Day 6: What Child is This?

1. What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

2. Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.

Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

3. So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

This is one of my favorite Christmas songs!  I found this version of it interesting, since I had never seen different choruses to the different verses. The chorus to verse 2 is intriguing, in the sense that we don't usually meditate on the Cross at Christmas.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.


The Word made flesh, so that He could sympathize with our weaknesses and bear our punishment!  Good Christians, fear, for sinners here, the Silent Word is pleading!  
Christ came as a baby, God incarnate, destined for the cross.  The cross be borne for me, for you!  What wondrous Love!
Hail Him as the Word made flesh today!