PAK SANTO --THE JESUS MAN.

In Java, Indonesia, village mothers often accompanied me for a roadside stroll with our children at the end of a hot day.

One evening we met 14 year old Trismi, stopping to greet her. Then in simple Indonesian I asked her, ‘Do you know about Jesus Christ?’

‘Oh, yes,’ she answered quickly. ‘He lives in Solerejo.’

‘Allow me to explain,’ I pleaded ‘Jesus Christ, God’s own special Son died on the cross to bring us to God. Later, He came alive to give us life that never ends. And now He lives in heaven.’

But Trismi was adamant. ‘Jesus Christ lives in Solorejo,’ she repeated. I did not wish to argue, so I gave her a little Javanese gospel book, which she gladly accepted. We walked on further, still trailed by mothers wearing a lslendeng, a long scarf around their shoulders and tied over their hips, where the baby sat.

Three weeks later, our children gladly packed away their correspondence lessons to accompany their doctor Dad to the village clinic at Solorejo. Our children enjoyed games with children in distant villages, while I talked with patients who waited their turn at the medical clinic, with its usual line of sick, crippled and infirm patients.

On this particular day, an old Javanese man came, whose face shone with love and peace. Walking along, he spoke so kindly to the sick folk. He smiled at the children. He helped one man blinded with glaucoma.

One of the mothers explained, ‘He helps poor families in our village, despite his meagre resources.

An elderly granny agreed,, ‘Pak Santo always talks about Jesus, so we call him the Jesus man.’

Dear old Pak Santo lived like Jesus because he loved his Lord. And Trismi was right when she said, that ’Jesus Christ lives in Solorejo.’ For Pak Santo, helped by God’s Holy Spirit lived as a true Christian, helping people to understand God’s love.

‘Jesus went about doing good.’ (Acts 10:38)

Does Jesus Christ live in your life- your home- your street- your church- your town?

How will you help someone today?