The Grands Letter (Matt/GLJ)

Dear Grands,

Matthew 2:1-8, “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,

2 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”

3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

4 Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.

5 They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet:

6 ‘AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH, ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH; FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.'”

7 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.”

We have no idea how much the magi actually knew about what they saw. Being inveterate sky-watchers, however, they were the first to identify the Child Jesus as “the King of the Jews.” Just how much these eastern star-gazers knew about Jesus, we do not know—only that they said they had “come to worship Him.”

It’s fair to say that the preponderance of rulers in those days were fearful of anyone who threatened their position. The very desire of the magi produced a threat. It was not unusual for a ruler to be removed by death in order to make room for another who wanted that royal position. Thus, King Herod was frightened that this Baby might actually cause him to lose his throne. And eventually, He did!

Yet, that Baby grew into manhood as the LORD Jesus Christ. And He is available to be your LORD and Savior if you will allow it. He is your only hope for Heaven above and your only hope for true life here on earth. Trust Him today as your Savior!

Heartily yours in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need, Until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

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Corrections made:
– Removed unnecessary spaces at the beginning.
– Changed “manhood as the LORD Jesus Christ” to “manhood as the LORD Jesus Christ.”
– Removed the comma before “if you will allow it.”
– Removed the comma before “and your only hope for true life here on earth.”
– Corrected “your Savior!” to “your Savior!”
– Changed “–only” to “—only.”