Many have a favorite Christmas song. You already know what mine is by the title of this post!
As far back as I can remember it has been my favorite.
My parents were radio personalities. Their Saturday morning program was entitled Ronnie and Bill’s Music Den. Every year during their Christmas program my sisters and I were included. Each year our dad would ask me what my favorite Christmas song was and each year I gave the same answer. “What Child Is This?”
The words stirred my soul even at a very young age.
I was always aware of God and as a young child intended to become a nun so I could dedicate my entire life to serving my God. In time I learned that every life, no matter the path they take, can serve God.
It all begins with each of us answering the question posed by the song.
What Child Is This? Who is this One to you?
The hymn writer urges us to look closely.
Look closely and see the Christ, not just a baby sleeping on His mother’s lap.
Look closely and look also into the faces of the shepherds as they watch over this Child.
Not only look closely, but Be Still and hear the echoes of the Angel chorus and sense their awe.
Be Still and Know God.
The apostle John answered for himself and his fellow disciples this way:
“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 NASB2020
THE WORD. The One that spoke all into creation
The Glorious One!
The Christ! Yes! The words of the song ring out, “This, This Is Christ the King!”
When my children were still young I would find a new way to tell the Christmas story each year. One year I had found a small book written by Max Lucado. “Cosmic Christmas”.
I always had envisioned the essence of Christ leaving Heaven to sojourn on the earth. In Max’s book we get to imagine what that might have looked like.
The Glorious One parting the heavens to step down onto the earth, but not as the All-Powerful One that He was, but as a vulnerable babe. Vulnerable from the moment He left the Glorious Abode.
Sacrifice. No more glory. No comfortable bed for baby. No place to lay His head as a man. And then the greatest Sacrifice…thorns…nails…a cross.
What compelled such a sacrifice? Love!
“By this the love of God was revealed in us, that God has sent His only Son into the world so that we may live through Him.” 1 John 4:9 NASB2020
The hymn cries for us to bring Him laud. That is solemn praise.
Calls us to enthrone Him upon our hearts. In other words become One with Him. Recognize His Glorious Presence and welcome Him to dwell in us, filling us to overflow! Overflow with Joy!
Christ has come! Never to leave or forsake us!
All Praise to the King!
“For this reason I bend my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner self, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:14-19 NASB2020
- 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.
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