What Child Is This

“What Child Is This?”

Isaiah 9:1-7

David P. Nolte

William Dix posed a thought provoking question when he asked,

“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?”

Dix answered this way,

“This, this is Christ the King,

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;

haste, haste to bring Him laud,

the Babe, the Son of Mary.”

As we focus on Christ, we focus on His birth. As we ask and answer, “What Child is this?” let’s turn to the Bible for an answer.

“Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past He humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future He will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan -- The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before You as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, You have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.” Isaiah 9:1-7 (NIV) We can see from Isaiah’s writing that:

I. HE WAS THE PROMISED CHILD: VERSE 6:

A. “To us a Child is born, to us a Son is given.”

1. His coming was foretold even as early as the garden of Eden when God said to the serpent “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will crush your head, and you will strike His heel.” Genesis 3:15.

2. The many prophesies concerning the birth of Messiah instilled within Israel a hope and determination so certain that 740 years before it the prophet speaks of it as though it has already happened: “A child is born!”

B. Notice the precision of the promise. He specifies the how, the why, the who and the where of Jesus’ birth:

1. The how:

a. Isaiah 7:14 says, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: the virgin will be with Child and will give birth to a Son, and will call Him Immanuel.”

b. In Luke 1:30-35 we see the angel Gabriel saying to Mary, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.”

2. The why:

a. The angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20-21.

b. The angels proclaimed to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11 (NASB).

3. The who:

a. “To us a Child is born, to us a Son is given.”

b. It is for us – for all of us – for all people.

4. The where:

a. “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for Me One who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”