Jesus Loves the Little Children

In the lands beyond the sea, countless million children be
who have never hear the gospel story told:
Little ones for whom the Christ, Died and bought them with a price,
Waiting to be gathered in the Savior’s fold.

Everywhere we hear their cry, “Come and save us or we die;:
who will haste to these the blessed news to tell?
They are precious to the King; let us go these lambs to bring
to the gracious arms of Him we love so well.

From the east and from the west, see them thronging to be blest,
Precious jewels to adorn His diadem.
If we thus obey the Lord, we shall reap a sure reward
when He comes again to gather us and them.

Chorus 1:
Jesus loves the little children, All the children are His care.
Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight.
Jesus loves the little children everywhere.

Chorus 2:
Jesus loves the little children, All the children of the world;
Red and yellow, black and white, They are precious in His sight,
Jesus loves the little children of the world.

You probably noticed I omitted the title to this hymn and put the well-known  chorus at the end.  I, too, was surprised to find verses to this simple children’s song that I have probably known since I was 2 or 3 years old.  I was hoping you would read the words in the verses more intently, not having known the tune right from the start. 

For many of us, this song brings back fond memories of our childhood or maybe teaching this song to our own children.  A child somehow comprehends Jesus’ love so much more than we do as adults sometimes.  They believe that they are loved by Jesus.  They don’t question His love.  They have a simple, child-like faith.  They also grasp the evangelistic message of this song.  They know that we are to share His love and tell the good news around the world.  This past December, my youngest child Maddie, gave all of her money (even some money she got for Christmas) to our church’s mission offering.  She gave freely and she gave all.  What I have learned from this child-like faith she displayed!

Couple of comments on the lyrics

• “Bought them with a price” – The author is reminding us that these children – whether in Cleveland, Tennessee or Atlanta, Georgia, or in China, Africa, or the Philippines have value.  Not necessarily a value because the world places value on them.  Unfortunately, in many places around the world, these children are viewed as burdens to society or to the economy.  They don’t have “value” in the world’s eyes because they are “takers” not “givers.”  Jesus, however, makes them valuable because He shed His own blood for them.  They have value because God created them and so loved them.

• “Who will haste to these the blessed news to tell?”  Have you ever heard the statistics about the % of people that are saved at various ages in their life?  I believe there is a large percentage that hear the gospel before age 10 that receive Christ as their savior.  However, the percentages start to drop drastically through the teenage years and adulthood.  The author asks the question – Who will haste?  Who will hurry? Who will deliver the message of the Gospel with an urgency because time is ticking away?  What a challenging thought!

“No kids allowed” – My wife and I recently had a discussion with a new father about taking our children different places – stores, restaurants, and even to church.  This person told us that his father had a saying “If my wife and children aren’t invited, then I am not invited.” I hope that the attitude in our churches and in our families has not become – “Adults only – no children allowed.”  This song reminds us that Jesus loves (present tense) the little children.  The Bible tells us of stories where He loved and blessed them. 

I hope that we have a love for children (our own children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews), but also that we have a love for the children of the world.  A desire that they be fed, be clothed, and be educated.  But more importantly, a desire that they be loved, and that Christ’s grace be shared with them.