The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Luke 2:48-52, “And when they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, ‘Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You.’

49 And He said to them, ‘Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?’

50 And they did not understand the statement which He had made to them.

51 And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”

This is a very human experience for both the mother and the Child. Why Mary and Joseph should have neglected searching for Him for a full day, and then finding Him, talk about having being anxious for His whereabouts, is interesting, to say the least.

Does it seem strange to you that Mary is doing the talking here? It is Mary who has from before Jesus’ birth “pondered all these things in her heart.” But it would seem that she has forgotten that the Heavenly Father was ever caring for His Son. Mary includes Joseph in the anxiety over the Boy’s absence from the family group. She speaks of Joseph as being Jesus’ father, which, of course, he was not –not the physical, birth-father. Yet, it was within the culture for her to speak in this way. Joseph, for all intents-and-purposes was Jesus’ guiding formative father, as the LORD had intended.

Jesus’ reply to His mother was both respectful and informative. At the age of 12, He was keenly aware of His purpose on Earth. “Did you not know that I had to be (involved) in My Father’s work?” Sometimes parents overlook how intelligent their children really are. They look and wonder at what their children will ultimately become in life, but are astonished when they discover the children are already on course for what they are to do in life. Still, Mary is not to be scolded for her words to her Son. She had merely, momentarily forgotten His ultimate purpose on Earth.

In the end, Jesus returned with them to Nazareth and continued to obey them. Doubtlessly, Mary often shook her head in wonder and amazement, as she surveyed her own life from the time of the angel’s visit telling her that the Christ –the Messiah of Almighty God—would be born of her.

As for Jesus, He kept “increasing in wisdom and stature,” and was the shining Light of His Heavenly Father and a favorite of all who knew Him. Isn’t that what the Father wants of us? Doesn’t He want us to be like His “only begotten Son”? Yet, how far removed we are from what our Father desires. Why is wisdom so removed from us? Could it be that our focus is too worldly? Could it be that what is transpiring in the world-at-large commands our attention more than what God has given us in His Word?

At dinner the other night, I heard a woman at an adjoining table say, “I think the LORD is coming soon.” Is that not the focus that should obsess and drive our daily lives? I think it is. May the Holy Spirit help us to realign our thinking that we may be ready for His Coming!

Lovingly and prayerfully yours,

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,

Luke 2:40-47, “And the Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

41 And His parents used to go to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.

42 And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast;

43 and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. And His parents were unaware of it,

44 but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day’s journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances.

45 And when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for Him.

46 And it came about that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions.

47 And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.”

As a child, were you ever lost? Maybe in a grocery or department store? Oh, you knew where you were, but your mother didn’t! You weren’t really lost; you were just lost from her. I get it.

The young child Jesus was continuing to grow. He was also getting stronger, and He was becoming wiser by the day. When the grace of God is working in your life, strength and wisdom demonstrate themselves within you. Others may notice your growth more than you do.

There were great feasts for the Jews: 1. The Passover. 2. The Feast of Pentecost, or of weeks. 3. The Feast of Tabernacles, or of ingathering. Passover was kept just before the harvest commenced. Pentecost was observed at the conclusion of the corn harvest and before the vintage. Tabernacles was celebrated after all the fruits of the ground had been gathered. These and other festivals, were spiritual in nature and kept the people apprised of their nationality.

Boys will be boys, and apparently the young Jesus was like other boys of his age, something of a free spirit. Thus, as Joseph and Mary were returning from the festival, they thought nothing of Jesus not being with them. But, after journeying a full day –about 24 miles– and His whereabouts were still not known, they returned to Jerusalem in an effort to find Him.

Ultimately, the 12-year-old Jesus was found in the Temple, surrounded by teachers of the law, both asking and answering questions. They were all amazed at how much He knew and truly understood. Sometimes we sell our young people short. Just the other day, a high school orchestra played for the residence of the rehabilitation facility where Rose Marie currently resides. The young first-chair cellist was amazing! I met him after the performance, and found him to be a pleasant, unassuming and polite young man. He played fawllessly, like a master; yet, he was but a teenager.

