The classic hymn “Jesus Loves Me” is a favorite Sunday school song loved by generations of children! Keep reading to learn the story behind this inspirational song that spreads joy and love to both children and adults worldwide. Then watch a beautifully illustrated original video and print a keepsake PDF of the lyrics.
Jesus Loves Me
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.
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 loves me, this I know,
As He loved so long ago.
Taking children on His knee,
Saying, “Let them come to me.”
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
The Bible tells me so.
Click the image to download a beautiful PDF of the “Jesus Loves Me” lyrics!
Enjoy this beautifully illustrated video of this sweet hymn that shares Jesus’ love for each of us. Find it today on The Good and the Beautiful Kids Channel.
Story of the Song
Anna Bartlett Warner wrote “Jesus Loves Me” first as a poem, which appeared in an 1859 novel written by her older sister, Susan Warner. In the novel, the poem was used to comfort a dying child.
Anna Warner
Susan Warner
Three years later, the poem was set to music by William Batchelder Bradbury, who also added the now-familiar and beloved chorus “Yes, Jesus loves me” to the song. Bradbury published “Jesus Loves Me” in his hymnal called The Golden Sower. He is also known for writing the hymns “He Leadeth Me,” “Just As I Am,” and “Sweet Hour of Prayer.”
Anna and Susan Warner’s mother died when the sisters were young. Their wealthy lawyer father, Henry Warner, often took them to visit their uncle who was a chaplain at the United States Military Academy (also known as West Point) in New York along the Hudson River. During their summer visits, Henry admired the neglected Constitution Island across the river from West Point and eventually purchased it.
View of West Point from Constitution Island
Shortly after purchasing the almost 300-acre historic island, Henry lost most of his money and almost had to sell the beloved island. With their aunt’s encouragement, the sisters began writing. They earned enough money to clean up their family’s debts and remain in their island home.
Cadets rowing across Hudson River
To the cadets at West Point, the sisters were best known for the Sunday Bible classes they led at the Cadet Chapel. Summers were a special treat for the cadets. They would race to pile in the flat-bottom boat before it filled up and row over to the island for class. The sisters loved sharing their faith with the cadets.
Neither sister married, but instead devoted their lives to spreading their love for Jesus with the cadets at West Point and to their writing. Anna wrote a new song each month to share with the cadets. Her song “Jesus Loves Me” was an immediate hit and remains so today.
Anna continued holding classes for another 30 years after her sister died. In 1915 Anna died. Because of their lifelong dedication to the cadets’ spiritual lives, both sisters were buried with military honors.
Anna Warner
To this day, Anna and Susan remain the only civilians buried in the cemetery at West Point. Their graves overlook the Hudson River and Constitution Island. At the end of her life, Anna gifted the island to the Military Reservation of West Point.
The Good and the Beautiful would like to thank the Constitution Island Association for providing photographs of Constitution Island and the Warner family. Be sure to visit constitutionisland.org to learn more about this historic island.
Warner family home today, maintained by the Constitution Island Association
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Comments
This are lovely songs for our children.
We love this song in our house 💙
Love learning about these songs. Thank you.