The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Matthew 28:1-7, “Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary

Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave.

2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and

came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.

3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his garment as white as snow;

4 and the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.

5 And the angel answered and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for

Jesus who has been crucified.

6 “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.

7 “And go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going before

you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.’”

Women are the ones who can’t sleep. Even if they do, they’re usually the first to arise in the morning!

Jesus was Crucified on Friday, in the Tomb on Saturday (Sabbath); Risen on Sunday. (The Jews considered any part of a day as a day; thus, Christ Jesus was in the tomb for three days.) The women arrived about dawn on Sunday morning. The earthquake had not hindered them; only the Roman guards

were frightened –yet, not because of the earthquake, but because of the angel and his startling appearance.

The angel quieted the women’s fears and assured them that he knew why they had come. They were indeed seeking Jesus. “He is not here, for He has risen from the dead.” The most incontrovertible fact in all of human history is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead!

Then came the Great Invitation: “Come, see the place where He was lying.” The Greek word for “come”

an imperative verb. You must come to Him now and personally. It’s vitally imperative that you come to Him. For the Scripture says, “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Then follows the Great Imperative for all believers: “Go quickly and tell…” Almost no one comes to Christ with a workable knowledge of Scripture. Such an acquisition requires years of study. But, we can share what we know, however little that might be. “I’ve accepted Jesus Christ as my LORD and Savior” is enough with which to start. “I’m a Christian now –within my heart and life!” Then follow up by sluffing off old habits of your previous life! The more you look like Christ, the less you need to say; yet, the more you become like Christ, the more you’ll want to say! I’m praying for you. God bless 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,

John 19:9b-11, Pilate “said to Jesus, ‘Where are You from?’ But Jesus gave him no answer.

10 Pilate therefore said to Him, ‘You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority

to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?’

11 Jesus answered, ‘You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from

above; for this reason he who delivered Me up to you has the greater sin.’”

People who have a little authority always seem to think they have it all. Pilate was one of those. He acted as if all authority rested in him, yet he only had authority because he was under the authority of Rome. He asked questions of Jesus that Jesus did not answer. Pilate was not

used to being challenged, and he retaliated by saying “Do you not know that I have authority to

release You, and I have authority to crucify You?”

While Jesus had refused to answer Pilate’s previous questions, He chose to answer this one, saying, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above…” It seems that Pilate then understood precisely what Jesus meant; namely, My Father is in control of this and every situation. All authority derives from Him.

Then Jesus added a strangely significant thought: “…he who delivered Me up to you has the greater sin” –the greater sin. It would seem appropriate to understand from that response that some sins are indeed greater than others. Further, the question has been answered by the One who was and is in all authority.

All sins work against the LORD. They all deprive Him of the glory He is due; yet, some sins are greater! We must be careful, however, not to exercise our own authority in determination of which are greater. To know that some are is quite sufficient for us to know. Just stay away from all sin, and you will have no interest in knowing which is greater. You just might commit the greater and live forever to regret it.

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,

Proverbs 14:34-35, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a disgrace to any people.

35The king’s favor is toward a servant who acts wisely, but his anger is toward him who

acts shamefully.”

Most readers are familiar with verse 34, but few, I would guess, have paid much attention

to verse 35. Verse 34 speaks of a people so vast in number that they are designated a nation.

If that nation –and that’s any nation—recognizes the LORD as its Lord, the righteousness of

the LORD will uplift that nation among the other nations of the world. But if that nation sins and

promotes gross ungodliness, it is a shameful disgrace to the God who created it.

Verse 35 speaks of a citizen. Wise citizens act wisely and gain the favor of their human leaders.

Acting shamefully and sinfully, however, stirs up the anger of righteous leaders and brings

down heavy wrath upon unwise citizens.

All of that is to say that no country rises higher than the majority of its citizenry. If we want our

nation to be industrious, we must be industrious. If we wish our nation and its leaders to deal

honestly with us, we must be honest in all that we do. A nation is the composite of its citizens.

Want your neighbor to treat you kindly? Treat him kindly! Want people to listen to what you

have to say? Listen to what other people have to say. It’s a corporate idea built upon the

phrase that says, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Incorporate that idea

into your lifestyle and start feeling good about how others begin to treat 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,

John 10:39-42, “Therefore they were seeking again to seize Him, and He eluded their grasp.

40 And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was first baptizing, and

He was staying there.

41 And many came to Him and were saying, ‘While John performed no sign, yet everything John

said about this man was true.’

42 And many believed in Him there.”

When people are really angry, they want to fight! The Jews could not best Jesus in discussions,

and that made them furious. In verse 31, just previous to our verses above, the Jews took up stones and would have killed Jesus. But, “He eluded their grasp.”

Many years ago, I visited an old schoolhouse down in Mississippi. I looked at the empty desks, wondering who sat where and where they are now? It was a sentimental thought that always comes to me in old abandoned schools and churches. Thoughts like that transported to Scripture, such as in the verses above, make me wonder if Jesus wasn’t somewhat sentimental about John’s baptisms when He “went away again” beyond the Jordan River. The word “again,” tells me that He had been there before. It was a place of serenity and peace, a place for thinking — but not for long, because many came to Him there.

Moreover, the people who came to Him acknowledged that He was true, and what He declared to them was true, also. And there in the security of that serene place that those who had followed Him there, believed on Him as the Son of the Living God.

People who need Jesus will not find Him where theres fighting. Nor can we successfully instruct them spiritually in an unwholesome climate. Withdrawal from witnessing is not always a sign of defeat. It simply begs for the proper atmosphere to enable those without Him to concentrate on His message. In situation before us, Jesus had withdrawn, and people were seeking Him.

Do you know people who are seeking Him? Have you shared the Gospel with them? Maybe you need to select a better time or place –somewhere where they are not under observation by others, and somewhere where you will have an atmosphere suitable for witnessing. The Holy Spirit will

lead and guide you. Listen closely to His voice. A lost and hungering soul is depending on 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,

John 10:7-10, “Jesus therefore said to them again, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the

sheep.

8 ‘All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.

9 ‘I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find

pasture.

10 ‘The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might

have it abundantly.’”

Jesus addressed His disciples once again with “Truly, truly.” This double term simply indicates the validity and emphasis our LORD is placing upon what He about to say. By His own insistence, He is the door of the sheep. He is the guardian of them and their going in and out is measured according to His will. All who came without His message is a thief and a robber. He alone is the door.

When anyone enters into His fold of necessity comes through Him. In New Testament days, the shepherds slept on the ground at the entrance to the sheep fold. No one could enter without awakening the shepherd; and no sheep could exit without awakening him. Thieves were notorious (aren’t they always?) and their ways were nefarious, but those persons who enter, enter only through Jesus Christ. Once they enter, He renders them saved and secure. Never can they be lost again!

Moreover, Jesus saves not only to secure people, but that they might have abundant life! Abundant does not mean “more stuff”; rather, it means that what His life is of immensely greater value than the life the world knows. It’s actually like coming alive after having been dead! What a joy it is to be secure in Christ Jesus and to have His Holy Spirit dwelling within and guiding our steps according to His will. It reminds us of that

Old Testament verse that says,

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).

I sincerely hope and pray that you are currently living your life in Him!

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.”