The key to all greatness lies squarely in “the grace of God.” Yes, there is natural talent in the lives of those who do not know Christ as their Savior, but true greatness is reserved for those who are fully committed to Him. Is your life focused on Jesus? Are you completely committed to Him? We pray that you are.

Lovingly yours, we 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.”

Dear Grands,

Matthew 2:13-18, “Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, ‘Arise and take the Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.’

14 And he arose and took the Child and His mother by night, and departed for Egypt;

15 and was there until the death of Herod, that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, ‘Out of Egypt did I call My Son.’

16 Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its environs, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the magi.

17 Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying,

18 ‘A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she refused to be comforted, because they were no more.’”

It makes me so mad when I’m in the middle of a good dream and wake up before it is finished! Ever had an experience like that? I’m sure you have. The word “dream” appears in 88 verses of the Bible. It includes

Abimelech (Gen 20:3), Jacob (Gen 28:12), Laban (Gen 31:24), Joseph (Gen 37:5), Pharaoh (Gen 41:1),

Gideon (Jdg 7:13), Solomon (1Kg 3:5), False prophets (Jer 23:25), Nebuchadnezzar (Dan 2:3), Daniel (Dan 7:1), Joseph, Mary’s husband (Mat 1:20), the Magi (Mat 1:12), and Pilate’s wife (Mat 27:19).

Not all of those dreams were good, but the point is that the LORD sometimes speaks to people in dreams. When He spoke to Joseph, telling him to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt for safety, Joseph had every reason to believe Him because of what He had said and done in the past. Why is it not like that with us? We have seen the LORD’s Hand working in and for our lives before; but, when He speaks to us again, we shudder and fumble and argue within ourselves as to whether we should obey. Shame on us! Joseph didn’t do that. And he had a lot more at stake than we because the care of the Christchild was his responsibility.

The message of the LORD was clear: get out of town (Bethlehem)! God to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you otherwise, because Herod will search for the Child to destroy Him. Satan has always put it into the hearts of men to destroy the work of the LORD. Christianity has historically been under attack. Missionaries have been killed by those they sought to bring to faith in Christ. Pastors have been attacked in the satanic effort to defame and destroy the message of salvation. True and godly people in all walks of life are constantly bullied because of their faith. Sometimes, the message of the LORD is to run.

In the meantime, Herod gave orders to slay all male children two years old and under, who were in Bethlehem and the surrounding territory. How many were senselessly slaughtered under Herod’s furious directive is not told us; yet his satanic intention was clear: destroy the Messiah, lest he live to reach the Cross, wherein salvation is readied for all mankind.

In all of this evil carnage that raged agains the young Child Jesus, an Old Testament prophecy was fulfilled. Jeremiah had said, “A voice was heard in Ramah (a city north of Jerusalem)…Rachel weeping for her children; and she refused to be comforted, because they were no more.” The fulfillment of the prophecy is of greater concern that even the lives of those young Jewish children. It demonstrates that the LORD’s will supersedes the will of all others! Herod dies, and there is yet another dream that will come to Joseph.

Let your life always be lived by faith in the LORD! Nothing can discourage those who are focused on Him! He is our All-in-All!

We lovingly think and pray for you as we rejoice in the LORD’s blessings,

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,

Matthew 2:9-12, “And having heard the king, they went their way; and lo, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them, until it came and stood over where the Child was.

10 And when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

11 And they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshiped Him; and opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.

12 And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their own country by another way.”

King Herod thought he had successfully deceived the magi, when he told them to find Jesus and return and reveal to him the Child’s whereabouts. Being wise, they may have detected the deceit in Herod’s mind. In any event, upon leaving they saw again the star which had guided them thus far, and determined to follow it. After all, the star had led them this far, why would they not continue to follow it?

Commentators over the years have launched multiple ideas as to what the star exactly was. Some say it was a meteor; some venture so far afield as to deny its very existence. But why should it be thought that the God who created the very Earth on which man lives could not design and use a genuine star for such a momentous occasion? Sometimes we believe the LORD for a miracle and then humanize it when it comes.

