Jesus Leaves the 99 to Find You: The Lost Sheep

Hey, carpool crew, whether you're out running errands or stretched across the backseat with your shoes off, I'm Pastor Justin, and I'm so glad you're here. Today's story is all about getting lost. And what happens when someone cares enough to come find you? It's about sheep. Yes, but it's really about you, me and the incredible love of Jesus. Let's check out Luke chapter 15, four through seven. What man among you who has a hundred sheep and loses one of them does not leave the 99 in the open field and go after the lost one until he finds it. I tell you. In the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who don't need repentance. Jesus told this story to a group of people who were confused. He had been hanging out with people others called sinners, people who had messed up, been left out or done some not so great stuff. The religious leaders were like, why is he spending time with them? So Jesus told them a parable. What's a parable? Well, it's a story with a deeper meaning. He said, imagine a shepherd has a hundred sheep. That's a lot of sheep, and one day counts them: 98, 99, uh oh, one is missing. He doesn't say, oh well, I've still got 99. Nope. He leaves the 99 in a field and goes looking. He searches and searches until he finds the one little sheep and when he finds it, he celebrates not quietly either. He throws a party. Jesus says, that's exactly how God feels when even one person turns back to him. That's how much each of us matters. If Jesus was here in the car with you, I'd think he'd say, even if you were the only one who needed saving, I'd still come to save you. You are not just a number. You are not just a part of a crowd. You are seen, you are known, and you are worth searching for. Jesus doesn't just love the group. He loves you personally, and whether you felt far from him, messed up, or just unsure where you stand, he's already on the way to find you. So what does this mean for your life? If you've ever felt left out or unnoticed, remember Jesus notices you. He would leave the crowd just to find you. If you've messed up, maybe you were mean to a sibling or disobeyed your parents, Jesus still loves you and so does your parents, by the way. He doesn't wait for you to fix it all. He comes to bring you back. He loves you. And if you know someone who feels far from God, be like that shepherd. Don't give up on them. Pray, be kind. Invite them into something that helps them see Jesus. Jesus celebrates every person who turns back to him, and we should too. Remember, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. Parents, if you love this podcast, share it on a Facebook group or on Instagram, and tag us at carpooling with Jesus so other people can discover great conversations with their kids too. Before you go answer this question together, what's one thing this story teaches you about how Jesus sees you and how you can share that love with someone else this week? I'll see you tomorrow. I'm carpooling with Jesus.