One of the most beloved of all Christmas carols is What Child Is This? William Dix wrote the words to the song while lying in bed wondering if he would live. The 29 year old Dix had contracted a near fatal illness that put him in bed for months. As the illness lingered, he became discouraged and depressed, causing him to begin to question if God were real. In his search for truth he read many Christian books and spent much time in prayer. Possessed with a passion for poetry, he wrote feverishly during this time. What Child Is This? contains the words of Dix’s poem entitled The Manger Song. In 1865, the words of his poem were put to the tune Greensleeves, a popular tune at that time. It quickly became a Christmas favorite.1
Let me print the words of verses 1-3 so you can sing them in your head or even out loud:
VERSE 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?
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud
The Babe, the Son of Mary
VERSE 2
Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and lamb 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
VERSE 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
Raise, raise a song on high
The virgin sings her lullaby
Joy, joy for Christ is born
The Babe, the Son of Mary
Now for the big ask.
Of everything William Dix mentions in these three verses, what makes Christmas Christmas? Is it Mary holding the baby Jesus? Is it the shepherds, the wisemen and their gifts? Is it the angels singing to the shepherds? I suggest it’s none of these. What makes Christmas Christmas is hidden in verse 2 in the lyrics “Nails, spear shall pierce Him through / The cross be borne for me, for you.”
You see, being born of a virgin was significant, but in and of itself Jesus’ miraculous birth was not sufficient to divide time into BC/AD. Being heralded by a heavenly host of angels to low-on-the-totem-pole-of-society shepherds was powerful stuff, but even that is not enough to cause most stores to close their doors on December 25. Being visited and gifted by wise men from the East was attention getting, but even that is not enough to cause millions to set aside time each December 24 to attend Christmas Eve worship services in honor of Jesus’ birth and life.
No, only Jesus’ death on the cross at Easter to save mankind from sin, and only Jesus’ resurrection from the dead at Easter to make available eternal life to all who believe in Him, give adequate reason for there to be a worldwide celebration called Christmas every December 25. It is Easter that makes Christmas Christmas.
And that is why we can say Merry Christmas!
1The Songs Tell The Story, Janet Denison, 2019, p.3; Houston Chronicle, 12/4/19, p.B2
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