"What Child is This?"

By Pastor Michael O’Neal
Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, GA

Text:  Matt. 22:42 Topical = Christmas

Introduction A hymn sung frequently at this time of the year is titled, "What Child is This?" That's a very important question. Some people called Jesus the son of David, an occurrence that is the subject of our text.

 

Others called him the son of Joseph. That was a mistake. The Bible sublimely points out the difference between the physical relationship of Joseph and Mary to the Lord in Luke 2:33 (in the King James Bible; most other newer "perversions" butcher the verse).

 

The Bible calls Him

          1. The son of David

          2. The son of Mary

          3. The son of Man

          4. The Son of God

 

I want to look at those four titles, of which variations are given in

scripture, and point out four different aspects of the Christ-child.

 

 

  I. AS THE SON OF DAVID, HE WAS THE SOVEREIGN CHILD

 

Matthew 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

 

Luke 1:31-33 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

 

     A. He was the rightful king

 

     B. He was the rejected king

 

     C. He is the RETURNING king! Amen!

 

 

 II. AS THE SON OF MARY, HE WAS THE SUPERNATURAL CHILD

 

Mark 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

 

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

 

     A. This birth was seemingly impossible

 

     B. This birth was stedfastly investigated

        1. By Joseph

        2. By the shepherds

        3. By the wise men

        4. By Herod

        5. By angels

        6. By the devil

        7. By God Almighty

 

     C. This birth was supremely important

 

III. AS THE SON OF MAN, HE WAS THE SERVANT CHILD

 

Matthew 9:6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

 

Philippians 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion

as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

 

As the SERVANT child, the Lord Jesus Christ

 

     A. Shared the problems of the flesh

        1. Physical weariness

        2. Hunger and thirst

        3. Physical pain

        4. However, He never SINNED!

 

     B. Submitted to the purpose of the Father

 

     C. Showed a pattern for us to follow

        1. Obedience

        2. Patience

        3. Ministry to others

 

 IV. AS THE SON OF GOD, HE WAS THE SAVIOR CHILD

 

Matthew 27:54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

 

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

As the Son of God

 

     A. He was the only sinless man who ever lived

 

     B. He was the only sacrifice that could TAKE AWAY sins

 

     C. He is the only Savior who can take you to heaven -

        Jn. 14:6!!

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