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 is such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear; for sinners here
The silent word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce him through,
The cross he 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 the song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby;
Joy, joy, for Christ is born,
The babe, the son of Mary!

When asked which is my favorite Christmas song, I always respond with this hymn. As I've been going through this project, I've been thinking that perhaps I might change my mind. There are so many beautiful words and melodies and truths in each of these songs. But today, as I've been meditating on these lyrics in preparation for my writing tonight, I have a renewed love for this song.

What child is this? Who is this baby we sing about? Who is this baby born out of wedlock? Who is this baby born in Bethlehem? Who is this baby that the angels sing and the shepherds flock? What's all this hubbub about?

This. This is Christ the King. I love the double use of the word this. It adds to the incredulity people might be feeling. This? Really this child? Born in a manger? To poor parents? Are you sure this is him? Are you sure this is the King?

But the singer is certain, This. This is Him. Come look! Make haste! Hurry it up! Come and praise Him! The King of Kings is here! I love that we are called to make haste to praise Him. It is urgent that our hearts know that God has sent His Son to rescue us. Can you feel that urgency in your own heart? A longing to know the Hope, to know the Answer, to know the Love of a King? Hurry to this Nativity scene, come with me and look in on the greatest gift the world will know!

As we rush to the manger, we find the humility of this Servant King. He is sitting in a feeding trough on top of some hay, wrapped in the extra shirt his dad brought for the journey. It smells like laboring woman and animal feces. There's nothing majestic about the setting, except for perhaps the star shining above the barn, shedding light into an otherwise very dim nursery. Once again, we find the Christian staring at the messy manger wondering if this is really the answer. His question isn't spoken aloud, but rather, silently in his heart he begs, Is this really it? Is this the answer you've brought to my sinful soul, to this weary world? The sinner pleads with God, Help me understand this meager scene I see.

And so the singer gives the sinner another gift--a peek into the future. It's worse than you think, answers the singer. It's not just a smelly nursery and scraps for clothing. Soon, soon, nails and spear will pierce Him. Soon, soon, He will carry a cross up a hill. Soon, soon, He will bear the weight of your sins on His shoulders. But He is it! He is the Word made flesh; this babe is the Son of God. Don't let this servant's birth and death deceive you. Hail Him as King, speak forth your praise. He is worthy of it.

Oh is He worthy of it! We, every one of us from the peasant to the king, are to bring Him lavish gifts to lay at His feet. He has come! Our salvation is here! It may not look like it, He may not be sitting in a bejeweled castle, lavished with an earthly crown, but our loving hearts can offer Him a throne. In our worship, we grant Him the throne of our hearts, reign over our lives. Our love for this Child King creates a throne room within our souls where He might reign. He saves our blackened hearts and redeems our ugly souls, and then sets up a palace within us. Just as when He, the King of kings, left His glory on high and came to a sin-twisted world, Jesus leaves His majesty behind and dwells in the hearts of sinners. How breathtaking, how precious, that He allows our love to create a throne for Him within us!

Thus it is out of complete joy that we sing our praises to Him. We can't help but raise, raise our song on high. Our voices of praise mingle with Mary's sweet lullabies, and the Child King is exalted in the arms of His mother. What majesty, what humility, what glory, what modesty all wrapped beneath that blanket! Our God is the God of paradox--becoming a helpless child in the greatest act of power the world has ever known. We might not understand it completely, we might question how God works, but that also increases our awe of the God who accomplished it.

What Child is This? we ask. God answers, This, this is Christ the King, the One I promised, the One you have hoped for. This is Him. Hasten to Him, bring Him praise, rejoice in His coming. He is the Word made flesh, this babe, the Son of Mary.