“Jesus Loves Me”

We had Vacation Bible School this weekend, and since I currently teach our Ladies’ Bible Class, it’s been a while since I sang some of those Children’s Sunday School Songs. At one point, Steve asked, “Do any of you have a favorite song that you’d like to sing?” One sweet little voice yelled out, “Jesus Loves Me!” We had sung that beloved song earlier in a previous session, but we sang it again!

I don’t remember not knowing the words to this song. Do you? I spent many nights singing it to our girls as a lullaby, trying to get them to sleep. But who wrote it? Where did it come from? After a little research, I found that it actually comes from a novel, “Say and Seal” written by Anna Bartlett Warner (1827-1915). It was recited as a poem by a Sunday School teacher, Mr. Linden, to a dying child, Johnnie Fax, to provide comfort about the love of Jesus. Isn’t it interesting that it was first sung by a man who never truly existed. In 1860, William B. Bradbury discovered the poem while reading the novel, and put it to music, adding the chorus.

The song goes like this:

Jesus loves me!  This I know, For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong; They are weak but He is strong. Chorus:
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so. Jesus loves me! Loves me still, Tho I’m very weak and ill,
That I might from sin be free, Bled and died upon the tree. Chorus Jesus loves me! He who died, Heaven’s gate to open wide;
He will wash away my sin, Let His little child come in. Chorus Jesus loves me! He will stay, Close beside me all the way.
Thou hast bled and died for me; I will henceforth live for Thee. Chorus:
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.

Did you know the song had four verses? It truly is a “love song” for it is about Jesus willingly sacrificing Himself on the cross to make a way for “me” to go to heaven – because He loves me so. He will wash away my sin – because Jesus loves me so. Notice – it says “loves” and not “loved.” He is loving us still. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Amen. God Bless, Courtney