Jesus loves me this I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak but He is strong

The song was originally composed by Anna Bartlett Warner for a novel written by her sister, Susan Warner, entitled Say and Seal, published in 1860. It tells the story of a little boy, Johnny, who is sick and dying. He is being rocked in the arms of his Sunday School teacher, John Linden, and asks John to sing him a song. John sings “Jesus Loves Me.”

The song is deeply loved by both children and adults.

Karl Barth was one of the most influential theologians of the twentieth century. He possessed a brilliant mind and wrote thousands of words exploring the interrelation of faith, theology, and culture. Towards the end of his life, Barth gave a lecture at the University of Chicago Divinity School. At the end of the lecture, he was asked what he considered to be the greatest theological discovery of his life.

Everyone sat with bated breath ready for an extended and complex answer. Karl Barth paused for a moment, then smiled and said, “The greatest theological insight that I have ever had is this: Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so!” *

The Apostle Paul was once known as Saul.  When we are introduced to Saul in the book of Acts in the Bible, we find him persecuting Christians, even to the point of death (read Acts 8,9,22,26).  He believed that he was doing the will of God (Acts 26:9).

But Saul was confronted by Christ and his life was drastically changed (see Acts 9).  He became a Christian and began to proclaim the very name (Jesus Christ) that he had once tried to destroy.  His name was changed to Paul and as an apostle of Jesus Christ, he carried the Good News of salvation in Jesus far and wide.

The Apostle Paul wrote: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

Note how the Apostle was intensely personal as he wrote these words.  Even though he had committed such grave sins as persecuting Christians, he was able to affirm the truth: “Jesus loved me and gave Himself for me.”

You and I need to personalize that truth, too.  You and I can sing, “Jesus Loves Me” and know that it is personally true in each of our lives.

Jesus loved you, me, and each and every person in the world so much that He gave Himself to die on the cross for our sins so that we can be saved from sin and receive the gift of eternal life (John 3:16).

“Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.”  It is the greatest truth ever to be revealed and it’s one that needs to be embraced by YOU through your trusting obedience.

-- David A. Sargent