Jesus Loves Me, This I Know

While attending a recent hymn-sing, I felt I was hearing someone singing in between each hymn. Then listening more closely during the brief lull between songs, I realized I was clearly hearing the precious voice of a toddler singing the chorus; “Yes, Jesus loves me, Yes Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so.” It brought a smile to my heart and made me wonder about the history of this simple, truth-filled song we not only learn at an early age but love to continue singing as time passes and we grow into adulthood.

Through my research I learned of Anna and Susan Warner, daughters of a well-known lawyer – living in New York in the mid 1800’s. These well-educated sisters lived near the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and taught Bible classes for the cadets for some years. They willed their home to the Academy (now a national shrine) and both were buried there with military honors in recognition of the spiritual guidance they offered to young officers. Together the sisters also wrote and published novels that were highly popular in those days.

One of their bestselling novels was called “Say and Seal” (Susan wrote the story and Anna wrote the poem) which included a story about a Sunday school teacher who sought to comfort a dying child by speaking this little verse to him, “Jesus loves me — this I know, For the Bible tells me so; Little ones to Him belong — They are weak, but He is strong.” Three stanzas of ‘Jesus loves me’ were included in this story. It was here that the words to this song were first in print anywhere!

Some 30 years later, William Bradbury, a church musician and famous hymn writer, read the novel and decided to compose a simple pentatonic tune to go along with the words, and also add a little chorus. Many missionaries taught this song to children in many lands because it had such a simple message and a tune that children easily learned.

Consider also, how in many history books we find the story of John F. Kennedy serving as a PT boat Commander in the Pacific during World War II. When his boat was rammed near the Solomon Islands by a Japanese destroyer many lives were lost and he worked hard to rescue his shipmates. He himself was taken to safety and protected by natives from the islands.

What is not told in most history books is that, after they got him to a safe place, these natives who were schooled at an Adventist mission established on the islands sang together with Kennedy in their respective languages, a familiar song which bonded them together – “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”

This simple song has had various verses added over the decades, been translated into many languages, and has a place in hundreds of hymnals, Sunday Schools, and churches.

Jesus Loves Me
Words by Anna B. Warner (1820-1915) Music by William Bradbury (1816-1868)

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

[Chorus]
Yes, Jesus loves me! (x3) The Bible tells me so.

Jesus from His throne on high, Came into this world to die That I might from sin be free, Bled and died upon the tree.

Jesus loves me! He who died Heaven’s gate to open wide! He will wash away my sin, Let His little child come in.

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.

Sources: Internet: Discipleship Ministries/History of Hymns: ‘Jesus Loves Me’; Jesus Loves Me: The Surprising Story Behind A Song You Know So Well – Hymns for Worship; Behind the Hymn: Jesus Loves Me * Diana Leagh Matthews. Books: Apostolic Christian Junior Hymnal, page 128