Jesus and MeWhat Happened to the Little Lost Lamb?
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About this story
Join Jesus and his little friend for the story of the shepherd who left ninety nine sheep to find one little lost lamb. A gentle Bible story for young children about how much God loves each one of us.
In one line: God never stops looking for you.
Ask your child
Have you ever felt lost, small or sad? How does it feel to know God never stops looking for you?
A short prayer: Dear God, thank you for looking for me and carrying me home. I am safe with you. Amen.
Read the story
Have you ever lost something very special? Come and see! Jesus has a story for you. Hello, friends! Jesus and I sat on our sunny hill, ready to share it together. One day, lots and lots of people came to listen to Jesus. Some of them had done wrong things. Some of them felt sad inside.
A tax collector came. Other people did not like him very much at all. But Jesus smiled at them. He welcomed them. He even sat and ate with them! Some teachers stood nearby. They folded their arms and frowned. Hmm, hmm, hmm. They grumbled, “Why does Jesus eat with people who do wrong things?”
So Jesus told them a story. It was a story about a shepherd. Once upon a time, there was a kind shepherd. He had one hundred sheep! Fluffy sheep, big sheep, little sheep. He loved every single one of them. He knew all their faces. He gave them green grass and cool water.
Every evening, he counted them carefully. One, two, three, four, five. He counted and counted and counted, all the way up to ninety nine. Ninety nine? Wait! Oh no! One little lamb was missing! Earlier that day, Little Lamb saw a pretty butterfly. Off she hopped after it.
She hopped past the rocks. She hopped past the bushes. Hop, hop, hop! On and on she went, further and further away from the others. Then Little Lamb stopped and looked around. Where was everybody? She felt very small. Baa, baa. Little Lamb was lost, and a little bit worried.
Now, did the shepherd say, “Oh well, I still have ninety nine”? No! He left the ninety nine safe together, and off he went to look. He had to find his little lamb. Every single one mattered to him. Up the hills he climbed. Over the stones he stepped, step, step, step.
He cupped his hands and called, “Little lamb, little lamb, where are you?” The wind blew. The sun went low. But still he kept on looking. He looked behind the big rocks. He looked under the prickly bushes. Can you call with me? “Little lamb, little lamb, where are you?”
He did not give up. He kept on looking until he found her. Then he heard something. A tiny little sound. Baa, baa. There she was, caught in a prickly bush! “Found you, Little Lamb!” Gently, so gently, he lifted her out. He stroked her soft, white wool.
Was he cross with her? No, not one bit! He was so happy! He lifted Little Lamb up onto his shoulders. Up, up, up she went! Little Lamb snuggled around his neck. Safe at last. Snug and warm and loved. Home they went, over the hills, smiling and happy all the way.
Back home, the shepherd called all his friends and neighbours together. He said, “Be happy with me! I have found my sheep that was lost!” Everybody cheered and clapped! Hooray, hooray! Little Lamb was home again! Then Jesus said there is great joy in heaven, just like that!
When someone who wandered away comes back to God, all of heaven is glad! The people who had done wrong things listened. Jesus loved them, too! Back on our sunny hill, I gave Jesus a great big hug. Jesus is like that kind shepherd. And you and I are like Little Lamb.
Even when you feel lost or small or sad, he comes to find you. Say it with me now: God never stops looking for you! God never stops looking for me. And God never stops looking for you! Can you give someone a big smile today? Bye bye, my friends!
“Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep and lost one of them, wouldn’t leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that was lost, until he found it? When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing. When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’”Luke 15:4-6 (World English Bible)
