During his 1962 lecture tour of the USA, a student asked Swiss theologian Karl Barth to summarise his entire theological work in one sentence. After a moment of thought, Barth responded, “Yes, I can. In the words of a song I learned at my mother’s knee: ‘Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.’”
Barth might not have been orthodox in his theology, but by summarising Christian dogmatics in the children’s hymn by Anna Bartlett Warner, he accurately captured the gospel’s message. The Christian message is the simple fact that Jesus loves me.
The Profound Truth of “Jesus Loves Me”
“Jesus loves” is a profound theological truth. However, “Jesus loves me” is a truth that transforms lives. The thought that Jesus, the perfect Son of God, would love a wretched, hell-bound sinner can lighten a heart weighed down by guilt and cause a mournful soul to sing joyfully. It is the love of Christ that causes one to experience the spiritual delights of the heavenly realms. It compels one to live a life of selfless, sacrificial service in this earthly realm.
Paul’s Experience of Christ’s Love
This love of Christ captured the heart of the apostle Paul. He could not get over the fact that Jesus would love a wretched, self-righteous sinner who had persecuted Christ’s church. He wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20).
This love of Christ compelled Paul to be an ambassador for Christ, proclaiming the gospel of love to all who would hear him – Jew and Gentile (2 Cor. 5:14). It caused him to endure slander, beatings, imprisonment, shipwreck, and even execution. It is the love of Jesus that causes the martyr’s heart to beat. As Isaac Watts wrote,
“Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were a present far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.”
The Simplicity and Depth of Jesus’ Love
The beauty of the love of Jesus is that it is simple enough for a child to understand and deep enough for a mature Christian to ponder deeply. Every time we baptise a child in our church, we sing the hymn “Jesus Loves Me.” He loves even these little covenant children who are unable to walk or talk, and have not yet been potty trained.
“Little ones to him belong;
they are weak, but he is strong.”
This is the gospel account of every person. We are helpless as little babes. We are weak, but Jesus is strong. He holds us by his love, for we belong to him by faith.
The Origin and Comfort of “Jesus Loves Me”
The children’s hymn “Jesus Loves Me” was first written as a poem to comfort a dying child in the novel “Say and Seal.” The love of Jesus comforts the believer, announcing a love that transcends even death. The gospel assures us that Jesus bled and died so that sinners no longer need to face God’s divine judgment.
Every Sermon’s Core Message
Every sermon worth its salt restates this simple truth, “Jesus loves you, and the Bible tells you so.” Every true preacher throughout church history has proclaimed this gospel truth—Jesus loves you despite your sins. He loves you despite your covenant unfaithfulness. He endured the cross, despised the shame, and drank the hellish wrath of God reserved for sinners.
After all, Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Therefore, repent and believe in him who is Lord and Savior and receive his love and life.
John Calvin’s personal motto was “cor meum tibi offero, Domine, prompte et sincere” (My heart I offer to you, O Lord, promptly and sincerely). May this attitude of complete surrender to the Lord Jesus be ours too. It is only in being lost in the love of Jesus that we find our true selves.
