7 Children’s Songs About Jesus

Here are seven great children’s songs about Jesus.

1. Jesus Loves Me

The lyrics are soundly biblical because Jesus loved the little children and when the disciples once tried to prevent them from coming to Him, He rebuke them and said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 19:14) because “whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it” (Luke 18:17). That’s why this song is so special. The words first appeared in a poem, written for a dying child by Anna Bartlett Warner and later, William Batchelder Bradbury put to music. Jesus does love children because “the Bible tells me so” and these “Little ones to him belong,” even though, “They are weak, but he is strong.”

2. Jesus Loves the Little Children

Jesus Loves the Little Children was written by C. Herbert Woolston with music by George F. Root, and is one of the most popular of all children’s songs, and not just those which are about Jesus, and the author was trying to teach children not to judge a person by the color of their skin, because we know that God doesn’t respect anyone over another (Job 34:19; Acts 10:34; Rom 2:11). They can learn that there’s no difference between yellow, red, black, and white for they’re all precious in His sight because Jesus loves all of the little children. This is why Jesus gave a serious warning about causing a child to stumble (enticed to sin), and we should place all Christians in this group about teaching someone another gospel “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea” (Matt 18:6). In God’s sight, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:28) and neither should there be any partiality in us. Our children will pick up on that!

3. He’s Got the Whole World, in His Hands

He’s Got the Whole World, in His Hands is another old spiritual song but written in a traditional manner. Frank Warner was not the author but he was a collector of old spiritual hymns in the early part of last century. Frank Warner went on to perform the song in the 1940’s and 1950’s but later recorded it on a record album. This children’s song speaks about the greatness of God as if He can place the whole earth in His hands, and indeed He can and more, as Isaiah wrote, “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance” (Isaiah 40:12)? This song teaches children about the greatness of God.

4. The B-I-B-L-E

This is a very easy song to memorize but a great song to remember, because it contains the gospel message inside the lyrics. This song, whose author is unknown, reminds children by song that we “stand alone on the Word of God, The B-I-B-L-E,” You can have the children clap their hands to the rhythm while they learn how to spell the Bible ( B-I-B-L-E), but also know to stand on the Word of God as the final and foremost authority. The gospel is clear in Scripture “That Jesus shed for me” and “paid the price, our sacrifice,” by the precious B-L-O-O-D” of the Lamb of God and brings us grace by which we can be saved (Eph 2:8).

5. I’ve Got the Joy Joy Joy

This song I’ve Got the Joy Joy Joy was originally a Christian hymn of joy and written by George Willis Cooke (1848-1923) and quickly became popular around the campfire during scouting events, and at a time the Boy Scouts were considerably more religious in nature, teaching certain morals and biblical principles. As a young boy who was a scout, I remember this song at camp but it later became more popular in children’s church, church programs, and in Sunday school. The truthful conclusion is easily remembered by children with the closing lyrics, “I have the love of Jesus in my heart.”

6. Michael, Row the Boat Ashore

I am sure a lot of parents remember the song, “Michael, Row the Boat Ashore” from their own childhood. This song, of which the author is unknown, repeats the phrase, “Hallelujah” over and over again, and so children need to know that it means, “Praise to the Lord” or “God be praised.” This song first appeared during the Civil War on St. Helena Island. This was an old spiritual song, sung by former slaves whose owners had abandoned them due to the coming Union Navy blockade. The oldest lyrics sang, “Michael boat a gospel boat, Hallelujah” and “Jesus stand on t’ oder side” (sic) and “Sinner row to save your soul”, so again we see the gospel very clearly in this song about Jesus that most children love to sing.

7. This Little Light of Mine

This Little Light of Mine is a gospel song specifically written for Children by Avis Burgeson Christiansen and composer, Harry Dixon Loes in 1920. In reflecting what the Bible teaches about being a light in the world, the lyrics remind children that they need to let their light shine before others, so that, as Jesus said, they might bring glory to God (Matt 5:16). Obviously, this means they don’t hide their light, rather they let it shine “All around the neighborhood” and “Won’t let Satan blow it out” so the child understands that they’re to share the good news, don’t let Satan blow out their light of witness, and “Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.”

Conclusion

Songs about Jesus and, in general, about God, can set these biblical truths in their minds and fix them there for the rest of their life (Deut 6:1). That doesn’t guarantee every child will trust in Christ, either as a child or an adult, but it does mean parents are being obedient to the command to teach children about God by recalling all of the marvelous things He did before and is still doing in bringing more children into the kingdom of God. Sowing in young minds can reap great rewards someday and you increase the chance for their having a foundation of the Word of God in their lives. From there, they are free to choose the path they want, but at least you have shown them the best path in life and that is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved (Acts 4:12). Solomon wrote, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Prov 22:6), not that they might choose to depart from it, but after they’re older, God might grant them repentance so that they might come running to the cross for mercy and be saved by placing their trust in the Savior.

Take a look at some more children’s songs: 15 Awesome Christian Songs for Kids

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Tagged as: Children's songs, Jesus, Music