He Noticed One Person
Attention as the smallest unit of love.
On being seen by someone who was not scanning.
The big idea
In every crowd, Jesus found the one nobody else was looking at.
Opening scripture
“When Jesus reached the spot he looked up and said: Zacchaeus, come down at once. I must stay at your house today.”
What does “He Noticed One Person” walk through?
He Looked Up
Luke 19:5 · KJV
And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zaccheus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
In plain English
When Jesus reached the spot he looked up and said: Zacchaeus, come down at once. I must stay at your house today.
Up A Tree, Out Of Sight
Zacchaeus climbed a tree specifically so he could see without being seen. Jesus stopped underneath it and used his name. Being noticed was the whole miracle.
Who Touched Me?
Luke 8:45 · KJV
And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
In plain English
Who touched me? Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said: Master, the crowds are pressing in on you.
“Peter's answer was essentially: everyone is touching you. Jesus was not counting the crowd. He was looking for a person.”
Searched And Known
Psalms 139:1 · KJV
O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
In plain English
Lord, you have searched me and you know me.
Attention Is What He Gave
Before the healing, before the teaching, there is almost always a moment where someone is simply seen. That is the part you can copy today.
Pray
Jesus, help me see one person properly today. Amen.
Write it down
Who around you is used to not being noticed?
See someone
Use their name. Ask a second question.
Which passages does this journey use?
3 passages, drawn from Luke 19:5, Luke 8:45, Psalms 139:1. Every verse appears here in the King James text with a plain-English line beside it, so you can read it without a commentary open. Allow about 6 minutes for the whole thing, or 7 short sittings.
- Luke 19:5
- Luke 8:45
- Psalms 139:1
Read any of these in full on the complete KJV, or look the wording up independently at Blue Letter Bible.
More in The Habits of Jesus
All The Habits of Jesus →He Withdrew To Lonely Places
The habit underneath everything Jesus did.
Before Dawn
What Jesus did before the day could ask anything of him.
He Slept In The Storm
Rest that does not wait for calm.
Interruptible
Jesus kept getting stopped, and kept stopping.
He Asked Questions
Jesus asked far more than he answered.
He Was Never In A Hurry
Urgency was not one of his tools.