As a young child I remember singing “Jesus loves me this I know.” This song has always been with me throughout my life. Throughout my life I have been blessed by His love toward me through tough times and good times.

Recently, our church gave us the privilege of visiting the Holy Land. While we were there, we visited several places Jesus travelled, met with people, did miracles, ultimately was crucified and arose to sit at the right hand of God. During the visit, I really understood my childhood song “Jesus Loves Me.”

Jesus left everything to come to earth. Not only that, the land He came to was not anything like the beautiful hills and mountains of our country or the never ending streams and landscapes either. It is a place which is dry and drab. There were no roads or conveniences but falling rocks and occasional rainfall. We did not see the acres and acres of trees and flowering bushes we see here. The guide shared that they didn’t receive sufficient rainfall on a regular basis to grow enough crops to feed their people. Everything had to be imported. I can go on and on but Jesus did come because He loved me. He came to a family where they did not have much. He wanted to identify with people like me. He had to work as a carpenter’s helper. He understood day to day living. Jesus interacted with people who were fisherman, the unwanted lepers, blind and crippled, also with people who were in authority, rich and well to do. He understood life in many aspects. He was with the people at weddings, at funerals, at the synagogs. He also served at the campfires and sat with people of means. Jesus understood despair, needs, suffering, shame and not being wanted and being abused. Why? Because “Jesus loves me.” The visit to Israel made me realize to what lengths Jesus went to get me back to Him and tremendous sacrifices He made, accepted humiliation and pain for me. So don’t let me take it for granted–all the blessings I receive each and every day.

I must also recognize His dedication to spending time with His father, being obedient to His father, following through the commitment He made to die on the cross at calvary. Why? Because “Jesus loves me.”