March 22, 2018
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.
Refrain: 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 gates to open wide,
He will wash away my sin, let his little child come in. (Refrain)
Jesus loves me! He will stay close beside me all the way.
When at last I come to die, he will take me home on high. (Refrain)
Text: Anna B. Warner, 1820-1915
As I reflect on my “favorite” hymns, two come to mind that I remember from my childhood. The first was about building your house (i.e. faith) on the rock and not the sand. The house built on sand would be washed away by the wind and rain storms. This verse was done with great gusto as we swung our arms downward to show how the house on sand was washed away. The rest of that hymn has faded into my memory, but the one hymn that I do remember and treasure to this day is Jesus Loves Me and it is the one that I would like to share in this devotional.
Jesus Loves Me offers us a very simple and straightforward message that children especially enjoy singing. It doesn’t have the soaring notes and elegant language of some hymns that we treasure—but its simplicity and easy to sing notes make it more endearing to me, so that even as an adult, I still take great joy and comfort in its words. And I can remember the words so well and hit all the notes, which are in my limited vocal range!
In this hectic world of instant news, which is often bad or upsetting, this hymn offers this comforting message—yes, Jesus loves me—a sinner in need of redemption. He died so that heaven’s gates would open wide and with the washing away of my sin, so even this “child”—me—could come in. We really find it difficult to comprehend the breadth and depth of Jesus’ love for us—but here it is simply stated: “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so! “
I remember a special woman who used to cut my hair when I was a teenager. At her funeral, our pastor was commenting on her amazing faith and comparing it to that of a child. That message has stuck with me through the years and I continue to endeavor to keep my faith simple—childlike, if you will. The words of this hymn help to center me in that way—to keep the message of Jesus’ love for all of us in its easiest way to understand. So that as the hymn says, “Jesus loves me! He will stay close beside me all the way, when at last I come to die, he will take me home on high.”
Yes, JESUS LOVES ME!!!! What an amazing gift and blessing.
Camilla (Cam) Wilson
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