It is noteworthy that God will always guide those who are seeking to find the Savior.

Time had indeed lapsed from the point of the Child’s birth to the coming of the magi. When the shepherds came to the manger in Bethlehem they found a ??????, brephos, a newborn child. When the magi came to Him, they found a ???????, paidion, a young child in a house (?????, oikia), not in a manger (?????, phatne).

The magi did homage to the Boy by humbly prostrating themselves before Him in worship.

It was customary in those days to bring gifts to distinguished persons; thus, they brought to Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Gold is the metal of kings. There was no gift so precious as gold. Frankincense was a gum, derived from incisions in the bark of a tree. It gave forth a sweet and pleasant odor, when burned, and often used in worship. Myrrh, too, was from a thorny tree, but gave forth a bitter and most unpleasant odor. It was used for embalming the dead and preserved the body from decay. These three gifts were exceedingly valuable and had meaningful significance to the life and death of the Savior.

All of this raises the question of whether we bring Him the best of what we have. That He is our King, our Savior, our LORD, demands that we yield ourselves and our most prized possessions to Him for whatever disposal He desires. There is no greater gift we could offer than our love and devotion. Giving yourself to Him for whatever use He desires is paramount. Forsaking all, we follow Him. He lovingly cares and preserves our lives as they glorify Him. As it was with His Son, Jesus, so it should always be with us.

Lovingly and prayerfully yours,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

P. S. Rose Marie is now back in rehab at the Jamestown facility in Rogers, Arkansas. She is progressing

nicely and gaining strength daily. We are so grateful for your prayers! May the LORD bless you

exceedingly!

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 2:1-8, “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, 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 And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

4 And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he began to inquire of them where the Christ was to be born.

5 And they said to him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it 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.”

7 Then Herod secretly called the magi, and ascertained from them the time the star appeared.

8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, ‘Go and make careful search for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, that I too may come and worship Him.’”

The birth of children always cause a stir among people. And while the birth of Jesus was hardly ordinary, it followed the course of arousing people, even the magi from the east. Precisely who these magi were is not certain. Arabia, Babylon, Persia (modern Iran) are all possible contenders. They were foremost astroligers, who watched the skies for signs of miraculous events. How many there were is not known; however, it is likely that their number was considerable. The number three simply derives from the three gifts they later give to the Christ-child. Many years earlier, Daniel had been carried captive into Babylon, and it is possible that the magi’s interest was piqued by his revelation of the prophecy of the coming Messiah.

In any event, the magi caused fear in Herod when they asked the whereabouts of the King of the Jews. “We in the east, have seen His star” is the better translation. If the star were in the east, and they followed it, they would have been journeying toward China.

Herod the Great clearly had no spiritual concern with respect to the birth of Jesus. He was a cruel and vicious person, whose crimes against others –even his own family– were numerous. But, where were the magi to go for information, but to the highest official in the land? Herod deferred to the “chief priests and scribes” for an answer. They were the lawyers, the record keepers, who were responsible to know such things. Their search turned up the prophecy of Micah (5:2) that focused on Bethlehem of Judea as the place of Jesus’ whereabouts.

Herod, in his characteristic manner of deception, then pretended a harmless interest in the whereabouts of Jesus, saying, “Go and make careful search for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, that I too may come and worship Him.”

What is often neglected in the study of Christ’s birth is the connection is has to us. Everything that Jesus ultimatly did –His life, His death, His resurrection– derives from His miraculous conception. Decadent men today seek to undermine and refute the Savior by denying these historical, biblical truths. Rather than following the magis’ earnest seeking, they elect to follow Herod in his deception and denial of Holy Truth. Who are you following? Are you witnessing of Him through your lifestyle? your speech? There’s an old addage that “silence is golden”; but we must admit that sometimes “silence is yellow.” Be bold! Let others know that you know Him and that you are continuing to seek out and live out His plan for your life.

Lovingly and prayerfully yours,

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.”