Jesus Loves Me!
A. THIS IS THE FIRST SONG THAT MANY CHILDREN LEARN AND LOVE.
B. THE TRUTH IN THIS SONG IS FOR THE ADULT AS WELL.
1. Matt. 18:2-4. The humility of the child is required.
2. There is no greater love than shown in the gift that makes us his children
(John 15:13; 1 John 3:1).
3. How doe we know that Jesus loves us? How do we know anything about him?
The Bible Tells Me So!
C. LET’S LOOK AT THE BACKGROUND FOR THIS SONG THEN VERSE BY VERSE.
Provided by Wayne Walker
The story is told of a brilliant professor at Princeton who always left his graduating
class with these words, "Gentlemen, there is still much in this world and in the Bible
that I do not understand. But of one thing I am certain--'Jesus loves me, this I know,
for the Bible tells me so.' And, gentlemen, that is sufficient!" The well-known song
from which he quoted is "Jesus Loves Me" (#267, "Hymns for Worship").
The text was written by Anna Bartlett Warner (1820-1915). Born on Long Island, NY,
and raised in New York City where her father was a prosperous lawyer, she and her sister Susan
spent the summers at their family vacation home named "Good Crag" on Constitution Island
in the Hudson River near the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY. However,
in the panic of 1837, Mr. Warner had to sell their New York City home and move permanently to
Constitution Island.
After their father died, the sisters were left with a meager income and turned to writing
popular novels to earn a living. One of Susan's books was entitled "Say and Seal,"
published in 1860. While she was writing it in 1859, Anna provided a poem which was
spoken by one of the characters, a Bible class teacher named Mr. Linden, to comfort a
dying orphan child named Johnny Fax, whom he had taught about Jesus. The tune (China)
was composed for it and the chorus added, probably in 1861, by William Batchelder Bradbury
(1816-1868). The song first appeared in "The Golden Shower" which he published in 1862.
Anna went on to write a number of novels under the pseudonym "Amy Lathrop" and publish
two collections of poems. The two sisters conducted Bible study classes for many years
at West Point until Susan died in 1885. Anna continued the classes until she died at the age
of 95. Her home was willed to the Academy and is now a national shrine.
But her most enduring monument is this song which reminds of us Jesus' love.
Jesus loves me! This I know, For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to him belong; They are weak but he is strong.
A. JESUS CLAIMED TO LOVE US (John 13:34; 15:9, 12-13; Eph. 3:17-19).
B. WE MAY HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE AS PAUL DID (2 Tim. 1:12). This I know!
C. JESUS CLAIMS US, AND IS WITH US.
1. He calls us his brethren (Heb. 2:11).
2. His promise to the 12 is his promise to all who believe (Matt. 28:20; Phil. 4:4-5).
D. I AM WEAK BUT HE IS STRONG.
1. Rely on the strength we have by faith in Jesus (Eph. 6:10-13).
2. Paul was delivered (2 Tim. 4:16-18).
3. SUCCESS! (Rom. 8:35-37).
Jesus loves me! He who died, Heaven’s gate to open wide;
He will wash away my sin, Let His little child come in.
A. “GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN…” (John 10:15; 15:13).
B. WHAT DID HE ACCOMPLISH IN HIS DEATH?
1. Our sins are removed, washed away (Heb. 9:28; 1 John 3:5).
2. He bore our punishment (1 Pet. 2:24; Isa. 53:4-6).
3. Romans 6:23. The wages of sin is death, but … (2 Cor. 5:14).
4. Heaven’s gate he opened wide (1 Pet. 3:18; John 14:1-3).
5. “Let his little child come in” (Matt. 5:3; Matt. 18:3-4).
Jesus, take this heart of mine, Make it pure and wholly Thine;
Thou hast bled and died for me; I will henceforth live for thee.
A. WE ARE DEBTORS (Rom. 1:14-15; 2:4).
B. “FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST CONTRAINETH US …” (2 Cor. 4:14-15).
C. IT IS MORE THAN FAIR (Rom. 12:1; Gal. 2:20)
D. PURE LIVES (1 Pet. 4:1-2).
E. PURE HEARTS (1 Tim. 1:5; 2 Tim. 2:22; 2 Cor. 7:1).
F. BELONGING TO JESUS (1 Cor. 6:19-20; Matt. 19:27).
A. CHILDREN NEED TO KNOW HOW MUCH JESUS LOVES THEM.
B. WE NEED TO KNOW IT, TOO, AND LOVE HIM AS HE HAS LOVED US.
