HAVE YOU HEARD THIS SONG?

“JESUS LOVES ME THIS I KNOW!” is a chorus that is taught by the Christian parents, to their children, very early in their lives. I was taught this chorus by my father, as a little boy. The words are simple poetry, with singular theme of God’s love for us. However, they instil in us a fundamental and absolutely essential Christian truth – THE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE OF GOD. The melody of the song draws us into its embrace, that helps us visualise the love of God, even as a small little child, with limited ability to grasp great themes of life. HAVE YOU HEARD THIS SONG?

The words of the first stanza and the refrain are taught in most Sunday Schools. The words are as follows – “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 Refrain goes thus – “Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.”

Anna Bartlett Warner [1824-1915] wrote “JESUS LOVES ME THIS I KNOW!” as a hymn, in 1859. It has three stanzas and all three of them are amazing. Please check it out latter. Let us look at the words of the first stanza and the refrain, for our meditation this morning.

1- “JESUS LOVES ME, THIS I KNOW”
Oh the love of Jesus! How sweet and comforting it is to know that, the LORD God Almighty loves us unconditionally, the fallen and rebellious sinners, who are in fact the enemies of God. Oh what love it is! How could someone love a sinner like me? We will know it, only when we taste and see it for ourselves.
– “1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.” – “8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” – 1 John 3:1; Psalm 34:8

2- “FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO”
The Bible is our only source book from where we can learn about the God of all creation, the LORD God Almighty. There is no other book, nor any other source, that can give us full and accurate information and insight into who God is; who we are; where did we come from; what about sin; the consequences of our sin; the punishment for our sin; the love of God shown in and through the LORD Jesus; and about our redemption, which is possible only by our faith in the finished work of the LORD Jesus Christ. Yes, only “THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO”*
– “103 How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.” – Psalm 119:103-105

3- “LITTLE ONES TO HIM BELONG”
The LORD loves children. We see Jesus caring for the children, and blessing them in His earthly ministry. Jesus also urges all the adults to have a child like faith. All who humble themselves to the level of a little child, and seek Him with childlike faith, will certainly see the LORD Jesus.
– “13 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” 16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.” – Mark 10:13-16

4- “THEY ARE WEAK, BUT HE IS STRONG”
Children are weak. Children are vulnerable. Children are powerless. Children are helpless. Children don’t know much about a whole lot of things. When we come like a child to Jesus, we don’t need any of the trappings like the world demands, before it bestows respect and honour. The LORD who is strong and mighty will stand on behalf of His children. Whoever the enemy might be, and however strong and mighty they might be, the LORD Jesus will defend His children. The LORD will not only defend His children, but will defeat all our enemies. Behold the battle belongs to the LORD!!!
– “15 And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s…17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you.” – 2 Chronicles 20:15,17

5- “YES, JESUS LOVES ME! YES, JESUS LOVES ME!”
The love of God that is poured upon the fallen human beings, as displayed on the Cross of Calvary, is sufficient enough to help us to know the heart of God, and His love for us. When we know the love of God, we can’t but sing, “YES, JESUS LOVES ME! YES, JESUS LOVES ME!”
– “4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” – Ephesians 2:4-7

6- “THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO”
Oh the Word of God, the Bible, whose worth cannot be defined, nor its significance be described. All we can say is, “THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.”
– “12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” – Hebrews 4:12

Let us pause, and take time today, to ponder upon the amazing love of God, that is poured upon us. Let us soak ourselves, in the warmth of this heavenly love. Let this love that God has for us, fill us to the brim, and be overflowing onto all who are around us.
– “38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39

Even so, the LORD help us. SOLI DEO GLORIA!!!