Jesus Calls Me by Name

“When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name.” Luke 19:5 (NLT)

Jesus doesn’t just notice me. He doesn’t just pick me out in a crowd of eight billion people. He knows me. And just like he did for Zacchaeus, he calls me by name.

All his life, Zacchaeus had been ridiculed and rejected, first as a young person for his size. His small stature would have caused him to be the subject of some mean-spirited attention. But then when he got older, he’s ridiculed and rejected for his dishonesty and his corruption as a tax collector. No one would have noticed or cared what happened to Zacchaeus.

And yet, “when Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name” (NLT).

How did Jesus know Zacchaeus’ name? The same reason Jesus knows my name—because he made me. He’s God! God created me, and he knows my name.

This would have shocked everyone in the crowd, not just because Jesus called his name but also because Zacchaeus’ name means “pure one.”

Zacchaeus was anything but pure. He was corruption personified. He would have been called a lot of names over his lifetime, to his face and behind his back. But it had probably been a long time since anyone had called him by his real name, “pure one.”

Jesus called him by his real name. Why? Because Jesus was recognizing Zacchaeus’ potential rather than pointing out his past.

I may have had some tough breaks in life. I've had some mean things said about me. I can still remember the names I was called by the kids at school or even my parents. And I have a hard time feeling good about me.

But I have to remember this: Even though other people may have called me those names, it doesn’t really matter.

What matters is not the names they called me but the fact that Jesus knows my name. He is calling my name today, drawing me to him and saying, “I see in you what I made you to be—and I’ve never given up on that.”

In summary:

When Jesus called Zacchaeus by name, He showed that He didn’t merely notice him but truly knew him, seeing beyond a lifetime of ridicule, rejection, and corruption to the identity and potential God had placed within him. Though Zacchaeus had been labeled and shamed by others and lived far from the meaning of his name, “pure one,” Jesus addressed him by his true name to affirm who he was created to be, not who his past suggested. In the same way, Jesus knows me personally because He created me, and He calls me not by the hurtful names or labels others have used, but by my God-given identity. No matter the wounds or words I’ve carried, what matters most is that Jesus knows my name, sees who I was made to be, and continues to call me toward restoration and hope.

Bottom Line:

My past labels don’t define me—Jesus knows my name, sees my true identity, and calls me into who God created me to be.

Next Step:

Intentionally replace false labels with God’s truth about my identity. This week, identify one name, belief, or narrative I’ve carried that came from rejection, failure, or other people’s opinions, and consciously surrender it to God in prayer. Then write down—and speak daily—the name and identity Jesus calls me by (chosen, forgiven, redeemed, pure, called).

Practically, turn this into movement by sharing it with others: create a short devotional, coaching reflection, or LinkedIn post about how identity precedes transformation. As I help others let go of harmful labels and embrace who God says they are, I’ll reinforce my own identity and advance my calling to lead, coach, and equip people with hope and clarity.