Today, billions of people inhabit the earth, yet Jesus knows your name and understands your struggles. Scripture calls believers the sheep of His pasture, and our loving Shepherd knows each of us personally, even when we don’t know Him. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, was making His way toward Jerusalem to lay down His life on the cross for our sins. Yet, He still took time to minister to individuals along the way—even the most unlikely. One such man was Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector of the region. He was a man of great wealth but little honor in his community.
When Jesus entered his town, Zacchaeus was determined to see Him. Because he was short in stature and unable to see over the crowd, he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree along the roadside where Jesus was about to pass. One can only imagine the anticipation building in his heart as the sound of the approaching crowd grew louder. Then Jesus drew near to the very tree in which he was perched. Luke 19:5 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” [1].
Jesus Wants Us to Know Him Personally
When Jesus Christ called Zacchaeus by name, it likely came as a shock. Not only does Jesus know Zacchaeus’s name, but He also understands that his deepest need is not wealth or status, but to become a child of God. That is the only way he can be made whole. Instead of keeping His distance, Jesus expressed a desire to spend time with Zacchaeus. He even chose to be a guest in his home. This choice is especially significant because, as a tax collector, Zacchaeus is probably disliked and avoided by many in the community. Yet Jesus deliberately sought him out and stayed at his house.
That personal, unexpected encounter changed everything, transforming Zacchaeus into someone new. In the same way, Jesus cares about you. He understands the struggles you face and sees the wrong choices we have all made. Yet He still desires a relationship with us. The words written by the Apostle John speak to Jesus’ desire to have a relationship with you. Revelation 3:20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. [2]
The Urgency of Jesus
Jesus’s words to Zacchaeus about coming down from the tree and staying at his home carry a sense of urgency. Jesus knew Zacchaeus’s heart was ripe and open to further conversation, and He made time for him. Although Jesus was heading to Jerusalem to sacrifice Himself for our sins, He still paused to help someone in need. Jesus desired to make him whole. Jesus’s sense of urgency should influence how we perceive others around us.
Who around you needs a word of encouragement, prayer, or to hear the good news about Jesus? Sometimes this person may be a stranger, yet the Lord is prompting us to act to care for someone who needs to be made whole. Jesus knows everyone’s names, even when we do not. When we see others through His perspective, we can recognize and serve them as He leads us. Remember, Jesus knows your name. To learn more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/called-to-wholeness-through-faith
[1,2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.