What Child is This

I sat at my desk, working on the Christmas services for my church.  The song “What Child is this…” played, and played, and replayed through my mind.  Answer…ah, Jesus!  That’s what "Child is This"!   Then I though what Jesus looked like and what the Jews of the day expected their Messiah to look like.  I realize that the image I have is very much like that painted and sculpted by Michelangelo—a white European Mary holding a white Jesus—fully imaged with a halo and benefic expressions on both of their faces and Jesus’ little hand uplifted as if already blessing us with his divinity.  Gadzooks....that image is far from the reality of a dirty stable filled with animals and dark-skinned Mediterraneans who probably hadn’t bathed in a while!  Would I have recognized that Child as This Christ?

The Jews of the day didn’t recognize Jesus as Messiah. They expected a King and Conquering Messiah…not a lowly carpenter and crucified rabbi.  In the Gospel of Matthew (25), it tells that even Christians in the future will not recognize Jesus.  For they expect Jesus only to appear as the Glorious God, and fail to see Jesus as the poor and needy amongst us!  Jesus said in the Gospel of Matthew that he is to be found in the hungry, naked, imprisoned, oppressed and sick.  

During Christmas do we only look for a European Jesus of our own imaginations?  Do we only see him as God Almighty? Or do we seek the Christ-Child that is amongst us, in the needy and in each other?  Will we be like the ancient Jews and miss the day of God’s visitation?  Will we miss God amongst us?  Or will we have faith to follow a Star like the magi of old, will we listen to the messenger angels and go and find the baby Jesus amongst the lowly?  Use your Eyes of Faith, and Ears of wonder to find the Christ-Child this season.  Look beyond your expectations, your religious ideologies, and your own cultural shortsightedness…and discover anew What Child is This!