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Jesus Loves Me – Hymn Story

July 30, 2013 By Jean Wise

Jesus loves me
Jesus loves me – what a neat song. The young kids in our Sunday School sang two weeks ago.  You just had to smile listening to sweet fresh voices chime in with “Yes, Jesus loves me.”  I think God smiled too.
Occasionally we sing this old favorite as one of our hymns of the day. Adults sing the words with reverence and awe.  It is powerful to express out loud – “Yes! Jesus loves me.”

Jesus Loves Me – the Story

Anna Barlett Warner wrote Jesus Loves Me to be included in her sister’s novel. Often they would work together on a project. Her sister ask if Anna would compose a children’s song that would be sung by a character in her story, to comfort a dying child. Anna responded to this request with the lyrics of the now famous Jesus Loves Me. The book was published in 1860.
Missionaries adopted the song, spreading its fame across the world.  I read one place that said Jesus Loves Me has been translated into more languages than any other spiritual song.
Dr. Hawn is professor of sacred music at Perkins School of Theology, SMU shared the following story: 

Of the many famous stories about this hymn, one of the most memorable came from the Swiss-German theologian Karl Barth. 
 Karl Barth delivered one of the closing lectures of his life at the University of Chicago Divinity School. At the end of the lecture, the president of the seminary told the audience that Dr. Barth was not well and was very tired, and though he thought Dr. Barth would like to open for questions, he probably could not handle the strain. Then he said, ‘Therefore, I’ll ask just one question on behalf of all of us.’ He turned to Barth and asked, ‘Of all the theological insights you have ever had, which do you consider to be the greatest of them all?’
 
“This was a remarkable question to ask a man who had written tens of thousands of pages of some of the most sophisticated theology ever put on paper. The students sat with pads and pencils ready. They wanted to jot down the premier insight of the greatest theologian of their time. 
“Karl Barth closed his eyes and thought for a while. Then he smiled, opened his eyes, and said to the young seminarians, “The greatest theological insight that I have ever had is this: Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so!” 

This song holds simple but profound truth in these lyrics.  Its words and music sink into our hearts, no matter our age. Take a moment to recite them out loud as a prayer:
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! This I know,
as he loved so long ago, 
taking children on his knee, 
saying, “Let them come to me.” 

Jesus loves me still today, 
walking with me on my way, 
wanting as a friend to give 
light and love to all who live. 

 Isn’t it somewhat ironic that after 150 years, generations singing and loving this plain little song, most of us don’t know its author? The message, the Good News, lives on with God getting the glory. And that is all that really matters.
What song from childhood still holds meaning for you? 

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Filed Under: hymns

Comments

  1. blankJean Wise says

    August 2, 2013 at 9:15 pm

    I love learnign the stories behind the hymns. Thanks for coming over and commenting Laura We have been traveling so much past few weeks I have been neglecting comments both here and commenting on others blogs. Thankful for now getting back to routines. That Karl Barth story is great, isn’t it?

  2. blankJean Wise says

    August 2, 2013 at 9:12 pm

    I love the hymn stories too Colleen.

  3. blankJean Wise says

    August 2, 2013 at 9:12 pm

    I love hymn stories too Kendall. I am so sorry to be late in responding to your comment as we have been out of town.
    You mentioned Holy Holy Holy – you know those old hymns we learned as kids sure stay with us, comforting and guiding us don’t they? Makes me want to be sure my grandkids learn some of them too. Have a great weekend

  4. blankCeil says

    July 31, 2013 at 8:24 pm

    Hi Jean! I didn’t know the story behind the song, and I love to learn things like that. I remember having a cassette tape in the car (dating myself) when running errands with the kids. This was one of the songs that played. Incredibly catchy 🙂
    Ceil

  5. blankLaura Boggess says

    July 31, 2013 at 2:33 pm

    I didn’t know this story about that sweet song, Jean. This makes me want to hunt up that novel and read the entire context. I love that Karl Barth story too. Good stuff!

  6. blankNancy Ruegg says

    July 30, 2013 at 6:51 pm

    I’ll echo Sandra’s comment below: I knew the Barth story, but not the origin of the song. ‘Love learning about all aspects of church history, including backgrounds of our hymns. Thank you, Jean. One of my favorite songs from childhood: “Jesus Is With Me.” That was a good one to sing when shadows appeared monster-like!

  7. blankSandra Heska King says

    July 30, 2013 at 2:40 pm

    I’ve heard the story about Barth before, but never the origin of the song. Thanks for this. This has to be my favorite childhood hymn. I also love and find meaning in “This Little Light of Mine.”

  8. blankMia says

    July 30, 2013 at 12:48 pm

    Dear Jean
    Oh, I love Karl Barth’s work. Not easy reading, but such deep truth. I am busy at the moment with two parts of his Church Dogmatics. I love singing these wonderful children’s songs to Pappa at night when I cannot sleep.
    Blessings XX
    Mia

  9. blankcolwrite says

    July 30, 2013 at 12:36 pm

    I did not know the author of that song!
    I love that story too about Karl Barth. I have used that in retreats. A great story that says a lot.
    Thanks for sharing this. God bless.

  10. blankkendalprivette says

    July 30, 2013 at 11:41 am

    i love getting the back story on songs….i loved “holy, holy, holy” growing up. i remember getting to hear it on a day that nursery kids ( i would have been 4 years old) got to practice going to big church. it was the first one i heard. (number 11 in the hymnal at the time) i still love it:)

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