The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

John 11:31-35, “The Jews then who were with her in the house, and consoling her, when they

saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, supposing that she was going to the

tomb to weep there.

32Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him,

‘LORD, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.’

33When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her, also weeping, He

was deeply moved in spirit, and was troubled,

34and said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to Him, ‘Lord, come and see.’

35Jesus wept.”

Young school children are running on the playground, when one falls, hurts himself, and commences to cry. “There, there,” says the consoling teacher, “boys don’t cry.” Oh, but they do! And so do they, even when they become grown-up men.

Lazarus had died and His sisters, Martha and Mary, called immediately for Jesus. Now, He is there, and Mary has rushed from the house to meet Him. Lazaruz has been dead and in the tomb for four days. Broken-hearted, Mary says, “LORD, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” It was not a rebuke for His late arrival. It was simply a notable truth. Her heart was broken. She was weeping profusely. Jesus’ was deeply moved, and tenderly asked, “Where have you laid him?” And Jesus wept.

Those two words that occupy all of verse 35 demonstrate clearly the humanity of Jesus Christ. As God, He knew what He was going to do to erase the hurt of the two sisters; but as Man, He was deeply moved by the expression of their tears of sadness. Never were two words so filled with consolation as these: “Jesus wept.”

This was not the only time Jesus wept, however. He wept over Jerusalem, where His words overflowed with pathos,

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets,

and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often

would I have gathered thy children together, even as a

hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

(Matt. 23:37)

He wept again in the Upper Room, when He said of Judas Iscariot,

But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me

on the table. 22 And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was

determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!

(Lk. 22:21-22)

Indeed, one can weep within his heart without a flow of tears. Do you weep like that for those who do not know Him? Does your heart break when those you love turn their backs on Jesus? Far too often we have hardened our hearts against the tenderness of love; and we do so when we seek and delve into things that titillate our emotions rather than strengthening our love for others.

If you doubt me, embrace Mary’s words, and “Come and see.”

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Joshua 9:8-14, “But they said to Joshua, ‘We are your servants.’ Then Joshua said to them, ‘Who

are you, and where do you come from?’

9 And they said to him, ‘Your servants have come from a very far country because of the fame of

the LORD your God; for we have heard the report of Him and all that He did in Egypt,

10 and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king

of Heshbon and to Og king of Bashan who was at Ashtaroth.’

11 “So our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, ‘Take provisions in

your hand for the journey, and go to meet them and say to them, “We are your servants; now

then, make a covenant with us.”‘

12 “This our bread was warm when we took it for our provisions out of our houses on the day that

we left to come to you; but now behold, it is dry and has become crumbled.

13 “And these wineskins which we filled were new, and behold, they are torn; and these our

clothes and our sandals are worn out because of the very long journey.”

14 So the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and did not ask for the counsel of the

LORD.”

People who are honest are prone to believe that everything they hear, especially when it comes from people they know. Joshua had always sought the LORD and listened to His instructions. He and his people had been very successful in defeating those who dwelled in land given to Israel. But now, this group of people undertook a different tactic with Israel and Israel could have lost everything they had gained.

“Who are you and from where have you come?” Joshua asked. The strangers spun a good tale and Israel swallowed it “hook, line, and sinker.” How could Israel have been so victorious in previous battles and now lose in this one? The answer lies in the final nine words of our Scripture:

Israel “…did not ask for the counsel of the LORD.”

From the time of Moses death, Joshua had been in charge of leading Israel. They had numerous victories, and they had always sought the counsel of the LORD beforehand. But these foreign people caught them off guard, and they neglected to seek the LORD’s counsel. Ever have that happen to you? Boy, I sure have! What’s the matter with us, anyway? Well, we sometimes get in a hurry and forget. Also, we become so accustomed to doing some things –and they turn out alright, so we start forgetting to seek the LORD’s counsel.

We live in serious and dangerous times. We cannot afford to undertake anything on our own. We don’t always see the danger that lies in the bushes. When we stay focused on the LORD and are continuously seeking His counsel, we don’t have to live in fear. We must, however, be committed to Him and “stay in close touch.”

No, I don’t believe everything I hear. I don’t even believe everything I see. But, I have learned to trust the LORD Jesus Christ, and He has been faithful to care for me. Give Him opportunity in your life, and remember the words of the old hymn –

There’s not a Friend like the lowly Jesus:
No, not one! no, not one!
None else could heal all our souls’ diseases:
No, not one! no, not one!

