What Child Is This

Here are the lyrics:

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?

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,

Come Peasant, King to own Him

The King of Kings salvation brings,

Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

This, this is Christ the King,

Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing

Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,

The Babe, the Son of Mary.

THE SONG’S STORY

Using the tune for “Greensleeves,” William Chatterton Dix’s carol invokes the image of a typical nativity scene. Baby Jesus is there on Mary’s lap, and angels and shepherds tend to him. The second verse speaks of the presents brought by the wise men and the gift of salvation that Jesus Christ brings in return.

Dix wrote these words when serving as the manager for the Maritime Insurance Company in Glasgow, Scotland, and the words have profoundly impacted the world for more than a century now.

THE BIBLICAL CONNECTION

This carol will provide you with a clear way to communicate the basic Christmas narrative, helping you bridge the gap between the hope of Christ’s coming to the manger where Jesus was born. You can use it to engage your audience about what the Bible says concerning the angel’s announcement to Mary (Luke 1:26–38), Joseph’s dream (Matthew 1:19–21), and Christ’s birth (Luke 2:1–7).

According to the angel Gabriel spoken to the virgin, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

According to angel of the Lord, “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

You can also dig into the Bible to answer the carol’s core question—“What child is this?” The Gospel of John answers the question like this:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:1–5).

“The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:9–13).

God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten not made, one in being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven;

by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. - Nicene Creed

What Child is this? Is not up for debate… he is as the Scriptures and history proclaim the divine light that comes into the shadows to transform the children of darkness into the children of God.

His divine light is brighter than the star that led the Magi to Bethlehem. His light illuminates our minds and hearts so we can become what he is by grace.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

God’s nature is light (1 John 1:5). The incarnation of Christ and his divine light interpenetrates our being by the action of the Son coming to be with humanity. Therefore, we simply not only imitate the light of God, but become it as an extension through grace. Jesus can know say, “You are the light of the world.” Since God can come to dwell within humanity joining us with him forever.

Advent is season where we reflect and live out What Child is this through the light Christ has deposited into our souls.

To hid the light of the Son would be disservice to the One who has remade us. He made you light so shine bright!

Illuminate your soul during this advent by encountering Christ in communion, songs of praise, prayer, fasting.

Illuminate this church during advent by taking your next-step, giving, serving.

When the Child of light comes into our lives, the only response is to become the light of the world for Him.