Some years ago, while on a trip to Dallas, Texas, I had lunch at a restaurant called the Green Mosquito. In a booth beside me was a family with a young 7ish looking daughter. Their conversation was rather animated, as mom and dad explained the impending arrival of a new child into their family. Mom was obviously pregnant! The little girl was on automatic pilot, chattering away about this new member of the family who was about to appear. Dad asked if she preferred a brother or a sister – and without so much as a pause, loudly exclaimed for the entire restaurant to hear that a brother would be great.
Dad pressed on. “Think of all the little boys in your class at school. Which one would you most like your brother to be like?” he asked. There was a protracted silence. It was deafening and this little girl that had been a bundle of energy in answering the other questions seemed to be stopped cold by that one. She finally looked quite seriously at her dad and said, "I think I want a sister."
That sweet heart of a little girl had an abstract idea of what a brother would be like. In her fairy-tale imagination, a brother would be all the things she imagined and nothing that she did not imagine. Yet, when faced with the physical, day-in, day-out, fleshly side of reality – her perspective changed.
William C. Dix, in his wonderful Christmas carol “What Child Is This?” reminds us that the manger scene is about a baby as well, though the crib He was born in comes nowhere close to the pictures we see on the Hallmark Cards on display at Pharma-save. Like the little girl I spoke of earlier – our abstract ideas might not mesh with God-ordained realities.
Dix was an insurance salesman in Glasgow, Scotland. At the age of 29 he was struck with a sudden, serious illness and confined to bed for an extended period. For a while he went through a deep depression. Dix says in his own words, “I called out to God, and He met me in a new and real way.” It was out of that encounter with God that this hymn was written – taken from an earlier Christmas poem he had written in 1865 called “The Manger Throne”.
The important news this Christmas is not who comes down the chimney, but who came down from heaven.
“What Child Is This?” Dix asks, in his Christmas Carol. As you hum the carol’s words in your head, I would suggest a few obvious answers.
# 1. This Child is the Gift of Grace (v. 1)
"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?"
What child is this? I am confident that is what the shepherd’s asked among themselves when they went to the manger that day to see, and as Dix reminds us “to watch”. When I read the Gospel of Luke (2:19), I have this feeling that even Mary struggled to understand.
NIV - But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
NLT - But Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often.
MSG - Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself.
Does anyone have an adequate answer? Would it not take a fuller understanding of the entire Gospel record, including. . .
The silent years when Jesus lived in Nazareth
His coming of age
His baptism by John
His teachings
His miracles
His passion week
His crucifixion and glorious resurrection
And what about the wonder of Pentecost – to which Jesus referred?
“What Child Is This?” Well, He is the Gift of Grace! When God choose to reveal Himself, He did not suddenly appear as a wonder working wizard like Merlin, Gandalf, or even Albus Dumbledore of Hogwarts fame. Nor did He settle in at the top of the cultural heap of power and money. William Dix reminds us that He humbles Himself, enters our world as a child . . . and “On Mary’s lap is sleeping” — enjoying the nurturing security that all children are entitled to.
John (1:14) the Evangelist expresses it so well:
“The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.”
Paul’s words to young Timothy (I Timothy 3:16) ring so clearly:
“Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh.”
In the Old Testament scriptures, the birth of Christ was hidden in shadows, types and veiled promises and prophecies. But on the night the Lord Jesus was born, the mystery of godliness was made known. That night God became flesh (We call this Incarnation), and when He did, He opened the way for sinful people, folks like me, you and our neighbours, to be reconciled to an all-Holy God.
We have swallowed T.A. Harris’ “I’m OK ... You’re OK,” so thoroughly that we believe everyone is OK with God. Not true!
On Mary’s lap lies the Messiah, the anointed One, the Son of God, all words the Bible uses for Christ ... and when I read this first stanza in William Dix’s carol -- I see something of the height and depth, the length and breadth, which at one time lay sovereignly hidden from view – but is now wonderfully revealed to us.
I tell you ... it is one of the deepest secrets of the counsel of the grace of God that to reach His great world-embracing objective, He did not set us aside, even though through our sin and fall, we proved unworthy of His high calling for our lives. Let the record be clear:
We were great in our fall, but God was greater in His mercy
We were deep in our sin, but not fallen beyond hope
We stood in mortal danger of our souls, but God’s gift of grace exceeded what we justly deserve
# 2. This Child is the Gift of Redemption (v. 2)
“Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear - for sinners here
The Silent Word is pleading.”
When the apostle Paul was speaking to the Galatians, he wanted them to see that it is not the works of the Law that delivers a person from bondage, but it is the work of Christ alone. And so, Paul points in Galatians 4:4 to the gracious act of God in sending His Son. It’s a familiar passage:
“But when the time had fully come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman. . . so that we might receive adoption as sons.”
