Christmas Song #8: A Change of Attitude
In the first verse of What Child is This?, we learned that the Baby on Mary’s lap was actually Christ the King. Our response? To hurry to bring Him the praise He deserves.
In the second verse, we learned that this Messiah was coming to bring us salvation, through His suffering. So the author ends the verse with“Hail, hail the Word made flesh” – we acknowledge His purpose, His salvation.
But now we end with a complete change of attitude, resulting in action.
So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
Of course a reference to the three wise men, the magi, who worshipped Him and brought gifts (Matthew 2:1-12). As a matter of fact, everyone, rich or poor, should come to worship. To “own” – as in to confess, acknowledge. To speak and act according to the truth – He is the King of Kings.
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
As explained in verse 2, Jesus took on human flesh to save sinners (Matthew 1:21; Matthew 9:13). He is coming not to judge (this time – John 3:17), but to save. In thankfulness we serve Him as king, because He is King.
Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
We bring our gifts and worship, we serve Him as king, and now we sing – as a testimony to all, we sing our Christmas carols!
And how can you not love the next line – “The virgin sings her lullaby”. At first, apparently, it was just a baby on his mother’s lap. Now we have a fuller understanding of the miraculous truth. He’s a miracle Baby, the promised Messiah, the King, the Saviour.
And it all starts with a mother singing to her newborn – but this is no ordinary newborn! What a contrast.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the son of Mary.
All this is because of a complete change in attitude. We didn’t even know who this Baby was – but now we do, and that brings us joy! It’s not any baby, it’s Mary’s Baby, the long promised Messiah…
But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Galatians 4:4-5
The word “Christ” itself is really a summary of the entire Old Testament. The world, created good by God, cursed because of sin, was promised a Saviour. But the wait was long! As another carol says, “Long lay the world in sin and error pining…”
And finally, along came the Messiah, the Christ, the long-awaited and final sacrifice for sin. Sin now has an expiry date – it will be gone from the earth and heaven, and its curse will be gone, and we will truly enjoy life with the Creator forever.
And so we sing again, as we celebrate –
Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the son of Mary.