What Child Is This
The Music of Christmas • Sermon • Submitted
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Opening & Intro
Opening & Intro
Origin
In 1865, William was 29 years old when he suffered from a near-fatal bout of sickness. He was afflicted with severe depression, and this near-death experience changed him completely. While undergoing recovery, he experienced a spiritual awakening that inspired him to start crafting hymns. He became an avid reader of the Bible and subsequently, he wrote the lyrics of “What Child Is This?” and incorporated the tune of the celebrated English folk song, “Greensleeves.”
Greensleeves was already one of the most aesthetic and beloved melodies of the festive season at that time. Although it’s not a quintessential Christmas tune, its association with the festive season can be dated back to 1642. It was paired back then with Waits’ carol titled, “The Old Year Now Away is Fled.” Also, William Shakespeare refers to this popular tune twice in his famous play - “Merry Wives of Windsor.”
William Chatterton Dix
His affiliation with the church is vivid through his hymns, which were subsequently published in “A Vision of All Saints,” “Verses on the Holy Eucharist,” and “Altar Songs.” Around Christmas of 1865, he also crafted the poem titled “The Manger Throne.” He also crafted other popular hymns like “As With Gladness Men of Old” and “Alleluia! Sing to Jesus!” According to expert Hymnologists, Dix’s hymns are imaginative, reverent, and simple, yet borderline sentimental. They have always proved to be considerably sincere to their roots.
Last week we talked about moving from longing to hope. Every person has a desire for God, even if they don’t want to admit it or don’t realize that this is what they are longing for.
Main Point
Main Point
The gift of Jesus is for every person. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you have done. He is a gift to ALL.
Why Does it Matter
Why Does it Matter
This brings hope!
Hope will bring peace - Rest/Relief from loning.
Scripture
Scripture
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?
Heaven and Earth recognize who Jesus is.
From the lowest to the highest of creation
No one is exempt from the king
2. Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Why so humble? Jesus is laid where animals eat and poop.
Those who believe in Jesus/in His family should fear/feel sense of urgency for the lost.
The silent word could mean one of two things:
1)
Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.” But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:
“Their voice has gone out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.”
Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says,
“I will make you envious by those who are not a nation;
I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.”
And Isaiah boldly says,
“I was found by those who did not seek me;
I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.”
But concerning Israel he says,
“All day long I have held out my hands
to a disobedient and obstinate people.”
Hear the Gospel (it is the word of God and it is silent) and be saved
and 2)
Jesus Himself is the word John 1:1&14
Jesus commands salvation even as a child who cannot speak.
What ever we believe it specifically means we do agree that it is a verse that commands us to be saved. Turn to God.
3. So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Bring him you best! He is worthy
No one is exempt
From pesants to kings
Own him means “hear and obey” - Listen
What can we Own?
Salvation - it is freely offered.
We own it if we make him Lord of our lives.
The second stanza offers a momentary reference to “mean estate,” or less than an ideal condition. The poet registers similarity with the first stanza with another rhetorical question. He wonders why the Child Christ should be displayed in such a humble environment. The poet tries to decipher the answer analytically, and reasons that the “mean estate” that refers to the birth of Christ has its roots entangled with his future sufferings. The second stanza alludes to the anguish and distress of Christ's future.
The poet utilizes the final stanza to expand the emphasis on the people attending the humble scene. He draws inspiration from the Epiphany season and focuses on the metaphorical gifts that are being bought for the infant. His setting flouts the conventional structure of time quite comprehensively, like everyone, starting from the “king” or the “peasant” is offered an equal chance.
Application
Application
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;
This, this is Christ the King,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
Behold the Christ - TELL THE WORLD
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
He wants us to tell the world about this gift.
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Remind them that
Jesus is for everyone - EVEN YOU! God says you are worth it.
Jesus went from ultimate humility to ultimate glory.
Closing
Closing
What Child is this? The one who was sent to save all of creation
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.