When Emily Elliot wrote the carol “Thou Didst Leave They Throne,” in 1864, her point was to show the tremendous humility God expressed by lowering Himself for our benefit, something the Gospels stress as well. For example ...
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son”
When Jesus was dialoging with the religious leaders in Jerusalem, He told them in John 5:36-38, ". . . the Father has sent Me"
When Jesus went to the Pharisees, He testified in John 8:18, "...the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.”
Jesus came into the world bearing all the authority of the Godhead – which is precisely why, it seems to me, this carol asks the haunting question “Why lies He in such mean estate?” The answer? To fulfill Scripture (Philippians 2:8). And though the mode of the Lord’s existence on earth was truly human, and He was subject to all the conditions of human existence — He never ceased to be God.
The film “It’s a wonderful Life” with George Bailey mirrors
our Christmas culture that miracles happen without God.
For a while, I suppose!
This perfect merger of God and man is what theologians call Hypostatic Union (Personal Union) - 100% undiminished deity; 100% perfect humanity. Imagine - each nature in its completeness is organically and indissolubly united in the one unique person – Jesus Christ. He is the Gift of Redemption!
In the last 5 centuries of Church History, there have been lots of controversies relative to the Person and Nature of Christ.
Docetists denied His humanity (1st cent.)
Ebionites denied His deity (2nd cent.)
Arians reduced His deity; a created being (4th cent.)
Apollinarians reduced His humanity (4th cent.)
Nestorians said Christ was 2 persons (5th cent.)
Eutychians said Christ had 1 mixed nature (5th cent.)
At the Council of Chalcedon in 451 A.D., 630 Bishops gathered to debate the finer points of Christology and spell out its understanding of the Incarnation in considerable detail. They sat from October 8 – 31, and its press release has become the basis of orthodoxy today. Today we call them the “Four Negatives of Chalcedon”. Christ possessed the divine nature and the human nature . . .
Without Mixture
Without Change
Without Division
Without Separation
In other words, if we are to ever think properly about Jesus and His divine and human natures, we must NEVER mix them together ... and never change them, for we would violate both deity and humanity. Furthermore, we must NEVER divide or separate His 2 natures . . . for we would fracture the unity of His person.
These days much of the church has replaced its theological vitality for a more soupy, stagnant faith, one that neuters doctrine.1 So, why is theological clarity necessary? I mean, “Why be so theologically technical?” Because our eternal souls rest on the doctrine of His Incarnation . . . and our forefathers understood this.
If Christ is not fully human - He is disqualified as the Saviour of humankind.
If He is not quite God - He is like a broken bridge at the farthest end – and of little help or use.
If the relationship between His 2 natures is not correctly defined - He could not be properly worshipped, because to worship humanity is idolatry.
God has a way of placing treasures in such unadorned, unpretentious places, like Bethlehem. And as Mary’s Little Lamb enters the world ‘While mortals sleep’ ... the wondrous gift is given. Wow!
The great mystery of Bethlehem this season is that in the manger lies the Gift of Redemption and I think that is why William Dix encourages “Good Christians” who should already know this truth ... and who sing his carol to “fear for sinners here. The silent Word is pleading.”
“Fear for sinners here”? How appropriate. You see, there is not only mystery at the manger – there is danger as well. For already, the ‘silent Word’ – the Word spoken of in John 1 that became ‘flesh’ has begun to invite . . . woo . . . beg . . . beseech . . . entreat . . . appeal . . . ‘plead’. Why? Because should we chose to ignore this extending of God’s hand . . . deep, eternal consequences come.
True, once in a while, we meet some dear soul with eyes at half-mast, who wants to sit on a hill, strum a guitar, eat birdseed, and sing well-known Gospel hit songs like “Cum-By-Ya” around a campfire. Their idea of the faith is collecting dew and watching the weeds and daisies grow. Dix in his carol “What Child is This?” strikes at the heart of such thinking, for if we will heed the invitation of this carol to ‘fear for sinners here’ – then we participate with God in giving the greatest gift ever this Christmas – the Gift of Redemption.
History this season will not be made at the cash register. It will be made because folks will have an encounter with the Son of God.
No doubt the birth of Jesus Christ will provide only sentimental imagery and religious ceremony for many, but for those who will trust Christ as Savior, the Incarnation of God, the Son is the Gift of Redemption
# 3. This Child is the Gift of Hope (v. 3)
“So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come, rich and poor, to own Him.
The King of kings, salvation brings
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.”
For sure, Christmas is a time for friends to gather and sumptuous meals to enjoy. Like the three-year-old who pined, "I don't like the turkey, but I like the bread he ate", the table will be crowed with plenty of choices to satisfy everyone.
