I have a confession: Advent and Christmas are not my favorite seasons on the church calendar. Some members of my family and friends have postulated that maybe this season isn’t my favorite because I have worked in more than one role that has made December the busiest month on the work calendar, which may have been true at one time. However, from our perspective on this side of the Cross and Resurrection, I have always viewed our waiting for Christ’s return as a completion of the work started with His resurrection – so Advent and Christmas always set my heart forward with longing and anticipation to Holy Week and Easter.

I give all this preamble – because while I enjoy the Christmas lights and the Christmas hymns and songs well enough – my favorite hymns point me to the truth that the birth of Jesus must be held in tension with His death and resurrection. I have fond memories of nearly all the great Christmas hymns (I continue to have a soft spot for “O, Come All Ye Faithful” as my family of origin would sing the chorus during our family Advent time), but my favorite Christmas Hymn is “What Child Is This?”

I am not a historian of Hymns, but “What Child is This?” is not without some controversy and mystery, as there are several different versions of the lyrics – but I will never forget the first time I sang the version that includes this Stanza:

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

One moment I was singing this sweet song about a sweet baby – the next moment I was confronted with the price of my sin, with the cost of my salvation, with His suffering and His sacrifice, and with the enormity of God’s love for His creation. I shed tears that day – tears of grief, tears of relief and tears of joy that I might be called a son of God.

The tension of Christ’s Birth, Death, and Resurrection are held in this hymn, and my prayer for you is that you see anew God’s love for you as we sit in this season of waiting, knowing that God has already spoken life over us and we just wait the completion of that work.

What child is this
Who laid to rest
On Mary's lap is Sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherd's 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 Christians, 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

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