’
20 Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread and a jug of wine and a young goat,
and sent them to Saul by David his son.
21 Then David came to Saul and attended him; and Saul loved him greatly,
and he became his armor bearer.”

It’s extremely interesting how some people come to be what they are and to
know the people they know. Perhaps, that’s one of the reasons why these do
so well with the LORD’s assignments here. The young man who mentioned David
is not himself mentioned by name. Certainly, that does not make him of any
lesser value; it simply demonstrates his desire to help.

Often in situations comparable to this one, people who help are often hoping
above all that they might be elected to the position instead of the one who is
ultimately chosen. In such cases, it’s then quite easy to see through the motives.

We must be honest in our evaluation of others and especially of ourselves!
The LORD knows us quite thoroughly. He wants those who are “available,
but not pushy.” He and others are quite capable of tooting their own horns.
We must always prayerfully focus on the spiritual task at hand.

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