What Child is This?

What Child is this who laid to rest on Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud, The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate, where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here the silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through, The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh, The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh, Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings, Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise a song on high, The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born, The Babe, the Son of Mary.

William Chatterton Dix was the author of the lyrics of this hymn/carol.  He wrote the words in 1865.  His background was not from divinity school or from a college of music.  He had no degree in theology.  He was the manager of an insurance company in Glasgow for most of his life.  A layman.  At age 29, he was struck with a severe illness that left him bedridden.  During this time, he sank into a deep depression.  However, it was during this time that the Lord met him in a real way, and from this period in his life came many poems including “What Child is this?”  He is also the author of another not-so famous Christmas carol entitled “As with Gladness men of old.”  Think about it.  A man who came through a deep depression writing about “gladness.”  This is another example of God using difficult circumstances in someone’s life to bring about something good.  For the last century, the world has been challenged by the important question found in the lyrics to this song, and we have benefitted from the difficult experience Mr. Dix endured.

Couple of comments on the lyrics:

• “Haste, Haste to bring Him laud” – In the Christmas season of “hustle and bustle,” many of us try to slow down and contemplate the importance of what Christmas represents.  The older we get the more we seem to want to slow down, enjoy the fellowship of our family, and do things that build lasting memories, but try to avoid the things that increase the hurried pace we live our lives.  However, there is a decision in life where time is of the essence.  The author reminds us here that we need to hurry and recognize who Christ is, and to accept Him as Savior.  The Bible reminds us in Joshua to “Choose you this day whom you will serve.”  Not tomorrow, not next week, not next year.  Today is the day of salvation.

• “Why lies He such in mean estate” – Isn’t this an interesting question?  If God can orchestrate everything in our world and our universe, how come He couldn’t find a nicer place for Him to be born?  He was born in a stable – a “mean estate.”  It almost seems like a cruel joke.  He has Mary and Joseph to do some extremely difficult things.  He asked them to do all of this without revealing His entire plan.  Mary and Joseph had to endure the ridicule of society.  Mary had to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem while being far along in her pregnancy.  (Not that I have been pregnant before, but I have lived with a wife who was pregnant three times.  My heart goes out to Mary (and Joseph)).  Then when they arrive in Bethlehem, the best they can find is a stable with animals, and they have to put God’s son in a manger?  Couldn’t God do better?  Our perspective of God working is so limited.  We have our own ideas of how things should work, and so many times, God does exactly the opposite.  We would have kept Mary and Joseph in Nazareth to make it easier on them.  We would have Jesus born in a nicer place, maybe with friends and family supporting them.  We would have the religious leaders recognize and acknowledge who He was immediately.  What a lesson to learn in our life today!  How often God works in our lives, and we are too stubborn, or too short-sighted to recognize it.  My prayer for myself is that I will trust Him more, and believe that He is working – whether I can see it or understand it.  I pray that I can trust that He is.

The Bible records in both Matthew and Mark a conversation that Jesus had with the disciples.  Jesus asked in Matthew 16 and Mark 8 the following question:  “Whom do men say that I, the Son of man, am?”  The disciples responded and said some say John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.  Then Jesus asked a more pertinent “heart” question to them, and asked “But who do you say that I am?”  Peter responded “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” 

These questions are just as relevant today.  “Who does the world say Jesus is? i.e. What Child is this?”  If you watch TV or read modern commentary about Him, the answers will vary.  Good teacher.  An important historic figure.  A misinterpreted, reluctant leader.  Even at this time of year, sometimes we even see a blond-haired, blue-eyed baby Jesus lying in a manger.  The world’s answer to this question, like the people in Jesus’ time, is wrong.  He wasn’t John the Baptist.  John didn’t feel worthy to baptize Jesus.  Although the Old Testament contains stories about great and Godly prophets, He was not just a prophet.  Jesus was greater than all of those prophets.  So when we look to the world for the answer to this important question, we will inevitably get the wrong answer.

Jesus is asking us today the same hard, “heart” question He asked the disciples – “Who do you say that I am?”  Our initial response might be – “Our Lord, Our Savior, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords” and so many other worthy titles.  However, I would challenge you to ask yourself, “what do my actions communicate about who I believe Jesus is?”  If I believe He is Lord, I will do what He asks me to do.  No “and’s, if’s or but’s.”   If I believe that He is, like Ephesians 4:6 says, “over all, and through all, and in all,” then I will trust that He is in control of all.  I will live with a confidence, not in my own abilities, but in God because He is in control of all.  That is who Jesus is.  That is who the baby in the manager was.