Jesus said, “Zacchaeus!”
Can you image how startled Zacchaeus was that out of all that crowd and those religious leaders, he was the worst sinner in town, and Jesus called him by his name.
The Bible says Jesus is the Good Shepherd and He calls his own sheep by name and leads them. In Genesis we read that God came in the Garden of Eden personally to call Adam. He said, “Adam, Adam, where art thou?” And later he called Abraham. He said, “Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Samuel, David, Solomon.” He called them all by name. “Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel.” He called them by name.
And then when the Lord Jesus Christ came, he called his disciples by name. He went down by the seashore and he called out Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John. And from the receipt of custom he called another man, Matthew, who like Zacchaeus, was a tax collector. “Matthew, come and follow me!”, Jesus said. And Matthew rose and followed Jesus immediately. And on the Damascus road, Jesus said, “Saul, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” And on the Isle of Patmos, he said, “John.”
And Jesus also calls you by name. What is your name? Jim, Mary, Susie, Peter? He calls you by name right now. He knows your name, He knows all about you, and he calls you.
1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. 4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. 6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. 8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. 9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Luke 19:1-10 KJV
Adapted from the following Billy Graham sermon.
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