Jesus Loves Me

Today, I had the privilege of being present for the dedication of my 3rd nephew, of together with my family and his church family promising to pray for and care for him, pray for and support my sister and brother-in-law, and live my life as an example to point him to Jesus. At my church in Ann Arbor, we always end a child dedication or baptism (the church does both) by singing the first verse and chorus of Jesus Loves Me, but changing it to "Jesus loves you." This is what every child needs to hear as he or she is growing up, that Jesus loves him or her. They need to hear it often and confidently, but even more critically, they need to see adults around them living as though they believe it.

When was the last time you sang Jesus Loves Me in a context that did not involve children? When was the last time that you read and meditated on the words. When was the last time you sang more than the first verse? (Let's be honest here, how many of you knew that there was more than one verse to the song?)

I think that this is a song we need to sing to ourselves more often. It may feel childish, it may feel silly, but it is gospel. Jesus loves me. How do I know that? Because God gave us His Word to tell us that. We are not our own; we have been bought at a price. We are weak and faithless, but He is strong, and faithful, and He loves even me.

The words were written in 1860 by Anna B. Warner for a Sunday School teacher to sing to a young boy who was dying. William Bradbury wrote the tune that we now sing in 1862 and added the refrain. Additional verses have doubtless been written and added on by various people over the years. The first four verses below are attributed to Ms. Warner, but one of my hymnals adds another verse with no attribution, which I've included as verse five.

Verse 1 tells us who we are in Christ, that Jesus loves us and we belong to Him. Verse 2 tells us what Christ did, opening up heaven's gate and washing us clean. Verse 3 tells us what Christ is doing, loving us and sustaining us from His throne even as we are weak and ill (physically, spiritually, emotionally). Verse 4 tells us what Christ will do, walking through this life with us and, in the end, bringing us into His eternal rest, not for our sake, but for His. Verse 5 tells us how we should respond, giving ourselves to Him to be sanctified, grown, and completely surrendered to His glorious reign.

Jesus Loves Me

Jesus loves me, this I know

For the Bible tells me so;

Little ones to Him belong,

They are weak but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

The Bible tells me so!

Jesus loves me, He who died

Heaven's gate to open wide;

He will wash away my sin,

Let His little child come in.

Jesus loves me, loves me still,

Though I'm very weak and ill;

From His shining throne on high,

Comes to watch me where I lie.

Jesus loves me, He will stay

Close beside me all the way,

Then His little child will take

Up to heaven for His dear sake.

Jesus, take this heart of mine,

Make it pure and wholly thine;

On the cross You died for me,

I will try to live for Thee.

(Public Domain)