Sermon Tone Analysis

In​ ​1865,​ ​an​ ​Englishman​ ​named​ ​William​ ​Chatterton​ ​Dix​ ​penned​ ​the​ ​words​ ​to​ ​a​ ​poem​ ​entitled​ ​"The  Manger​ ​Throne."​

​​ ​A​ ​few​ ​years​ ​later​ ​the​ ​first​ ​three​ ​stanzas​ ​of​ ​that​ ​poem​ ​were​ ​set​ ​to​ ​the​ ​music​ ​of​ ​an  English​ ​traditional​ ​folk​ ​song​ ​called​ ​"Greensleeves"​ ​that​ ​soon​ ​became​ ​known​ ​as​ ​the​ ​beloved  Christmas​ ​carol​ ​"What​ ​Child​ ​Is​ ​This?"​ ​​ ​This​ ​combination​ ​of​ ​poetry​ ​and​ ​music​ ​first​ ​was​ ​published​ ​in  the​ ​United​ ​Kingdom​ ​in​ ​1871​ ​as​ ​a​ ​new​ ​song​ ​when​ ​it​ ​debuted​ ​in​ ​a​ ​prestigious​ ​compilation​ ​of​ ​Christmas  music​ ​called​ ​Christmas​ ​Carols​ ​Old​ ​and​ ​New.​

​​ ​For​ ​close​ ​to​ ​a​ ​century​ ​and​ ​a​ ​half​ ​the​ ​question​ ​found​ ​in  the​ ​title​ ​of​ ​this​ ​carol​ ​has​ ​become​ ​an​ ​annual​ ​reminder​ ​that​ ​something​ ​significant​ ​happened​ ​on​ ​that  night​ ​in​ ​Bethlehem​ ​as​ ​someone​ ​significant​ ​lay​ ​wrapped​ ​in​ ​swaddling​ ​clothes​ ​in​ ​a​ ​manger.​

​​ ​This​ ​child  would​ ​change​ ​the​ ​world​ ​forever;​ ​but​ ​what​ ​child​ ​is​ ​this?

The​ ​title​ ​of​ ​the​ ​carol,​ ​"What​ ​Child​ ​Is​ ​This?",​ ​is​ ​intended​ ​to​ ​be​ ​the​ ​primary​ ​question​ ​the​ ​shepherds  must​ ​have​ ​asked​ ​on​ ​the​ ​night​ ​they​ ​visited​ ​the​ ​baby​ ​Jesus.​

​​ ​​ ​After​ ​their​ ​angelic​ ​encounter​ ​and  receiving​ ​the​ ​startling​ ​news​ ​while​ ​they​ ​tended​ ​their​ ​sheep​ ​on​ ​the​ ​outskirts​ ​of​ ​Bethlehem,​ ​their​ ​heads  must​ ​have​ ​been​ ​spinning​ ​rapidly.​

​​ ​They​ ​tried​ ​to​ ​comprehend​ ​all​ ​they​ ​experienced​ ​on​ ​that​ ​first  Christmas​ ​night.​

​​ ​Luke's​ ​Gospel​ ​records​ ​the​ ​scene​ ​in​ ​chapter​ ​2:8-21.

The Shepherds

 

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What Child is This?

While​ ​no​ ​nativity​ ​scene​ ​is​ ​complete​ ​without​ ​the​ ​shepherds'​ ​presence,​ ​subsequently,​ ​the​ ​answer​ ​to  this​ ​Christmas​ ​Carol's​ ​question​ ​also​ ​would​ ​be​ ​only​ ​partial​ ​without​ ​the​ ​description​ ​of​ ​"shepherd."

What​ ​child​ ​is​ ​this?​ ​​ ​He​ ​is​ ​a​ ​shepherd;​ ​in​ ​fact,​ ​Jesus​ ​later​ ​described​ ​Himself​ ​as​ ​the​ ​good​ ​shepherd​ ​and  told​ ​what​ ​a​ ​good​ ​shepherd​ ​does​ ​and​ ​who​ ​a​ ​good​ ​shepherd​ ​is​ ​in​ ​John's​ ​Gospel,​ ​chapter​ ​10.

