Posted on 04/03/2015 5:41:00 AM PDT by Gamecock
Do you remember this little children’s song? It is such a simple little song. We sang it over and over in Sunday school, daily vacation Bible school, children’s clubs, etc. It seemed so straightforward and uncomplicated. Yet it contains some vital and deep truths and concepts which are not only significant but immensely complicated.
Take the first word Jesus. Jesus is without a doubt the most controversial person in history. For the first 5 centuries following his life on earth, Scholars, politicians, followers and enemies – all kinds of people – fiercely debated about him. Was he God? Was he a man? How do we put these 2 concepts together? Thousands of volumes have been written and the debate continues. Who is Jesus?
Two of my favorite, short but excellent summaries are found in a Christmas hymns:
-Hark the Herald Angels Sing: Christ by highest heav’n adored Christ the everlasting Lord! Late in time behold Him come Offspring of a Virgin’s womb, Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; and Hail the incarnate Deity. Pleased as man with man to dwell Jesus, our Emmanuel Hark! The herald angels sing “Glory to the newborn King!”
-O Come All Ye Faithful: God of God light of light Lo he not the virgin’s womb; Very God begotten not created: O come let us adore him Christ The Lord.
But there is more. Jesus loves me. I wonder how many people there are who are desperate to know that someone – anyone loves them! What the little song reminds us is that Jesus – Incarnate Deity, God of God and Light of Light – loves us. This is personal! Jesus showed us God’s love not only by his humble birth, but also by his obedient life, his brutal death and finally his powerful resurrection! He did this for us.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5.6 – 8 ESV)
How do we know this? The only way that we can know these amazing truths for certain is explained in the little song. “Jesus loves me this I know; for the Bible tells me so.” We can be sure of Jesus’ love because God has revealed this truth to us in his Word, the Bible. Only in the holy Scriptures of the Bible, do we learn of our need for forgiveness and God’s provision through Jesus Christ, his only son.
There are great many wonderful hymns and Christian songs, but none surpass the amazing truth: Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.
Thank you for posting this. It truly is more than just a children’s Sunday school song.
"Christ, by highest Heav'n adored,
Christ, the Everlasting Lord,
Late in Time behold him come,
Offspring of a Virgin's Womb.
Veiled in Flesh, the Godhead see,
Hail the Incarnate Deity!
Pleased as Man with Men to appear,
Jesus, our Immanuel here!
Hark how all the Welkin rings:
'Glory to the King of Kings!'"
(A "welkin" is the bell-shaped curve of the sky, the implication being that when the angels sang to the shepherds, all of the universe reverberated like a rung bell in sympathetic vibration.)
None of which detracts from the point of your article, with which I heartily agree--and so, is the story is correct, did Karl Barth. (cf. here)
Bradbury had a hand in co-writing or publishing many Civil War-era hymns that have stood the test of time, including "My Latest Sun is Sinking Fast" (also published in Golden Shower), "He Leadeth Me" and "Near the Cross."
She and her sister used to run Bible studied for cadets at the United States Military Academy.
They are buried at the cemetery at West Point. Been to the grave.
Low in the grave He lay, Jesus my Savior,
Waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!Refrain
Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,
He arose a victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!Vainly they watch His bed, Jesus my Savior;
Vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord!Refrain
Death cannot keep its prey, Jesus my Savior;
He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!Refrain
Many have quoted the great theologian Karl Barth as having answered a student’s question to sum up all his theology in one sentence. He said yes, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”
We sing this every Sunday for the childrens sermon ....
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