One of the first “church songs” I learned as a child was “Jesus Loves Me.” Musically, it is a simple song, making it easy for children to sing. Lyrically, very simplistic & easy to learn. Theologically, though simple, it is profound. All over the world Christian churches teach this simple song to children with the powerful message that Jesus loves them. The world may be harsh & unforgiving but God’s love is sure & true. If you were to see it written out in a variety of languages it would look something like this: "Cristo me ama", "Yesu Mfumu antemwa","YehSou ngoi ngoh","Jesu-Kristo amas min","Jesus m'aime","Jesus liebt mich","Cristo munawan","Yeh Su Ai Wa","Yesu anipenda","Yesu rak chun." I’m sure the God Who created each of these tiny little lives relishes in the knowledge they learn of His great love.
As a small child I didn’t fully comprehend the scope of Christ. As an aging adult, I still don’t fully understand the scope of Christ! It’s a challenge to rectify the two extremes of Christ. The jealous passion He has for His children that caused Him to braid a whip & drive our money changers from the temple as they robbed His children trying to sacrifice to Him & the gentle Savior Who held children in His arms & healed the weak & sick. The Son of God Who called out religious leaders ‘on the carpet’ & the Son of Man Who wept over the crowds that were ‘harassed and helpless like sheep having no shepherd.’ The Master Teacher Who turned the hearts of men to God, & the God Who mastered the winds & sea. The Savior Who willingly lay down on the sacrificial altar of the cross as He was torn & tortured for our sins & the Conquering Lord Who will come again to come for His chosen ones. Yes, Jesus loves me!
The bible is one long love letter exposing God’s great love in saving no cost to provide a remedy for our sin & guilt. From the garden fall to the last chapter of the book it spells out the love Christ has for us. Not a reasonable love. Let’s face it, none of us are deserving of the kind of love He showed us. I can’t begin to wrap my mind around a love that willingly endured torture & humiliation to free the very haters who impaled Him. But it’s there in black & white (unless of course you have a red letter addition bible!). “The bible tells me so.”
I’m not sure where you find yourself tonight. I don’t know the course this day or week has held for you. Somehow I think you, and most of us, need to be reminded of that simple, child-like refrain of “Jesus Loves Me.” When our lives get complicated & confused we need that simple song. When we are pensive & worried, when we are grieving & our hearts are rent, when our ‘religion’ is muddled, and when our relationships are shattered, “Jesus loves me this I know.”
“Glory and strength to Christ, who loves us, Who blood-washed our sins from our lives, Who made us a Kingdom, Priests for His Father, forever—and yes, He's on His way! Riding the clouds, He'll be seen by every eye, those who mocked and killed Him will see Him, People from all nations and all times will tear their clothes in lament. Oh, Yes.” Rev. 1:5-7 The Message
With the cross death & the empty tomb blasted by the resurrection, He graphically showed all creation His great love. My prayer is you accept that love as much as your mind & heart can. We reach out in believing faith & He takes care of the rest. We may never fully grasp the scope of Christ until we see Him split the sky on that white horse, but it’s somehow in that blind faith that He shines!
This hour, find some peace in that thought: “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.” If you’ve forgotten, take a minute & sing it to yourself. If you don’t really know, I’d love to share with you. Try to get that beautiful picture of His soon triumphant return in your mind. As the old hymn says, then ‘the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”
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Dave Jackson-Campus Minister djackson@absc.org
Cell: 870-217-9376
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