Jesus Loves Me Series

OPEN: Years ago, a large Atlanta church was televising the service where they had asked a retired 92 year minister preach from its pulpit. There was a warm welcome as he was introduced and, as the applause quieted down, the old man rose from his high back chair and walked slowly, with great effort to the podium.

Without a note or written paper of any kind, he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself and then quietly and slowly he began to speak.

"When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your preacher asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson I ever learned in my 50 odd years of preaching. I thought about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials. The one thing that I could always rely on when tears and heart break and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me. The only thing that would comfort was this verse:

"Jesus loves me this I know. For the Bible tells me so.

Little ones to him belong, We are weak but he is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me... The Bible tells me so."

When he finished, the church was so quiet you actually could hear his foot steps as he shuffled back to his chair. (www.blufftontoday.com/node/8060)

SING: “Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so

Little ones to Him belong we 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

Yes Jesus loves me, yes Jesus loves me,

Yes Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so!"

This is one of the most popular Christian songs ever written.

It is arguably as well known as Amazing Grace and Silent Night.

It is taught by Christian parents and teachers to their children from the day they can speak. And it has been translated into most major languages and sung by children in every nation on the face of the earth.

In fact, it’s so popular that even other religions have copied it.

One preacher (K. Edward Skidmore on sermoncentral.com) came across a rendition that declares:

“Buddha loves me this I know, for the Dharma tells me so.”

Skidmore went on to say “Well, you’d have to look long and hard at the Dharma to find evidence that Buddha loves you. But the Bible is drenched with verses that show God’s love.”

Well, is it?

IS the Bible drenched with verses that show that God loves me?

That Jesus loves me?

Well, yes.

In Galatians 2:20, Paul wrote: “…I live by faith in the Son of God, WHO LOVED ME and gave himself for me.”

The Apostle John wrote “… Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him WHO LOVES US and has freed us from our sins by his blood” Revelation 1:5

Jesus said: "As the Father has loved me, SO HAVE I LOVED YOU. Now remain in my love…. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.” John 15:9, 13-14

And, in our text this morning, Paul said it was his prayer that we would “… grasp how wide and long and high and deep is THE LOVE OF CHRIST, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge— that (we might) be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Jesus loves me (pause)

How do I know that? (wait for a reply)

Yes.

I know that Jesus loves me because, “the Bible Tells Me So!”

There are many world religions with their many books of scripture, but only the Bible tells us that God loves us.

* The Buddhists have their book called the Dharma – but Buddhists don’t actually believe there is a god… let alone a god who would love you.

* The Hindus have their many book and their many gods… but their gods aren’t the type that would love.

* The Muslims have the Koran that tells of Allah… but Allah is an impersonal god who really isn’t known for loving people.

In fact - no matter what world religion you talk about - their gods (if they love anybody) only love “nice” people. Love, in those religions, is reserved only for the ones who deserve it.

By contrast, Paul tell us “… God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8