Minister’s Letter (2025)
[2022 letters], [2023 letters], [2024 letters]

WALK WITH JESUS ( LUKE 19:1-10)

Life is lived in a futuristic way but with a lot of reference to the past. People prefer to stay with what they know rather than to imagine the future. Many of us can talk about Covid for example, because it affected or infected us in one way or the other. It is an experience that we know. But the old year is gone and the new has come. We are in a new year and we thank God for the gift of life and health. Let not the negative experiences of 2024 continue to affect us in 2025.

In the gospel of Luke 19:1-10, we are encouraged to leave our past, turn over a new page and walk with Jesus. The story of Zacchaeus is very relevant to those who want to choose Jesus as their master and Lord. Zacchaeus was a rich man; he was a tax collector and lived a better life than most of his fellow Jews although they were all under the Roman government. Although wealthy physically, Zacchaeus was very far away from salvation in the spirit.

Zacchaeus lived in Jericho and for a Jew, the further away you were from Jerusalem, the more unholy you became. But when Jesus was passing by Jericho, it seems Zacchaeus had heard of the miracles that Jesus had performed and wanted to have a glimpse of him.

Scholars suggest that because of his wealth, pride and way of life, Zacchaeus may have had no intention of talking to Jesus - he just wanted to see what Jesus was like from a distance. Since Zacchaeus was short, he had to find the highest point in Jericho and it turned out to be a tree. Rich people don't climb up trees but when Jesus comes into your life the impossible becomes possible.

The main issue about walking with Jesus is not climbing up the tree which Zacchaeus did, but swallowing one's pride and accepting to come down and listen to and walk with Jesus.

I don't know the kind of tree you were on in 2024 or are still on in this new year but Jesus is saying come down and let's walk together and your life will be great. Don't remain on a tree of hatred, malice, jealous, gossiping, fear or not having faith - come down and meet Jesus.

We pray that leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Lebanon, Gaza and Israel silence the guns and come down to the table for peace.