The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Romans 6:8-10, ‘Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,

9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him.

10 For the death that He died, He died to sin, once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.”

Death is never easy for those who are left behind. Yet, there is a death that leads to death, and a death that leads to life. Paul understood precisely what he meant when he wrote the three verses above. The Romans to whom he addressed this letter and had died to themselves and to the world about them, Paul could confirm that they would live forever with Christ.

Furthermore, he affirmed that they would never die again. Christ died but once and He arose from the dead. If we trustfully believe in Him, we will die but once. If, however, we give superficial acknowledgement to Christ and have never truly trusted in Him, we will die physically and spiritually and be forever without hope.

A medical worker said to me, “I believe there’s someone somewhere who started all of this,” (meaning the universe). That worker, scientist, healer of physical ills is going to make it to physical death in this life. If, however, that medical worker were to trust in Jesus Christ,

the way of Eternal Life lies paved before him.

Rose Marie’s hospitalizations provided scores of opportunities to witness for Jesus Christ. Those to whom we witnessed were either outspoken believers or silent unbelievers. The

Gospel tract that I handed to each one was received as if I had given them a solid gold watch!

It’s the same as this Letter. I cannot guarantee that any of you will read and devour the truths it contains. What I do know is that we have reached out to you with the Truth of the

LORD’s Word. It is the Holy Spirit who initiated the outreach, and it is the Holy Spirit who stirs the hearts of unbelievers to accept Christ as their LORD and Savior.

Attached to this Letter is an artistic drawing that says “The Wages of sin is DEATH.” Now, turn the drawing upside down and read “The Gift of God is Eternal LIFE.” A simple turn of the drawing changes everything! And a simple trust in the Savior changes everything, too.

Where are you: Lost or Saved? If you’re lost, you only need to repent (ask God’s forgiveness). If your saved, you need to listen to the Holy Spirit as He leads you to share Christ with others (witness). Start living your life to the glory of Almighty God!

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

P. S. Rose Marie is now resting comfortably in the Circle of Life Hospice. This was the place she

personally elected as a wayside resting place on the way to Heavenly Glory! I will not say

that this has been easy. It is the most excruciating experience of my entire 83 years! Yet,

I rest in the reality of personl faith in Jesus Christ as her LORD and Savior. Furthermore,

her hospice doctor is a Christian friend of our doctor son. The LORD is in control.

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,

Luke 24:6-9, “’He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee,

7 saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’

8 And they remembered His words,

9 and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.”

It’s somewhat easy to state something, being able to prove it is something else. Our LORD Jesus was crucified and buried; but on the third day He arose from the grave never to die again. What proofs do we have? Check out the following:

PROOFS OF

THE RESURRECTION

OF JESUS CHRIST

I. Jesus’ body was not stolen!

1. Jesus’ enemies would not have stolen His body because that have propagated the very prediction that He would rise from the dead.

2. Jesus’ disciples could not have stolen His body because Pilate established Roman guards to stand watch over the tomb lest His body be stolen.

(1) Ironically, many of Jesus’ disciples were not fully convinced of His Resurrection itself.

(2) The very character and the later history of the disciples compels us to believe that they neither stole nor secretly carried away the body of Jesus.

II. In nearly 20 centuries, no body –except the Resurrected body of Jesus Christ– was ever found. Thus, the evidence needed to disprove Christ’s prophecy is missing.

III. The mathematical probability of anyone being able to perpetrate any hoax –especially concerning Christ’s Resurrection– over 20 centuries is astronomically negative!

IV. The prophecy prediction record of the Old Testament is 100 percent accurate!

V. Notice that the chief priests and the elders never questioned whether the tomb was empty. There is no record anywhere that they even questioned whether the guards’ report were true. They knew is was true!

VI. Notice that the soldiers were told to say that Jesus’ disciples came and stole the body away while they (the soldiers) were asleep! How could they have known what was going on if they were asleep?

VII. The leaders of Judaism in Jerusalem, who had put the LORD Jesus to death, had nothing to offer to contradict these disciples as they continued to preach Jesus and His Resurrection– because all Jerusalem knew the tomb was empty. If there had been trickery involved, sooner or later it would have been suspected, then proven.

VIII. Had fraud occurred, surely one of the disciples, even most of them, would have confessed it under the horrendous persecution they underwent. It may be possible to live a lie, but men seldom die for a lie –and most of these men died for what they believed.

IX. The result ultimately would have been that the message that Christ had risen would have suffered the fate of all such unfounded stories– it would have lost its power. Instead, this truth has swept the world, closed pagan temples, won millions of disciples, brought hope to a despairing humanity, was the very foundation truth of the early Church, and is as freshly glorious as ever!

X. But not only did Jesus come alive again, He did not disappear to leave the disciples speculating through all the subsequent days as to what had happened to Him. Instead, He appeared to them literally, visibly, frequently and in bodily form –to more than 500 believers following His Resurrection from the dead.

Approaching now nearly 65 years in the Christian ministry, it has been my observation that those who persist in denying the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, are in the grip of some personal sin which they are unwilling to surrender in order to lay hold of Christ. As with physical survival, it is in the nature of man to embrace hope, not to disparage or deny it. Thus, when men engage in unmitigated attacks upon the only One who offers true hope to all mankind, it is undeniable proof both of man’s own decadence and of his love of sin.

We love you and continue to pray for you,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

P. S. Belief in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ enables me to say my dear, sweet, loving wife

of just shy of 64 years, has suffered irreparable health problems that is taking her from

me and from this earthly life. Totally unforseen, she had just been discharged from

hospital with pneumonia, when it became necessary to rush her to the Emergency Room

the following day. Her problems are too numerous to list here. I can only say that I need

your prayers as she enters Circle of Life Hospice tomorrow. This was her decision, as she

said, “We’re coming close to the end.” Her witness to doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists

cleaning ladies and all was endless. “I know the LORD Jesus Christ as my Savior; I know

where I’m going,” she said, as she pointed upward. May her tribe increase!

