What Child is This?

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“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.”
- William Chatterton Dix
These are words we are familiar with.
However, they are not simply a Christmas song sung that makes us feel good.
It asks an important question.
A question everyone must answer about someone who actually lived.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law,
he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.
And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed
(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
Who is this child?
The Lord’s own Christ.
1. We must personally recognize Jesus for who He is.
1. We must personally recognize Jesus for who He is.
Jesus asked Peter an important question.
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
1. We must personally recognize Jesus for who He is.
1. We must personally recognize Jesus for who He is.
How you answer this question is probably the most critical answer of your life.
The answer to the question “what child is this?”
Is this just another baby?
Is this a fictitious story?
Who is this baby?
A. Jesus must be recognized through eyes of faith.
A. Jesus must be recognized through eyes of faith.
And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law,
he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.
A. Jesus must be recognized through eyes of faith.
A. Jesus must be recognized through eyes of faith.
Simeon believed by faith.
Mary and Joseph were normal people.
Jesus was a human baby.
There were no angels.
There was no special glow.
Simeon believed by faith that this baby was fully man and fully God.
Hebrews: “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
A. Jesus must be recognized through eyes of faith.
A. Jesus must be recognized through eyes of faith.
B. Jesus must be recognized as the dividing line.
B. Jesus must be recognized as the dividing line.
And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed
B. Jesus must be recognized as the dividing line.
B. Jesus must be recognized as the dividing line.
Jesus was appointed for the rise and fall of many in Israel.
This is a dividing line.
Paul says it clearly…
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
B. Jesus must be recognized as the dividing line.
B. Jesus must be recognized as the dividing line.
There are two kinds of people in this world.
Saved and lost.
Race doesn’t matter.
Money doesn’t matter.
Good or bad things you’ve done doesn’t matter.
Being a part of a certain family doesn’t matter.
Our relationship with Jesus is what matters.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
C. Jesus must be recognized as the recipient of God’s wrath.
C. Jesus must be recognized as the recipient of God’s wrath.
(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
C. Jesus must be recognized as the recipient of God’s wrath.
C. Jesus must be recognized as the recipient of God’s wrath.
Mary stood at the cross and watched them crucify her Son.
That was God’s plan for Christ.
That was God’s plan for this baby.
Christ came to save us from sin.
The Bible is clear that all are sinners.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
C. Jesus must be recognized as the recipient of God’s wrath.
C. Jesus must be recognized as the recipient of God’s wrath.
We are sinners by birth and sinners by choice.
The Bible is clear about what we have earned for our sin.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
An unsaved person is currently spiritually dead.
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
C. Jesus must be recognized as the recipient of God’s wrath.
C. Jesus must be recognized as the recipient of God’s wrath.
An unsaved person will face future eternal death.
Hell: fire is not quenched and the worm doesn’t die.
It is better to cut off an arm than go to hell.
With that understanding, lets answer the question of what child that was laying in the manger.
He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
C. Jesus must be recognized as the recipient of God’s wrath.
C. Jesus must be recognized as the recipient of God’s wrath.
Propitiation - the act of gaining favor or the satisfaction of.
This baby came sow to satisfy the wrath of God on Sin.
To give us a way to gain favor with God.
2. We must personally receive Christ for Salvation.
2. We must personally receive Christ for Salvation.
A. It is not enough to believe in God.
A. It is not enough to believe in God.
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
A. It is not enough to believe in God.
A. It is not enough to believe in God.
Believing there is a God is not enough.
Some general belief in the man upstairs.
An agreement that there is a God.
None of these are good enough.
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
A. It is not enough to believe in God.
A. It is not enough to believe in God.
Faith without action is useless.
Action must be taken because of belief.
We must receive Jesus as our savior.
and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
A. It is not enough to believe in God.
A. It is not enough to believe in God.
This is a personal event.
Not a generic belief but a time your heart was moved to repentance.
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
A. It is not enough to believe in God.
A. It is not enough to believe in God.
Almost 36 years ago.
January 2, 1989
C. It is not enough todo good things.
C. It is not enough todo good things.
I’ve used this illustration many times but it was very real to me this week.
This is why logically it makes no sense that we could do good to be saved.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
C. It is not enough todo good things.
C. It is not enough todo good things.
Bennson kept asking me what I wanted for Christmas, and I didn’t really have an answer for him.
Walking through Cosco I found a nice wooden Michigan sign.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
C. It is not enough todo good things.
C. It is not enough todo good things.
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.