Jesus knows all about our struggles;
He will guide ’til the day is done:
There’s not a Friend like the lowly Jesus:
No, not one! no, not one!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Hebrews 6:10-12, “For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have

shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.

11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance

of hope until the end,

12 that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the

promises.”

From time-to-time, the President of the United States awards selected persons of merit the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It is the highest award the president can give, and arguably this highest that can ever be awarded to an American citizen. This award was recently conveyed in conjunction with the president’s State of the Union address before Congress.

Yet the thought came to me that there was yet another award –one of far greater worth—that would be bestowed upon all of those whose lives and work had been centered on the glory of our LORD Jesus Christ!

The Apostle Paul assures us that God does not forget our work of love on His behalf. Further, Paul himself desires that our diligence will produce “the full assurance of hope until the end…” Six times in his Letter to the Hebrews, Paul uses the word hope (?????, elpis). Hope in the New Testament can be translated “future certainty.” The word diligence (??????, spoude) means both haste and earnestness. We dare not be sluggish (??????, nothros) –slothful or careless, lest we fail in our calling.

Have faith (??????, pistis) and patience, long-suffering (?????????? makrothumia). Don’t allow yourself to become discouraged. Study the Word, pray earnestly to the Father, be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and His leadership, encourage other believers, and tell others about Jesus! They don’t know what they don’t know. It’s our privileged responsibility and joy to share Christ Jesus with others. His Coming may be closer than we think.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

John 11:20-27, “Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him; but Mary still

sat in the house.

21 Martha therefore said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.

22 “Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”

23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother shall rise again.”

24 Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies,

26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who

comes into the world.”

Every crisis has a resurrection! If you know the LORD, those resurrections are moments of rejoicing!

Lazarus was dead. His sisters, Martha and Mary, had sent for Jesus; but He waited four days before He

journeyed to their house. Martha was gifted with a hyper-personality. Mary was quiet and thoughtful. When Jesus arrived, it was Martha, who rushed to meet Him.

Her words to Him might well be taken as a mild rebuke, “If you had been here—“ Yet, they were softened with words of confidence. “Even now, I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” Oh, that we all had that kind of faith! Her faith elicited Jesus’ assurance: “Your brother shall rise again.”

We don’t all experience the crisis Mary and Martha. Crises of various imperatives come to different people and at different times. Yet, they all cry out for Divine help. Jesus’ declaration to Martha is His declaration to each of us: “I Am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies…” The most

fundamental question then and now was: “Do you believe this?” Jesus calls us as He called Martha: “Do you believe?”

If you believe as Martha, that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of God,” then you have Him as your Guide and your Shield. Remember when you first acknowledged Him as your LORD and Savior? If you can trust Him with your eternal soul, with what can you not trust Him? Crises are hard! But, none are harder than He can handle. Give it all to Jesus! He will carry you through. Incidentally, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead!

What do you face that calls for greater than that? I am praying for you.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”

Dear Grands,

Joshua 3:5, 7, 17, “Then Joshua said to the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will

do wonders among you.’

7’”Now the LORD said to Joshua, ‘This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may

know that just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you.’”

17 “And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle

of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan.”

There’s nothing quite like leadership. Moses demonstrated such qualities of leadership that when he died,

there were those who believed they would never again see a leader so talented. Yes, there is talent involved, but faith in God supersedes talent.

Joshua’s words to the people displayed faith in the LORD. “…tomorrow,” he said, “the LORD will do wonders among you.” His thorough confidence in the LORD preceded the LORD’s promise that He would exalt Joshua just as He had Moses. “I will be with you,” He promised. One has to wonder what resided in Joshua’s mind when he heard those words.

The miracle was not long in coming. The priests carried Israel’s Ark of the Covenant into the midst of the Jordan River just as Moses had led the Israelites across the Red Sea. The waters receded at the Jordan just as they had receded at the Red Sea. Both groups crossed on dry ground! The LORD had proved Himself to Joshua just as He had to Moses.

When you revisit in Scripture instances like the Red Sea and Jordan River crossings, it builds your faith. Is there anything too hard for the LORD? He says not. Just remember this: both Moses and Joshua believed the LORD before they stepped into the waters. Had they not believed, they would not have received. And so it is with us! Do you believe the LORD can use you? Listen to His instructions, trust Him and find out. He never fails!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”