What Child Is This?

The congregation I first served before I moved to Oregon asked me to write a devotional for an Advent booklet they are putting together this year.  I am honored that they would ask me.  Renee and I had four wonderful years in Boulder with truly Godly people who loved unconditionally!  Here is what I shared with them and with you!  

“What Child Is This?”

Advent 2012 Devotional

John M. Hanna

Pastor, South Broadway Church of the Nazarene, Boulder, CO (1998 - 2002)

Pastor, Springfield First Church of the Nazarene, Springfield, OR (2002 - present)

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!

There would be no Christmas without the Christ child.  It is both a mystery and a paradox that the Creator God of the universe would empty and humble Himself as an infant.  As a pastor, one of the highest joys of the ministry is to hold in my arms an infant and either dedicate or baptize him or her, as I have another dedication scheduled in just a few weeks (could there be a better time to dedicate a baby than Advent?).  And every single time I hold a baby I marvel at the miracle of new life, precious life, irreplaceable life.  I see something of the Divine in these babies as I’m reminded that we are all created in the Imago Dei, the image of God.  All life is irrevocably invaluable, from the womb to the tomb. 

Why lies He in such mean estate

Where ox and ass are feeding?

Good Christian, 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!

In the Incarnation (the Word made flesh) Jesus experienced the whole panorama of life, indeed from the womb to the tomb.  Jesus experienced the totality of humanity, for He Himself, while fully God, was also fully human.  Another mystery and paradox, that the Son of God was also the son of Mary – God’s advocate on our behalf while advocating on our behalf to the Father! 

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 the song on high!

The virgin sings her lullaby.

Joy!  Joy!  For Christ is born,

The babe, the son of Mary!

The birth of any child is reason to celebrate!  I’ve recently had a number of friends welcome into the world their first child, and if there was any reason for joy, this is it!  I was at the birth of each of my boys and will never forget those memorable occasions!  And if the birth of our children is the cause of great joy for us, indeed, it must be “joy, joy for Christ is born!”  What child is this?  He is God become a child, so that through His life, from Mary’s womb to a borrowed tomb (and subsequently the resurrected life), we might become the children of God!