Christmas - What Kind of a Child is this?

I just heard the old, wonderful Christmas carol, "What Child Is This?"

2nd verse:

Why lies Him here in  such mean estate

Where ox and ass are feeding?

Good Christians fear:

For sinners, here, the silent Word is pleading.

Two thoughts:

(1) The glorious fact of our rescue plan...

designed by God before the creation of the world...

described to mankind at the beginning of history...

reminded to mankind continually throughout history...

revealed to mankind in the incarnation of Jesus Christ the Word...

explained to mankind through the written record of the New Testament...

and, finally, completed through the coronation of Jesus Christ as Lord of All.

Then, "every knee shall bow and every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord" (Philippians 2).

When Mary laid Him there in that manger, when the shepherds came to worship, when Joseph stood by to protect Him, in that tiny Body God's grace was already being worked out.

The silent Word was already pleading.....

(2) God loves to surprise us!

Think of it! The Creator -- God -- King -- arriving in Bethlehem of Judea in a stable! Who would ever make up a story like that?

And then in the last (future) days the Apostle John sees the throne of God and the elders call, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed."

But what does he see?  "Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne" (Revelation 5.)

Not a fearful mighty Lion, but a wounded Lamb...the Lamb that was slain from the beginning of the world (Revelation 13).

God's amazing rescue plan -- wrapped in a surprise package -- and we can now begin to glorify God and enjoy Him forever!

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh

Come peasant, king, to own Him

The King of kings salvation brings,

Let loving hearts adore Him.

Raise, raise the song on high

The Virgin sings her lullaby

Joy, joy, for Christ is born,

The Babe, the Son of Mary.