The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Mark 10:42-45, “Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, ‘You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them.

43 “But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant;

44 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all.’

45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

John Mark, author of this Gospel, was not an apostle. He was but an ordinary worker, the son of one of the women in the Christian circle named Mary. It might well have been at her home where the believers were gathered and praying when Peter was being held under serious guard (Acts 12:12). As for the Gospel itself, it is believed that it was written in Rome and primarily for the benefit of the Romans.

This is also the same John Mark, who much later fostered the dispute between Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:36ff), regarding the location of their next missionary activity. It is also believed that John Mark had been led to faith in Christ by Simon Peter. This would account for his allegiance to Barnabas being ahead of Paul. Further, this would account for the few references to the Old Testament Scriptures in this epistle.

Thinking further on the Scripture passage above, could it be that the primary reason for the lack of energetic service on the part of professing believers today is their fascination (or lack thereof) with the Word’s grip on our lives? There are so many distractions—distractions that have mesmerized even the foremost witnesses.

The call today is the same as it was in the First Century: sin reigns, and we are to renounce it, clearing the way of faith, that others might see our allegiance to Jesus Christ and come to faith in Him for themselves. For whom are you praying today?

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

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

Dear Grands,

Matthew 27:37, “This is Jesus, King of the Jews.” It has been said that the greatest achievement one can obtain is a commendation from the lips of his harshest opponent. If that be true, then Pontius Pilate offered such to the LORD Jesus Christ when he placed above His head the declaration: ‘…οὗτός ἐστιν Ἰησοῦς ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἰουδαίων,’ “This is Jesus, King of the Jews.”

The disciple Matthew (“gift of God”), despite his notorious employment as a publican (tax collector), emphasized the LORD Jesus as “King” throughout his Gospel’s 28 chapters. Matthew covers Christ Jesus’ birth, His ministry, His rejection, His death, and His resurrection!

It is noteworthy, as well, that Matthew’s mission was primarily to the Jewish people. The Gospel of the Kingdom “was preached up to the rejection and crucifixion of Jesus, and it will again be proclaimed prior to the Great Tribulation and Second Advent of the LORD Jesus Himself.”

In the meantime, the responsibility of the Gospel’s proclamation falls upon all true believers. We exhibit varying personalities, yet we have but one Good News to share. May the LORD bless us with the enthusiasm of those early disciples!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

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

Dear Grands,

Malachi 1:1-5, “The oracle of the Word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi.

2 ‘I have loved you,’ says the LORD. But you say, “How hast Thou loved us?” ‘Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?’ declares the LORD. ‘Yet I have loved Jacob;

3 but I have hated Esau, and I have made his mountains a desolation, and appointed his inheritance for the jackals of the wilderness.’

4 Though Edom says, ‘We have been beaten down, but we will return and build up the ruins’; thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘They may build, but I will tear down; and men will call them the wicked territory, and the people toward whom the LORD is indignant forever.’

5 ‘And your eyes will see this and you will say, “The LORD be magnified beyond the border of Israel!”’

“Malachi is the unknown prophet with the angelic name,” says Robert Lee, author of The Outlined Bible. Malachi simply means “Messenger,” and is utilized much like the president of a country in that he is known and greeted solely by his title, such as, “Mr. President.”

In chapters one and two, the “Messenger” earnestly and kindly protests the actions and attitudes of the people. He does this as a Message of Love (1:1-5), along with a message of loving rebuke in verses 1:6 through 2:17. The author then concludes his remarks with a message of hope.

The LORD is thoroughly involved in this entire process and can be seen as the loving “Parent,” who rebukes His child, as with those who were inappropriately involved. Then, appropriately, He expresses His overwhelming love. Beyond this, He issues a Message of sincere Hope (3:1-4:6), which, hopefully, encourages us as it encouraged them.

The true message then is: live closely to the LORD. Live daily in His Word.

Trust always His direction. He wants the best for us more than we do.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

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

Dear Grands,

Zechariah 8:4-8, “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Old men and old women will again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each man with his staff in his hand because of age.

5 ‘And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets.’

6 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘If it is too difficult in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, will it also be too difficult in My sight?’ declares the LORD of hosts.

7 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Behold, I am going to save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west;

8 and I will bring them back, and they will live in the midst of Jerusalem, and they will be My people and I will be their God in truth and righteousness.’”

Zechariah was a contemporary of the prophet Haggai. In reality, he was the prophet of Restoration and Glory. It is believed that his father died in his infancy and that the boy Zechariah was then reared by his grandfather Iddo.

The Book of Zechariah is comprised of five distinct messages. The first is an earnest call to repentance. The second speaks of both material and spiritual prosperity. The third speaks of the destruction of the Temple, while the fourth and fifth messages speak of things yet to be fulfilled in our time.

The “messages” that are well wrapped in this book are an encouragement of faith to us.

Zechariah’s people had their problems, just as we do. Yet, those who looked faithfully to the LORD learned that the life of faith and the exercise of faithfulness are both profitable.

We are taught in this small book that not everything we desire will be fulfilled. At the same time, a sure and certain instance encourages us to keep on keeping on, knowing that the LORD will bring to pass everything that is good for those who seek it!

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

and He will make your paths straight (Prov. 3:5-6).

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

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

Dear Grands,

Haggai 2:5-9, “’As for the promise which I made you when you came out of Egypt, My Spirit is abiding in your midst; do not fear!’ 6 ‘For thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Once more in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land. 7 ‘And I will shake all the nations; and they will come with the wealth of all nations; and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD of hosts. 8 ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ declares the LORD of hosts. 9 ‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘and in this place I shall give peace,’ declares the LORD of hosts.”

The verses above will undoubtedly seem strange to the ears of a 21st-century reader; but the House of the LORD had fallen into disrepair. Still, the LORD promises that it will not be long before His House will be rebuilt with greater glory than previously.

Sometimes we have concern for the building or repairing the LORD’s House when those costs fall upon us. In the passage above, however, the LORD promises that everything needed for the rebuilding is already in His hands. We’re just to believe!

Stories of such can be retold multiple times. As a young boy, I remember conversations among the adults in our church regarding the lack of funds to repair an area of our church building. Then, out of the blue, comes a distant relative of one of the members. Nothing was said to him about the need; yet, when he left the area, he left behind an offering that amounted to exactly the cost for those needed repairs.

The occurrence of things like this built within me the confidence that I would need when, in several years, He would call me into His full-time ministry. That has been nearly 70 years ago, and He has never failed to provide whatever was needed. What’s more, He never will! We simply have to trust Him day by day! He holds everything in His hands!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

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