WHAT CHILD IS THIS?
WHAT CHILD IS THIS?
Who is the child in the manger that many celebrate on December 25th each year. Isaiah chapter 53 prophesied the following about the child in the manger; the Messiah:
There will be nothing spectacular about Him that will cause men to desire to follow Him.
He will be despised and rejected by mankind.
He will be viewed by men as weak and vulnerable and many will hide themselves from Him
because they will see Him as insignificant and cursed.
Though He will carry the afflictions (pain and illnesses) of all mankind, men will view Him as one
being punished by God for some evil He did.
He will receive an unjust trial and be treated harshly.
The sin of all men will attack Him and He will be wounded because of man's rebellious deeds,
He will be crushed because of mankind's sin, and by His stripes many will be healed.
Though He will commit no violent deeds nor speak deceitfully, He will be treated like the worst of criminals.
He will accomplish God's purpose wrapped in the swaddling garment of persecution, suffering, and the shameful death on the cross; but, the sins of many will be acquitted through the suffering He endured.
In John chapter 1, it says that although Jesus (God's Word) created the world, the world did not recognize Him.
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message about the cross [a message of victory through persecution, suffering, death] is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:19 For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will thwart the cleverness of the intelligent [educated]."
1 Corinthians 1:20 Where is the wise man? Where is the expert in the Mosaic law [seminary graduate]? Where is the debater [talk show host] of this age? Has God not made the wisdom of the world foolish?
1 Corinthians 1:21 For since in the wisdom of God the world by its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased to save those who believe by the foolishness of preaching.
1 Corinthians 1:22 For Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks [everyone else who is not Jewish] ask for wisdom,
1 Corinthians 1:23 but we preach about a crucified [suffering, persecuted] Christ, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.
1 Corinthians 1:24 But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
1 Corinthians 1:25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
1 Corinthians 1:26 Think about the circumstances of your call, brothers and sisters. Not many were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were born to a privileged position.
1 Corinthians 1:27 But God chose what the world thinks foolish to shame the wise, and God chose what the world thinks weak to shame the strong.
1 Corinthians 1:28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, what is regarded as nothing, to set aside what is regarded as something,
1 Corinthians 1:29-30 so that no one can boast in his presence. [Through suffering and persecution, the child in the manger] became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.
Instrumental Music: What Child Is This? by Terri Geisel