This​ ​is​ ​a​ ​summary​ ​statement​ ​of​ ​what​ ​this​ ​child​ ​in​ ​the​ ​manger​ ​came​ ​to​ ​be​ ​for​ ​all​ ​people.​

​​ ​He​ ​is​ ​the​ ​one  who​ ​came​ ​to​ ​lay​ ​His​ ​life​ ​down​ ​for​ ​all​ ​of​ ​humanity​ ​just​ ​as​ ​a​ ​good​ ​shepherd​ ​lays​ ​down​ ​his​ ​life​ ​for​ ​the  sheep.​

​​ ​While​ ​at​ ​times​ ​the​ ​shepherds​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Christmas​ ​story​ ​have​ ​been​ ​labeled​ ​as​ ​the​ ​ones​ ​who​ ​were  a​ ​bit​ ​rough​ ​around​ ​the​ ​edges​ ​and​ ​living​ ​on​ ​the​ ​lowest​ ​rung​ ​of​ ​society's​ ​ladder,​ ​Jesus​ ​describes  Himself​ ​as​ ​being​ ​a​ ​shepherd​ ​who​ ​has​ ​great​ ​responsibility.​

​​ ​There​ ​is​ ​no​ ​greater​ ​responsibility​ ​than  holding​ ​the​ ​life​ ​of​ ​another​ ​in​ ​the​ ​control​ ​of​ ​one's​ ​own​ ​hands.​

​​ ​Protecting​ ​the​ ​life​ ​of​ ​others​ ​was​ ​the  responsibility​ ​and​ ​calling​ ​of​ ​the​ ​shepherd.

The​ ​imagery​ ​of​ ​the​ ​shepherd​ ​is​ ​prominent​ ​in​ ​Ancient​ ​Near​ ​Eastern​ ​history.​

​​ ​Shepherds​ ​were​ ​equated  with​ ​righteous​ ​government​ ​and​ ​often​ ​appear​ ​in​ ​contexts​ ​where​ ​the​ ​subject​ ​of​ ​justice​ ​is​ ​prominent.

Shepherds​ ​were​ ​expected​ ​to​ ​be​ ​the​ ​ones​ ​who​ ​showed​ ​kindness​ ​in​ ​counseling,​ ​protecting,​ ​and​ ​guiding  those​ ​whom​ ​they​ ​were​ ​responsible​ ​for​ ​through​ ​every​ ​difficulty.​

​​ ​The​ ​shepherd​ ​often​ ​times​ ​was  intended​ ​to​ ​signify​ ​rulership​ ​as​ ​good,​ ​just,​ ​wise​ ​and​ ​beneficial​ ​for​ ​the​ ​people​ ​and​ ​particularly​ ​has  been​ ​associated​ ​as​ ​a​ ​metaphor​ ​of​ ​kings​ ​and​ ​deity.​

​​ ​Even​ ​the​ ​shepherd's​ ​crook​ ​has​ ​been​ ​viewed  throughout​ ​the​ ​ages​ ​as​ ​a​ ​symbol​ ​of​ ​power,​ ​authority,​ ​and​ ​strength.

What Child is This?

He is the Good Shepherd

Shepherd

David as shepherd

The​ ​child​ ​that​ ​would​ ​be​ ​born​ ​in​ ​the​ ​manger​ ​in​ ​Bethlehem​ ​would​ ​be​ ​near​ ​the​ ​pastures​ ​that​ ​David  grazed​ ​his​ ​father's​ ​sheep​ ​centuries​ ​beforehand.​

​​ ​The​ ​Savior​ ​of​ ​the​ ​world,​ ​the​ ​good​ ​shepherd,​ ​would  be​ ​born​ ​in​ ​the​ ​City​ ​of​ ​David​ ​and​ ​a​ ​direct​ ​descendent​ ​of​ ​the​ ​King​ ​who​ ​also​ ​was​ ​a​ ​good​ ​shepherd​ ​in  bygone​ ​days.

What​ ​child​ ​is​ ​this?​ ​​ ​He​ ​is​ ​a​ ​shepherd​ ​and​ ​king​ ​just​ ​as​ ​his​ ​ancestor​ ​David.

Prophecy of the Good Shepherd

Prophecy of the Good Shepherd

Prophecy of the Good Shepherd

Prophecy of the Good Shepherd

What​ ​child​ ​is​ ​this?​ ​​ ​He​ ​is​ ​the​ ​one​ ​who​ ​left​ ​all​ ​the​ ​riches​ ​and​ ​comfort​ ​of​ ​heaven​ ​to​ ​look​ ​for​ ​the​ ​ones  who​ ​went​ ​astray.​

What​ ​child​ ​is​ ​this?​ ​​ ​He​ ​is​ ​the​ ​one​ ​who​ ​left​ ​all​ ​the​ ​riches​ ​and​ ​comfort​ ​of​ ​heaven​ ​to​ ​look​ ​for​ ​the​ ​ones  who​ ​went​ ​astray.​

