Have you ever felt an overwhelming love for Jesus that fills your heart with joy and gratitude? Have you ever sung a hymn that expresses your love and devotion to Christ in a beautiful and powerful way? If so, you might be familiar with the hymn “My Jesus, I Love Thee, I Know Thou Art Mine.”
This hymn is one of the most popular and beloved hymns in the Christian tradition. It was written by William Ralph Featherston, a young Canadian who died at the age of 27 in 1873. He wrote the hymn as a poem when he was only 16 years old, after he experienced a conversion to Christ. The poem was later set to music by Adoniram Judson Gordon, an American Baptist minister and composer.
The hymn “My Jesus, I Love Thee” is a powerful expression of love and devotion to Christ. In this blog post, I will explore the hymn’s theme of love for Jesus, devotion to Christ, and personal response.
My Jesus I Love Thee Lyrics
1 My Jesus, I love thee, I know thou art mine;
for thee all the follies of sin I resign;
my gracious Redeemer, my Savior art thou;
if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.2 I love thee because thou hast first loved me
and purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree;
I love thee for wearing the thorns on thy brow;
if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.3 I’ll love thee in life, I will love thee in death,
and praise thee as long as thou lendest me breath,
and say when the deathdew lies cold on my brow:
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.4 In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I’ll ever adore thee in heaven so bright;
I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow:
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
Love for Jesus
The hymn expresses the singer’s love for Jesus in four stanzas. Each stanza begins with the words “I love Thee” and ends with the words “I know Thou art mine.” The singer declares their love for Jesus in various ways, such as:
- Loving Jesus because He first loved them and died for their sins: “I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me / And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree.”
- Loving Jesus for who He is and what He has done: “I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow / If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.”
- Loving Jesus in life and in death: “In mansions of glory and endless delight / I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright / I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow / If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.”
The singer’s love for Jesus is not based on feelings or circumstances, but on a deep and personal relationship with Christ. The singer knows that Jesus is their Savior, Lord, and Friend.
Devotion to Christ
The hymn also expresses the singer’s devotion to Christ in four stanzas. Each stanza contains the words “I will love Thee” or “I’ll ever adore Thee”, indicating the singer’s commitment to Jesus. The singer shows their devotion to Christ in various ways, such as:
- Devoting their whole being to Christ: “My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou / If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now / I love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death / And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath.”
- Devoting their service to Christ: “I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me / And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree / I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow / If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now / In mansions of glory and endless delight / I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright / And there with the blood-washed Thy praises shall sing / Who brought me so lovingly home to His wing.”
- Devoting their eternity to Christ: “And say when the death-dew lies cold on my brow / If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.”
The singer’s devotion to Christ is not based on duty or obligation, but on a grateful and joyful response to Christ’s love. The singer wants to honor, worship, and serve Christ in every aspect of their life.
Personal response
As I reflect on this hymn, I am amazed by the depth and beauty of the singer’s love and devotion to Christ. This hymn challenges me to examine my own relationship with Jesus. Do I love Him with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength? Do I show Him my love by obeying His commands and following His example? Do I trust Him with my life and my eternity?
This hymn also inspires me to express my love and devotion to Christ in words and actions. This hymn reminds me that loving Jesus is not just a feeling or a sentiment, but a choice and a lifestyle. Loving Jesus means loving Him more than anything else in this world. Loving Jesus means loving Him for who He is and what He has done. Loving Jesus means loving Him in life and in death.
My Jesus I Love Thee – YouTube Video
Music video by Shane & Shane performing My Jesus, I Love Thee (Acoustic) Live in Dallas, Texas on 11.22.19
I hope this hymn has touched your heart as it has touched mine. I hope this hymn has helped you to appreciate the amazing love of Jesus for you. And I hope this hymn has motivated you to say with all sincerity: “My Jesus, I Love Thee, I know Thou art mine.”
