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What Child Is This?


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.

Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here,
The silent Word is pleading.
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh
All tongues and peoples own Him
The King of kings salvation brings
Let loving hearts enthrone Him
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary
          I have been both dreading and looking forward to this song. Some folks have described the melody (Greensleeves) as haunting, and I agree. The music is wonderful. I just struggle a little with what sometimes seems to be an excessive focus on Mary. I was raised in a Protestant home, and Mary never got much attention. She was just a human being. What was of primary importance was that He is the Son of the Most High. We had a record with Ave Maria on it. That’s another beautiful song that focuses on Mary. 
          There’s a good reason for the “anti-Mary” atmosphere but I agree with some that it can be taken too far. Mary was a human being, a normal, young Jewish woman, who, outside of her connection with Jesus, probably lived a fairly typical life. he prophecies said that He would be a son of Eve, a son of Noah, of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, a son of David, and a son of a virgin. He had to be one of us to be a proper sacrifice for us. His connection with us, His identification with us is vital. Sometimes, it’s tempting to think of how God’s Son was different from us. This song reminds us of the important way that He was like us.

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