“When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’” (Luke 19:5, NIV84)

Over the last couple of decades a very popular term has arisen in Christian circles. That term is “seeker.” It is used to describe the interested non-Christian, or marginal Christian, who is searching for purpose and meaning. Many churches have been built to honor the pursuit of seekers. Their entire ministry is focused on meeting the needs of those who are seeking God. In our text today, Zacchaeus (a man of small stature) was seeking an opportunity to see Jesus as He came to his town to visit and to teach. Zacchaeus was familiar with Jesus’ reputation. He didn’t want to miss what might be the only opportunity to see this much-talked-about prophet. So he followed the crowd looking for an opportunity, but couldn’t seem to find a crack in the mob. So he ran ahead and climbed into a tree so that He might have a bird’s-eye view of Jesus as He passed by. But then the strangest thing happened. Something that Zacchaeus could never have expected. Jesus walked up to the tree that Zacchaeus was in, looked up, and said, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” Wait a minute! Who was seeking whom? Who was in pursuit of whom? Jesus walked up to a tree, looked up, and called Zacchaeus by name. It seems that Jesus was seeking Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus must have been stunned to hear his name come out of Jesus’ mouth. And what an amazing request: “Come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”

My friends, Jesus loves you so much that He is in constant pursuit of a relationship with you. He knows you by name. He knows where you are. He will use every method possible to let you know that He is seeking you! What wonderful news to take with us today. We have a God who loves us so much that He would come down to our world. He would touch our lives. He would suffer and die for anything that separates us from Him. He would call us by name and bring us into His kingdom. Know today that God is seeking you!

Peace!

Pastor Tom

www.firmlyrooted.church