​​ ​All​ ​we​ ​like​ ​sheep​ ​have​ ​gone​ ​astray;​ ​we​ ​have​ ​turned—every​ ​one​ ​of​ ​us—to​ ​our​ ​own  way.​

​​ ​The​ ​mission​ ​of​ ​the​ ​shepherd​ ​is​ ​to​ ​look​ ​for​ ​and​ ​rescue​ ​the​ ​ones​ ​who​ ​are​ ​lost.​

​​ ​This​ ​is​ ​what​ ​a​ ​good  shepherd​ ​naturally​ ​does.​

​​ ​This​ ​is​ ​who​ ​this​ ​child​ ​in​ ​the​ ​manger​ ​would​ ​grow​ ​to​ ​become.​

​​ ​He​ ​is​ ​the​ ​one  who​ ​came​ ​to​ ​seek​ ​and​ ​to​ ​save​ ​those​ ​who​ ​were​ ​lost,​ ​alone,​ ​exposed,​ ​and​ ​astray.​

​​ ​Isaiah​ ​the​ ​prophet  speaks​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Lord​ ​who​ ​would​ ​come​ ​in​ ​vivid​ ​imagery​ ​of​ ​a​ ​good​ ​shepherd.

Reception of the Good Shepherd

Reception of the Good Shepherd

Reception of the Good Shepherd

What​ ​child​ ​is​ ​this?

He​ ​is​ ​the​ ​one​ ​who​ ​came​ ​to​ ​lay​ ​down​ ​His​ ​life.

What​ ​child​ ​is​ ​this?

He​ ​is​ ​the​ ​one​ ​who​ ​came​ ​to​ ​provide​ ​for​ ​and​ ​protect​ ​His​ ​flock.

What​ ​child​ ​is​ ​this?

He​ ​is​ ​the​ ​one​ ​blessed​ ​beyond​ ​measure​ ​with​ ​ones​ ​He​ ​would​ ​call​ ​His​ ​own​ ​and​ ​who​ ​would​ ​come​ ​to​ ​know  His​ ​voice.

What​ ​child​ ​is​ ​this?

He​ ​is​ ​the​ ​one​ ​who​ ​is​ ​the​ ​good​ ​shepherd.

His​ ​name​ ​is​ ​Jesus,​ ​the​ ​baby​ ​wrapped​ ​in​ ​swaddling​ ​cloths​ ​and​ ​lying​ ​in​ ​the​ ​manger,​ ​just​ ​as​ ​the​ ​angel  said​ ​he​ ​would​ ​be.​ ​​ ​Now​ ​go​ ​and​ ​tell​ ​everyone​ ​what​ ​has​ ​been​ ​heard,​ ​seen​ ​and​ ​experienced​ ​concerning  who​ ​this​ ​child​ ​is,​ ​just​ ​as​ ​the​ ​shepherds​ ​did​ ​on​ ​that​ ​first​ ​Christmas​ ​in​ ​Bethlehem.​

​​ ​What​ ​child​ ​is​ ​this?

He​ ​is​ ​a​ ​shepherd…the​ ​good​ ​shepherd.

What​ ​child​ ​is​ ​this?

He​ ​is​ ​the​ ​one​ ​who​ ​came​ ​to​ ​provide​ ​for​ ​and​ ​protect​ ​His​ ​flock.

He​ ​is​ ​the​ ​one​ ​blessed​ ​beyond​ ​measure​ ​with​ ​ones​ ​He​ ​would​ ​call​ ​His​ ​own​ ​and​ ​who​ ​would​ ​come​ ​to​ ​know  His​ ​voice.

He​ ​is​ ​the​ ​one​ ​who​ ​is​ ​the​ ​good​ ​shepherd.

His​ ​name​ ​is​ ​Jesus,​ ​the​ ​baby​ ​wrapped​ ​in​ ​swaddling​ ​cloths​ ​and​ ​lying​ ​in​ ​the​ ​manger,​ ​just​ ​as​ ​the​ ​angel  said​ ​he​ ​would​ ​be.​ ​​ ​Now​ ​go​ ​and​ ​tell​ ​everyone​ ​what​ ​has​ ​been​ ​heard,​ ​seen​ ​and​ ​experienced​ ​concerning  who​ ​this​ ​child​ ​is,​ ​just​ ​as​ ​the​ ​shepherds​ ​did​ ​on​ ​that​ ​first​ ​Christmas​ ​in​ ​Bethlehem.​

​​ ​What​ ​child​ ​is​ ​this?

He​ ​is​ ​a​ ​shepherd…the​ ​good​ ​shepherd.