What Child Is This

Luke 1:30-32 (ESV)

30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 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.

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

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 a song on high!

The virgin sings her lullaby

Joy, joy for Christ is born

The Babe, the Son of Mary!

This, this is Christ the King

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing!

Haste, haste to bring Him laud

The Babe the Son of Mary

Nails, spears shall pierce Him through

The Cross He bore for me, for you

Hail, hail the Word made flesh the Babe

The Son of Mary

Take just a moment to try to imagine Jesus as a baby. Maybe you have had a child before, and if so, use that as a foundation for your thoughts. When we were expecting our babies, we wondered what they would like. But looking into the purest form of innocence can bring an awe you never knew existed.

With babies there is such a hope, promise and an unbelievable miracle in the reality that another human has been born. Babies, by their very nature, draw people to them.

Now, can you imagine the draw to others Jesus had as a baby, since he was both God and a human being.

Look at how people responded to this child! They knew who he was even as a baby.

The question today, is what do you know of this baby, who grew up into the man we worship as the Son of God? What has he done in your life? What is he longing to do in your life today? We are all fallen and need him even stronger at times, no matter how close we already are to God. Turn to God today and seek him in this way. I hope that this song, “What Child Is This?” will serve as a prayer practice for you today.

Dear Lord, Thank you for the miracle of babies. Babies give us hope and they give us a glimpse into what true innocence and holiness looks like. God, you came as a baby. Thank you for sending Jesus as a baby. This baby ended up doing amazing, terrific, redeeming things for this world. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.