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 children and adults worldwide. Then watch a beautifully illustrated original video and print a keepsake PDF of the lyrics and bookmarks.
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 and bookmarks for you to color!
Enjoy our beautifully illustrated video of this sweet hymn that shares Jesus’s 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” as a poem, which appeared in an 1859 novel written by her older sister, Susan Warner. In the novel, the poem is used to comfort a dying child.
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 Warner
Susan Warner
Biography of the Warner Sisters
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 satisfy their family’s debts and remain in their island home.
Cadets rowing across the 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; instead, both devoted their lives to spreading the love of Jesus with the cadets at West Point and to writing. Anna wrote a new song each month to share with the cadets. “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 are 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
We love this song in our house 💙
Love learning about these songs. Thank you.
We love this song. Great info!
My sweet son (2 years old) has started singing this song every where we go. I love that I was able to teach him the whole song using this curriculum that his big sister is using for kindergarten. I knew only the first song as a kid, but now we sing the whole song together and he sings is it every day.
Wow I never knew this before. What a fun way to learn a little history together!