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,

Matthew 28:1-8, 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.”

8 And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples.”

For centuries the Nation of Israel had awaited her Deliverer! Now that He had come, Israel was faced with two monumental decisions: she must conform to Him as the Messiah, or she must contend with Him. Unfortunately, Israel chose the wrong alternative! Jesus was crucified at the hands of Gentiles, and through the promotion of the Jewish religious leaders….

First, hear the angelic annunciation: “He is not here…” (vv. 5-6). This announcement is important because of its implication of His past presence. They disciples as well as the angels knew He had been there (Mat 27:59ff).

“And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in

his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large

stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away. And Mary Magdalene

was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the grave.”

At the same time, there is affirmation of His absence from that very place. It was a place of the dead. The angels asked the women, “Why do you seek the Living One among the dead” (Lk. 24:5), when Christ is the God of the living? Jesus said of Himself, “‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die” (Jn 11:25-26).

All of this is true, and it is of supreme value! Jesus made us to live; sin invaded us with death. Don’t spend your time with devilish things! Don’t allow the world’s ways to invade and take over your life! To do that is to spend your life in a well manicured graveyard.

Jesus arose from the grave, and so must you. He did it to save you from your sins. You

must accept Him in order to live with Him forever in Heaven. And while we are still on this Earth, we are responsible to tell others of His saving grace! Let’s get to it!

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

P. S. Rose Marie was moved out of ICU into another unit of less intensive care. It is a step in

the right direction, yet there are still some serious aspects of her care of which the doctors

are aware. The doctors need your prayers, too. God bless you for your prayerful concern.

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 18:1-6, “When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden, into which He Himself entered, and His disciples.

2 Now Judas also, who was betraying Him, knew the place; for Jesus had often met there with His disciples.

3 Judas then, having received the Roman cohort, and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.

4 Jesus therefore, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth, and said to them, ‘Whom do you seek?’

5 They answered Him, ‘Jesus the Nazarene.’ He said to them, ‘I am He.’ And Judas also who was betraying Him, was standing with them.

6 When therefore He said to them, ‘I am He,’ they drew back, and fell to the ground.”

Jesus had just finished His prayer for His disciples. Now, He is leading them across the Kidron Valley and to the Garden of Gethsemane, the place of prayer. Prayer can be offered anywhere; however, having a familiar place to pray has some decided advantages. When I was in my first two years of college, a close and dear friend, Dr. Clyde Leonard, and I used to pray in an old chemistry lab. Those are times I will never forget.

Judas Iscariot was among the prayers, but he was not there to pray as we think of prayer. He was there to prey upon the LORD Jesus Christ by betraying Him with a kiss. He brought with him Roman officers, chief priests, and the Pharisees. Not everyone who walks among believers is himself a believer.

Jesus spoke boldly, asking, “Whom do you seek?” When they said, “Jesus the Nazarene,” He replied, “I am He.” And immediately, the coalition of evildoers fell backward! The authority, the fearlessness, the innate power by which He spoke forced them back! His authority, fearlessness and power still operate through us when we stand boldly and announce that we are His!

It’s a long story and I cannot tell it all here, but I was scheduled to speak in the largest venue we could obtain in the City of Perth in Western Australia. One of the wise, old pastors said to me, “We’re bringing all kinds of people in here tonight to hear the Gospel. There could be trouble. If there is, cry aloud the Name of Jesus! He will quiet the crowd.”

Thankfully, there was no trouble and some gave their hearts to Christ at the invitation. Yet, I will never forget that pastor’s admonition. I now pass it on to you: Share Jesus Christ with

everyone! Use His authority and fearlessness. They will fall at the feet of His Cross. You will be amazed at what He can do!

We love you and pray for you! May the witness the LORD allows us bear fruit,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

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 12:12-13, “On the next day the great multitude who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

13 took the branches of the palm trees, and went out to meet Him, and began to cry out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.’”

Palm Sunday, as it is called, has already passed. So had the LORD’s Supper with 11 of His disciples. Read carefully the entire account and note that Judas Iscariot was not present. The LORD’s Supper was preceded by the Passover Supper, making the transition from the Old Covenant (Passover) to the New Covenant (LORD’s Supper). Judas was a part of the Old Covenant, but not the New.

Shortly thereafter, “On the next day,” Jesus mounted a young colt, such as were ridden by kings, and made His way toward Jerusalem. Word travelled quickly and people covered His pathway with palm fronds and cried out, “Hosanna!” That word –hosanna– literally means, “LORD, save us!” Is there a greater declaration we could make today than to beseach Him to deliver us from all the evil corruption that exists today in every nation and has root in our own hearts and minds?

LORD, save us from our enemies! LORD, saved us from errant friends! LORD save us from ourselves! We are responsible, for we took our ease when alcohol was presented as a wholesome “unwind” after a difficult day’s work. We are responsible, for we too our ease when the abortion of newly born babies commenced under the guize of “women’s rights.”

We are responsible for failing to inform ourselves of the true reasoning of those seeking political office and failing to vote prayerfully. Now, it is long overdue, yet still right, that we should cry aloud, “LORD, save us!” We need His salvation, and so does our Nation!

As Peter said, “LORD, to whom shall we go? You have the words of Eternal Life” (Jn. 6:68).

Have you turned to Him? Have you repented of the evil thoughts and intents of your heart?

If not, it’s long overdue, but not too late to repent of your sins and cry “Hosanna!”

We love and pray for you daily,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

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.”