The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Mark 8:31-34, “And Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer
many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes,
and be killed, and after three days rise again.
32 And He was stating the matter plainly, and Peter took Him aside and began
to rebuke Him.
33 But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter by saying, “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”
34 And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow
Me.”

Only moments ago, as I was preparing to script this GRANDS LETTER, I received
a phone call from a former student saying, “The LORD just laid you on my heart–
to call you and tell you that I love you.” He has been a long-time friend and a competent servant of our LORD Jesus Christ. We’re both older now than when we first became acquainted, and our small physical “crosses” are somewhat the same.

Jesus was headed for suffering when He spoke the words above to His disciples.
He predicted His suffering and rejection to them. Simon Peter earned Jesus’ rebuke
when he argued that none of what Jesus said would surely happen to Him. It was a
strong rebuke, as. Peter’s mind had engaged in human thought; Jesus’ rebuke of Peter regarded His Father’s thought.

Ultimately, Jesus did suffer, just as He had said. His suffering set the standard for
Peter and for all of us. Satan hates Jesus! Furthermore, he hates Jesus’ followers,
because we love and serve Him. Do you know people who hate you? Don’t hate
them; love them! Love is always –and will ever be– Jesus’ way of dealing with hatred.

a negative respondent, just know that I understand. There were such in Jesus’ day, and there always will be. But Spiritual Love always exceeds discoloration. This Letter is intended for your benefit; and, like the friend, who phoned me, I love you, too.

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