The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Matthew 2:7-10, “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.”
9 After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.”

Up to this point in Matthew’s account of Jesus’ early years, there has been no open trouble. The magi (wise men) had reached out to King Herod for information, and it was quickly substantiated by the religious documents searched out by the Jewish religious leaders. But now, Herod was troubled. The magi from the east had brought trouble to his heart, saying that a child, the King of the Jews, has been born. And if that were not enough, the religious documents substantiated all that the magi had said.

Herod, who had been legally titled “King of the Jews” by the Romans, has a serious rival in the person of a small Child. Taking advantage of the magi, Herod ordered them to search out the young Child and report back to him. The magi, so far as we know, had no knowledge of Herod’s true temperament, nor of his secret intention to take the life of the Christ-child. What the magi witnessed was Herod saying that he, too, wanted to worship the Child.

Determined to find the Child, the magi once again observed the Star. Sometimes, despite our honest intentions, we lose sight of the Light that exists to show us the LORD’s person and plan for our lives. We need to remember that it is His intention that we are the ones clinging to our initial determinations.

Lying was not new to Herod; nor did it cease as he lived out his life. He was constantly endeavoring to protect his position, no matter what the cost. In the meantime, the magi, thinking they were doing the king a favor, followed the star which led them to the house (????? oikia) –not the manger (????? phatne) — where the Child (??????? paidion) now lived. What is more, the magi had brought the Child gifts.

It is appropriate, is it not, to offer a gift to one who has offered a gift to you? Since God the Father gave His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the Cross; and since God the Son yielded Himself as the Sacrifice; can we fail to yield ourselves in faith and trust to Them? Think about it. It will be well with your soul.

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 2:1-6, “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”’” (Micah 5:2).

Many years ago, when I was pastoring in the St. Louis area, I had occasion to speak with a lawyer,
who had no awareness that “astrology” was in no way related to “astronomy.” The “wise men” were astrologers. They believed in mystical occurrences as related to the stars and other celestial bodies. We have no knowledge of the location of their eastern home, although Babylon could well be a possibility.

The Gospel according to Matthew, written initially to the Jewish people, calls them “wise men.” As the account plays out, they did indeed display considerable wisdom. Had they known the deep-seated evil of Herod’s personality, however, they would not have mentioned the Child as “the King of the Jews,” for that was a designation that Rome had given exclusively to Herod. And he wore in great pride.

Herod constrained himself, however, and ordered the Jewish religious leaders to look into the matter. They did, and discovered the prophecy of Micah 5:2, as quoted above. Jesus, at this point-in-time, was about two years old. He was destined to be what His Father had determined, that being what was written in the prophecy.

Yes, Jesus was Jewish. He “came unto His own,” yet, they ultimately rejected Him, prompting His crucifixion, which was their and is our hope of redemption. It is fitting, therefore, that we celebrate Him and a day for His birth. More importantly still is our repentance of sin and belief in Him as our LORD and Savior. Have you done that? When you do, the word “Christmas” will take on totally new meaning!

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,

Acts 2:41-47, “So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.”
42They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 44And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common.
45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.
46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart.
47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

Only days before, these people did not understand baptism. Now, that they have been saved and become obedient to God, things for them are moving in a spiritual direction. When we become obedient to the Word and obey the teachings of the faithful, more people are drawn to faith in Jesus Christ.

Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe (????? phobos, reverential fear); and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. When we faithfully stand in loving fear of the LORD, He responds by producing wonders through His leaders.

When storms are coming, animals of the same kind always group together. So it was with these people. Unity bespeaks spiritual control. It’s also normal for Christian people to share their possessions with others. Here they disposed of property, in order to have money they could share.

There was unity and sincerity within and throughout these Christian people. Praising the LORD always results in spiritual increase. When His people are obedient, the LORD gives them Godly leadership. When they follow that leadership, they are divinely rewarded. We have no reason to fear. Jesus is alive and near! Trust Him and serve Him! He is soon to return!

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,

Acts 2:37-40, “Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brethren, what shall we do?’
38 Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 ‘For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.’
40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!”

Preaching today can often be of the “touchy-feely” kind. Filled with epigrams and witticisms, sermons often commensurate the joviality of a stand-up commedian. Simon Peter’s words were as far removed from such frivolity as the nearest star. So startled were his hearers that they cried aloud, “Brethren, what shall we do?”

Serious messages from the pulpit provoke serious responses from the congregation. “Brethren,” while plural in context, elicits a serious and somber response from Peter: “Repent… ???????? metanoeo. Change your mind; change your purpose in life.” What Peter demanded was a serious alteration in their attitude. It seems especially a sound rebuke to those who had earlier said, “They are full of sweet wine” (2:13).

Further, Peter instructed them to be baptized –not as a saving grace per se, but as a symbolic representation of having genuinely turned from sin and signifying a positive, spiritual change in their behavior. The believer’s baptism in Scripture is a total immersion in water, signifying death to sinful ways and resurrection to a new and vibrant life in the Savior, Jesus Christ.

Perhaps, the best Scriptural commentary on baptism comes to us from Acts 8:36-38. Philip had presented the Gospel to a court official of an Ethiopian queen. He responded, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.”

If you have trusted Jesus as your Savior and LORD, you, too, may be baptized as a sign of your trust in Him. But, the trust always precedes the baptism.

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,

Acts 2:29-36, “Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
30 “And so, because he was a prophet and knew that GOD HAD SWORN TO HIM WITH AN OATH TO SEAT one OF HIS DESCENDANTS ON HIS THRONE,
31 he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that HE WAS NEITHER ABANDONED TO HADES, NOR DID His flesh SUFFER DECAY.
32 “This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses.
33 “Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.
34 “For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: ‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,
35 UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET.”‘
36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ– this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Identification of the dead today is most easily determined by the name and date on the cemetery gravestone. It is not that easy, however, when hundreds or even thousands of years have intervened. Yet, this was not difficult in Peter’s day. When Peter stood before those who had heard the noise that accompanied Pentecost, there were no doubts as to the whereabouts of David’s tomb. Thus, Peter could confidently say that Daivd was buried, and that his tomb was with them on that very day.

His contention regarding Jesus, however, was quite different. Jesus’ tomb was empty. Both David and Jesus had literally died, but while David’s tomb retained his body, Christ’s tomb was empty, for Jesus had risen from the dead. He was, then and there, seated at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. Therefore, Israel should take notice that they had put-to-death the very Son of Almighty God.

The precursor to Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection is depicted in the near offering of Isaac by his father, Abraham. With that account, Peter’s audience was well-acquainted. The difference is that Jesus literally died, but was raised from the dead three Jewish days later. Yet, His death and resurrection were not for the Jews alone. They avail for all who will by faith trust Him as LORD and Savior of their lives. Have you trusted Him? “Today is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).

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