Have you ever noticed that Christmas seems to be that one time of year when everyone suddenly becomes a Bible trivia expert? For example:
The magi visited Jesus in the manger. No! Matthew 2:121 clearly says, "And they came into the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother.”
The star in the sky hovered over the manger. No! Over the house (Matthew 2:9-11)
How many kings? Everyone knows that there are three, right? Some folks even know their names: Casper, Balthasar, and Melchior. Trouble is, that's not what the Bible says at all. It says simply "wise men from the east came to Jerusalem." No names, no head count.
In this Christmas carol, Dix invites all of us to bring our gifts of incense, gold and myrrh. In fact, in his invitation “Come rich and poor to own him”, he encourages us to bring an even greater gift – the gift of ourselves . . . for in offering up our lives to Him – we receive in return the greater gift, “The King of kings salvation brings”. Yes, this Child is the Gift of Hope.
Did you know your biography is written in Romans 3? Though it does not actually include your name or place of residence, it does accurately tell the story of your personal life. The things mentioned are not very attractive, I should warn you, but it’s the truth – and it bears repeating. If you can’t take know this knowledge – I suppose you could skip a paragraph or two.
"There's nobody living right, not even one, nobody who knows the score, nobody alert for God. They've all taken the wrong turn; they've all wandered down blind alleys. No one's living right; I can't find a single one. Their throats are gaping graves, their tongues slick as mudslides. Every word they speak is tinged with poison. They open their mouths and pollute the air. They race for the honor of sinner-of-the-year, litter the land with heartbreak and ruin, Don't know the first thing about living with others. They never give God the time of day." (The Message; MSG)
The universal testimony of Scripture, by prediction in the Old Testament, by the statement of the Gospels, and by the declarations of the apostles afterward – is that the solution to our dilemma, the remedy for our disease is found in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The great truth of Christmas is that the One who lay there in Bethlehem is destined for Kingship. The manger scene before us is simply a dark background to His radiant Kingly glory.
Jesus was the Bread of Life, yet He began His ministry hungry.
He was the Water of Life, yet He ended His ministry thirsty.
He hungered as we do, yet He fed the multitudes as God.
He was weary, yet He was our rest.
He prayed, yet He hears the prayers of sinners.
He was sold for money, yet He redeems those who ask.
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, yet He is the Good Shepherd.
He dies … and by dying, He destroys death and the power of sin over us.
No doubt about it, this Child is the Gift of Hope. One day he will appear again. When He does, the hopes and fears of all the years will be secured. At that moment . . .
We will be free of the curse . . . If therefore the son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed --John 8:36.
We will be free of death . . . Death will be swallowed up in victory -- I Corinthians 15:55
We will be free of sin . . . for though the “wages of sin is death, the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” -- Romans 6:23
We will be free of tears . . . for “He will wipe every tear from their eyes” – Revelation 21:4
Charles Swindoll tells the story of commercial venture at a large department store that had disastrous consequences. A doll in the form of Baby Jesus was offered for sale. It was advertised as being unbreakable, washable, and cuddly. Apparently, it came packaged in straw with a satin crib, plastic surroundings, and appropriate Bible verses. It did not sell. The manager in the store panicked and tried to do a last-minute promotion to get rid of the dolls. So, he put a huge sign outside the store for everyone to see and read. Here’s what it read:
Jesus Christ —
Marked Down 50%
Get Him While You Can
Stuck on the backside of nowhere, Mary and Joseph are hard pressed, I am sure, to see their little baby as anything beyond the normal. As Mark Twain once observed "a soiled baby, with a neglected nose, cannot conscientiously be regarded as a thing of beauty." Don’t be fooled.
Remember the little girl I spoke about earlier who had an abstract idea of what a ‘little brother’ would mean for her . . . and so changed her mind, preferring a sister? What version of Christ do you see? Are you trapped in the Hallmark card version, or do you see Him for what He really is?
“What Child Is This?” In his Christmas carol, Dix gives us the answer. It is found in the chorus of this carol:
This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds watch and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud, The Babe, the Son of Mary.
This is Jesus Christ – the King of Kings. We cannot package Him up and get Him at half-price. The Good News this Christmas is that Jesus is available in the same form He has been for centuries – the Son of God, who died for us and who paid the price for our sin. He would love to be invited into your life this Christmas season as well. “Only Saying …”
1. Some 43% of today’s evangelical Christians believe “Jesus was a great teacher, but not God.” (See, “The State of Theology” survey. Statement No. 7. Ligonier Ministry and LifeWay Research. 2022). Yes, Arianism is alive and well in the evangelical church.
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