JESUS LOVES ME, THIS I KNOW, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO
For many, the phrase, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so,” was taught to us when we were young as a way of simply and succinctly expressing the love of Jesus towards us. It may bring back a smile to our faces as we may remember our own children and grandchildren, with other children, singing:
Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so
Little ones to him belong; they are weak but he is strong
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so
As we take time to ponder the powerful truth present in that simple song, we realize that it is more than a simple children’s song. It provides a major theological grounding that is beneficial for every child, woman and man of God.
For example, Karl Barth, the Swiss theologian who is often regarded as one of the greatest Protestant theologian of the twentieth century, was speaking at Rockefeller Chapel on the campus of the University of Chicago during his lecture tour of the United States in 1962. After his lecture, during the Q & A time, a student asked Barth if he could summarize his whole life’s work in theology in a sentence. 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.’”
We live in a world of information. In fact, we have more access to information now than at any other time in history. Consequently, much of our time and attention is devoted to enhancing "What I Know" (Theory of Relativity, the numeric equivalent of Pi (π), the Law of Inertia, Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation, etc. Emphasizing “What I Know” is good for passing standardized tests, climbing the corporate ladder, excelling at trivia games and winning on the gameshow, Jeopardy. However, to truly be fulfilled, my emphasis has to shift from “What I know” to “Who I Know.” And, the primary person whom I need to know is Jesus. Ask yourself, “Do I know Jesus?” More than knowing about Jesus and having information regarding Jesus, “Do I know Jesus?”
Even more, than emphasizing “What I Know” and “Who I Know” is emphasizing “What I know about Who I Know” As I know Jesus, do I also know that Jesus loves me? Beyond what I have done, what I have said, how I have failed, who I have hurt, do I know that Jesus loves me? When I know that Jesus loves me, everything else falls into place, and I no longer have worry and fear.
How do I know that Jesus loves me? The Bible tells me so!
