What Child Is This? Christ the King!

It’s Christmas time once again; one of my favorite times of the year! Signs of celebration are popping up all around as festive decorations and lights brighten up the dark Winter evenings, Christmas music is being played, and plans for families and friends to gather are being made.

This time of year is especially full of anticipation and joy for us as Christians while we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. As the popular Christmas carol asks, however, “What Child is This?” Is he just a cute baby with a heartwarming story? No, Jesus is much more than that!

The chorus of that song declares the wonderful truth: “This is Christ the king!” Isaiah 9:6-7 describes him this way:

“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 greatness 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.”

The apostle Paul tells us in Colossians 1:15-18:

^“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.”

This is the King of kings and Lord of lords. His reign will last forever!  Jesus is king immortal and eternal. As creator, he is the ultimate authority over all things in
heaven and on earth. This is a king worthy of all praise, and of our deepest respect!

The wonder of Christmas is that this great KING humbled himself to become one of the least of us. He lived among us and gave up his life for our sake.

So, as we go about our Christmas celebrations and think about this baby lying in a manger, let us remember this child is our loving King who came to give us new life.