What Child Is This

The most momentous event in history occurred without any paparazzi. It was a never-to-be-repeated historical moment, yet only a handful of shepherds heard the initial announcement on an obscure hillside. God could have trumpeted it to every person on earth at the same time, but He chose to give the precious news to these few humble beings who had no means of broadcasting other than their own testimonies.

When the shepherds heard the herald angel’s news of the birth of their long-awaited Messiah and saw the heavenly host in the glow of the Glory of God, they were greatly frightened; but they immediately departed to find the babe of which the announcing angel told them.

They found the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger cared for by Mary and Joseph just as the angel had said. Of course, they couldn’t keep this news to themselves so they began to spread the word of the wonderful revelation that had been made known to them.

The message carried by those long-ago shepherds has reverberated around the world to every generation since they shared it. That is how God intended for the world to know that the Savior had come—word of mouth from one person to another until all have heard. Remember the instructions Jesus left with His disciples just before He left them: “…Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).

Jesus’ ministry and mission on earth were passed to the disciples and they were to let the world know who Jesus is. Jesus asked Peter: “...Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?...Simon Peter answered and said, ‘Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God’…And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my father which is in heaven” (Matthew 16:13-17.)

“…upon this rock [revelation of who Jesus is] I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).

The story didn’t end in the “cow shed.” The baby in the manger grew into a Man—a Man who came to give His life for the sins of the world. How will the world know unless we tell them? The arrangement of sharing the message that began with the shepherd who retold the story of the birth of the Messiah is still in effect today. There is salvation by no other means. When God’s Word goes forth, the Spirit of God reveals to the hearer that the message is true and draws them to Himself.

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

God’s irrevocable plan is that no man can take credit for his own salvation. It is God who has planned and executed the means by which we can know Him. “…no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost” (1 Corinthians 12:3). The foundation of His church is “Who Jesus is”.

From these verses, we can safely draw the conclusion that the only way we can know who Jesus is, is to have it revealed to us by the Holy Ghost. That is quite astonishing since Jesus is a well known figure of history. His name has been on the tongues of those who lovingly tell of His life, those who have called Him a fraud, those who use His name to curse and those we are just curious about Him.

When Jesus walked on earth among the people, they knew Him as the son of Joseph, the carpenter, from Nazareth; and with that background, they expected nothing extraordinary from Him. In fact, before he knew Him, one of His followers even commented, “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?...” (John 1:46). Their eyes were blinded to the true identify of who Jesus was. Paul said, “If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not…” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). By choice they had rejected Him, and Satan had stopped their ears and closed their eyes. No one is as “blind and deaf” as the one who chooses to be.

Isaiah asked the question, “Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?” (Isaiah 53:1). John elaborated on this in John 12. Though Jesus had taught them and done many miracles, “yet they believed not on him.” John said this was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s words that Satan had blinded those who believed not. He said Isaiah “saw his glory and spoke of him.” How this must have grieved our Lord! He came bringing them the truth and they chose to not believe it. He brought life and they refused to accept it and chose death.

Many people use the name of Jesus, but don’t really know who He is. They speak of His words, do “good works” in His name and even lead groups who identify themselves as Christians. However, if they have not had the “revelation of the Holy Ghost,” they don’t know who Jesus is. Jesus even spoke of those who would say they had done many great works in His name, but He told them “I never knew you.” They were not His. They may have “used His name” but they didn’t have the right or the authority, because they didn’t belong to Him. They were without the revelation of who Jesus is. We can’t become His without being born again. No one can be born for us; every person must have the revelation of Jesus as Savior, be born again for himself.

God has no grandchildren!

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again [born again] unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

It is imperative, absolutely essential, that we know Jesus by revelation of the Holy Ghost. We can KNOW Him in no other way. Jesus Himself said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him; and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44). When it is all over here, to those whose sins He has forgiven and are looking for His appearing, “shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Hebrews 9:28). Only those who know Him by revelation will be looking for Him. The opportunity will be given to everyone, but not everyone will accept the call. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11). “…the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared” (Titus 3:4). “…the things which God hath prepared for them that love him [can’t be discerned by human means]. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit…: (1 Corinthians 2:9-10). In a prayer of thanksgiving to His Father, Jesus prayed, “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent [in their own eyes], and hast revealed them unto babes [born again ones]” (Matthew 11:25).

The next time this world sees Jesus, He will not be lying in a manger as a babe but will be revealed in all His Glory, as we gaze upon Him with our “glorified” eyes!

It’s not hard to see Jesus now. In fact, we have to turn our back to Him to not see Him. He’s “there” inviting us into His presence, and we can accept the invitation or reject it. The Holy Spirit opens our ability to “see” Jesus, our Savior and leads us to Him.

("If I make my bed in hell, He is there"…There is no escape from His presence.)

It is well past the time of becoming serious about who Jesus is. In fact, how we react to the Holy Spirit’s revelation of Jesus to us will affect us for all eternity. There is no such thing as indifference, a decision is demanded. Failure to decide is a negative choice.

When we accept the truth of who Jesus is, we know the real meaning of Christmas.

--What Child is This?--

--He is God’s son

--He came to earth to save us

--He is coming back for those who “know” Him and are looking for Him!

~Delores~