“Little Precious Jesus”
words and music by:  Reba Mullins Blake

The inspiration for “Little Precious Jesus” came to me after returning home from a tour of the Holy Land several years ago. From the moment I peered out the window of our tour bus and laid eyes on the Eastern Gate, a familiar Christian hymn, written in the late 1800s–“The Holy City”—began to play: “Last night I lay a-sleeping/There came a dream so fair/I stood in old Jerusalem/Beside the temple there.” the refrain declares, “Jerusalem! Jerusalem!/Lift up your gates and sing/ Hosanna in the highest!/Hosanna to your King!” There was not a dry eye among us. Praise the Lord!

Every step I took throughout Bethlehem, Jerusalem, the Sea of Galilee and being baptized in the Jordan River, was a constant reminder of the birth, death and resurrection of “Little Precious Jesus”. Jesus was born, He died and was resurrected, so that we will live forever with Him.  All we need to do to be saved and look forward to being with Jesus forever, is pray and ask forgiveness for our sins, have faith and believe that He will save us (Romans 6:23).  From that moment on, we will have eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 5:8; John 3:16).

One sleepless night I sat down at my piano and began playing this tune. It came to me as easily as the lyrics. At that time, my daughter, Julie, was seven years old. I taught “Little Precious Jesus” to her. Shortly afterwards, I lost the lyrics, which were handwritten on a single sheet of paper. I panicked, but then thought to ask Julie to sing the song. As I played the music on my piano, she had memorized the song and sang it perfectly. The handwritten lyrics to “Little Precious Jesus” were immediately copied down once again. God is so good!

Julie sang “Little Precious Jesus” in church and on the local radio station, KBSF, in Springhill, Louisiana, during the Christmas season. Thanks to the help of a little child and the divine inspiration of our Heavenly Father, “Little Precious Jesus” can be heard by means of the 21st Century state of the art technology.

While living in Nashville, Tennessee, I had the privilege of singing “Little Precious Jesus” during one of the Sunday services at the Nashville Cowboy Church at the Ernest Tubb Theater. Joanne Cash Yates’ (Johnny’s sister) husband was the preacher at the time. That was a special experience and I’m very thankful to have had the opportunity to sing in that service.

My mission and prayer for “Little Precious Jesus” is that it will be heard by every child on earth, interpreted in their own language. Through the message of this song, perhaps it will be a blessing to a new generation’s life. It is a beautiful experience listening to children sing and I would welcome their sweet voices singing, “Little Precious Jesus”.

Visiting Israel is the most outstanding and wonderful experience of my life, second only to my salvation and the birth of my own two precious children.  I long for the day to go back to Jerusalem and take Julie with me, if not while we are here on this earth, we’ll wait for the New Jerusalem when Jesus will reign forever and ever (Revelation 11:15). May God Bless ALL the little children of the world .

Reba Mullins Blake