Seen, Known, and Called (Junior/Senior High)

Opening:

Let me start with a question: Have you ever been in a room full of people and still felt invisible?

Not unseen because you’re quiet but unseen because no one really knows you.

Or maybe the opposite is true.

Maybe you feel very seen, but only for the version of yourself you’ve learned to present:

grades

sports

personality

reputation

social media

Think about that for a moment. How much time do we spend deciding which version of ourselves people get to see?

Most people spend their lives trying to answer one question: Do I actually matter?

Our text today is about a man who had money, power, and status and still knew something was missing.

1.) Zacchaeus on Paper (v.2)

Our text comes from Luke 19. Listen to how Luke introduces this man:

Luke 19:2 ESV

And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich.

That sentence tells us everything the world needs to know about him.

Zacchaeus wasn’t just a tax collector. He was the chief tax collector.

Which means:

He worked for Rome and was in charge of all the other tax collectors.

He made money off his own people.

He got rich by overcharging others

Zacchaeus had climbed the ladder. But the problem with ladders is this: you can climb all the way to the top and still realize you’re leaning against the wrong wall.

Think about it this way.

Imagine Zacchaeus had a YouTube channel or a TikTok account.

Let me show you what I mean (Hold up my phone)

This phone can show you exactly what someone wants you to see. Photos you choose. Clips you edit. Moments you crop.

(Turn phone face down)

But this phone can’t show you the things we don’t post.

It can’t show guilt. It can’t show shame. It can’t show regret. It can’t show the questions you think about late at night.”

Zacchaeus looked successful on the outside. But Jesus wasn’t fooled by the profile.

And the scary thing is neither are most of you. You already know the difference between being seen and being known.”

2.) The Restlessness (v. 3)

Luke tells us something important next:

Luke 19:3 ESV

And he was seeking to see who Jesus was…

That word seeking matters. This isn’t boredom. This isn’t casual curiosity. This is restlessness.

You know that feeling when your phone hits 1%?

It still works, but barely. Everything feels urgent. You’re looking for a charger.

That’s Zacchaeus. His life still functioned. He still went to work every day. Still made money. Still had influence. But something inside him was running out.

And here’s an important truth: Restlessness is often the first sign that God is drawing someone to Himself.

That unsettled feeling you can’t shake is sometimes God’s grace knocking on the door.

3.) The Obstacle: The Crowd (v. 3–4)

Luke tells us Zacchaeus couldn’t see Jesus because of the crowd. That’s more than a physical detail. Crowds decide who belongs and who doesn’t.

They decide:

who deserves another chance

who’s too far gone

who’s worth listening to

Zacchaeus had a reputation. And the crowd had already decided: Not him.

So Zacchaeus does something unexpected.

Luke 19:4 ESV

So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him…

In that culture, this was humiliating. Powerful men didn’t run. Respectable men didn’t climb trees. But when the life you’ve built stops delivering what it promised, you stop caring how you look.

Zacchaeus would rather look foolish than stay empty. That’s a turning point.

4.) The Turning Point: Jesus Stops (v. 5)

This is where everything changes.

Luke 19:5 ESV

5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.”

Jesus stops. Looks up. And He calls Zacchaeus by name.

That’s not coincidence. That’s grace.

Zacchaeus thought he was searching for Jesus. But the truth is: Jesus was already searching for him.

And Jesus doesn’t say, “Clean yourself up first.” He says, “Come down.” Today.

5.) The Response: Seen, Not Exposed (v. 6)

Luke tells us how Zacchaeus responds:

Luke 19:6 ESV

6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.

That joy didn’t come from excitement alone. It came from this realization: Jesus saw him and didn’t walk away.

Think about the difference between these two moments: Getting caught doing something wrong vs. Being found by someone who still wants you.

One brings fear. The other brings joy.

Zacchaeus thought being seen meant judgment. Instead, being seen meant grace.

Joy isn’t pretending nothing’s wrong. Joy is knowing the truth about you is known and you’re still welcomed.

6.) The Crowd Pushes Back (v. 7)

Not everyone is happy.

Luke 19:7 ESV

7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”

Here’s what’s happening.

The people watching Jesus that day knew the rules. They knew who was acceptable. They knew who didn’t belong.

But they misunderstood Jesus.

They thought holiness meant staying away from sinners. Jesus knew holiness meant going toward them.

So while the crowd could see Jesus, they didn’t yet understand Him.

And that’s still possible today.

You can know Bible stories. You can grow up around church. And still miss what grace really looks like.

Grace always looks wrong to people who think they’ve earned their place.

7.) Real Change Shows Up (v. 8)

Then Zacchaeus speaks:

Luke 19:8 ESV

8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.”

This isn’t vague regret. This is specific repentance.

There’s a difference between deleting a message and repairing the damage it caused.

Grace doesn’t make Zacchaeus defensive. It makes him honest. And notice Jesus didn’t tell him to do this. Changed hearts produce changed lives.

8.) What Salvation Really Is (v. 9–10)

Jesus explains what just happened:

Luke 19:9 ESV

9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.

Here’s what Jesus is saying.

Zacchaeus was already Jewish by birth. But his life had marked him as an outsider. The crowd had decided he didn’t belong anymore.

When Jesus says “son of Abraham,” He’s not just talking about family history.

He’s saying: Zacchaeus belongs to God’s family again.

In the Bible, Abraham isn’t just a historical figure. He’s the example of someone who trusted God.

So to be a “son of Abraham” means:

You belong

You are accepted

You are part of God’s people by faith

Jesus is publicly restoring Zacchaeus’ identity.

The man everyone had written off is now declared a true member of God’s family.

Then Jesus gives the purpose behind everything.

Then Jesus gives the purpose behind everything:

Luke 19:10 ESV

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

That sentence explains Christianity. Zacchaeus didn’t change to be saved, He changed because He was saved.

Jesus doesn’t wait for people to clean themselves up. He goes looking.

Conclusion:

Zacchaeus climbed a tree to see Jesus. But later, Jesus would climb another tree, the cross.

One tree let him see. The other tee saved him.

Jesus took the punishment Zacchaeus deserved. The punishment we deserve. He died. He rose again.

Salvation isn’t earned by performance, morality, or reputation. It’s received by faith.

Some of you are like Zacchaeus.

Curious. Restless. Not sure what you believe.

Jesus isn’t waiting for you to impress Him. He’s calling you.

If you already follow Jesus, this story asks a hard question: What has actually changed?

Grace doesn’t leave us hidden in trees. It brings us down into obedience. Not to earn love but because we’ve already received it.

Zacchaeus was seen, known, and called. And the same Jesus still sees, knows, and calls today.

Prayer

Jesus, thank You for seeing us as we are and loving us anyway. Thank You for the cross and the grace that finds us. For those still seeking, give clarity and courage. For those who believe, give repentance and obedience. We trust You. Amen.