What Child is This? Thoughts by Rebecca Moll
As we hurl ourselves towards the end of the year 2017 and yet, another Christmas Holiday, I wonder, once again, What child is this? What child has more than 30% of today’s 7 billion people preparing for the celebration of his birth, a celebration that has been in existence since the 4th century, thanks to good old Roman ruler, Constantine I?
What child is this?
Let’s consider His name: Jesus, Yahweh, Emmanuel, Christ, Messiah….
Jesus is the anglicized form of the Greek Name Yesous, representing the Hebrew bible name, Yeshoshua. Consider that Moses’ right-hand man, Joshua, a man of three names, was first, Hoshea, then renamed by Moses as Yehoshua, was later shortened to Yeshua during the Babylonian Exile.
Yeho is an abbreviation for God’s four-letter name, YHWH, otherwise known as Yahweh. Yahweh, in Hebrew is known as YHWH, means “I Am.”
Yehoshua is a form of the Hebrew verb, Yasha, which means to deliver, save or rescue.
So, this child is Jesus, is He, the “I AM,” the God, who saves, who rescues, who delivers. I find it interesting that in celebrating Jesus’ birth every year, his delivery, we are saving, rescuing our own faith with the hopes of being delivered, being saved, being rescued, ourselves.
Emmanuel, El means “God,” immanu means “with us.” Come, oh come, Emmanuel can be understood as Come be with us, remain with us, reside in us.
Christ comes from Christos, the Greek word for “anointed one,” or “chosen one.” Messiah comes from the Hebrew word, Mashiach, also means the “anointed one.”
It is estimated that over 107 billion people have ever lived on earth. Jesus, the I AM who delivers, saves, rescues, who is with us is the chosen one, the anointed one for all Christians.
What child is this?
And his name shall be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Let’s consider the celebration:
Unlike other “birthdays” the celebration of Christ’s birth, is almost, as if, he is born again. When was the last time you blew out your candles, surrounded by a reenactment of your own birth? It is a weird image to see ourselves swathed and lying in a bassinet, while others sing lullabies and we blow out our multitude of candles. And yet, going back to the birth of Christ, every year, is tradition.
The idea of re-birth is a common thread in many religions, practices of gratitude. “In the beginning,” is a way to start over, to wash ourselves of guilt and sin, and to begin again, to heal, to forgive. It is an opportunity to allow ourselves the possibility of change.
What better image to invoke feelings of love and understanding, forgiveness and hope than a new born baby? No greater fragility exists, no greater vulnerability exists. The very image calls for love, for action to take care, to protect. In answering that call, we go forth with open hearts, without reservation or judgement, giving of ourselves fully. It is then, and only then, that we are fully open to receive, to love unconditionally, to forgive.
It is in helping others that we see our true best selves. The image of the new born Christ is a perfect way to celebrate giving and in turn, receiving. There is no healing without giving. There is no healing without receiving.
Consider the magnitude:
Over 2.1 billion Christians will celebrate Christmas this year the birth of one new born baby, one of over 107 billion people to have ever walked this earth. Over 2.1 billion people have the chance to open their hearts, to give and to receive, to love and to forgive. The potential for good is staggering.
What Child is this?
A simple, poor, unknown, new born baby who has changed the world, who is changing the world.
So, while you hurl yourself towards another New Year, prepare for another Christmas morning, take a moment, grab your favorite drink, put up your feet and exhale, ask yourself,
What Child is this,
Who laid to rest,
On Mary’s lap, sleeping?
Whom angels greet,
With Anthems sweet,
While Shepherds watch are keeping?
Ask yourself. Consider the possibilities. And remember, With God, all things are possible. Matthew 19:26.
What child is this?
Let’s consider His name: Jesus, Yahweh, Emmanuel, Christ, Messiah….
Jesus is the anglicized form of the Greek Name Yesous, representing the Hebrew bible name, Yeshoshua. Consider that Moses’ right-hand man, Joshua, a man of three names, was first, Hoshea, then renamed by Moses as Yehoshua, was later shortened to Yeshua during the Babylonian Exile.
Yeho is an abbreviation for God’s four-letter name, YHWH, otherwise known as Yahweh. Yahweh, in Hebrew is known as YHWH, means “I Am.”
Yehoshua is a form of the Hebrew verb, Yasha, which means to deliver, save or rescue.
So, this child is Jesus, is He, the “I AM,” the God, who saves, who rescues, who delivers. I find it interesting that in celebrating Jesus’ birth every year, his delivery, we are saving, rescuing our own faith with the hopes of being delivered, being saved, being rescued, ourselves.
Emmanuel, El means “God,” immanu means “with us.” Come, oh come, Emmanuel can be understood as Come be with us, remain with us, reside in us.
Christ comes from Christos, the Greek word for “anointed one,” or “chosen one.” Messiah comes from the Hebrew word, Mashiach, also means the “anointed one.”
It is estimated that over 107 billion people have ever lived on earth. Jesus, the I AM who delivers, saves, rescues, who is with us is the chosen one, the anointed one for all Christians.
What child is this?
And his name shall be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Let’s consider the celebration:
Unlike other “birthdays” the celebration of Christ’s birth, is almost, as if, he is born again. When was the last time you blew out your candles, surrounded by a reenactment of your own birth? It is a weird image to see ourselves swathed and lying in a bassinet, while others sing lullabies and we blow out our multitude of candles. And yet, going back to the birth of Christ, every year, is tradition.
The idea of re-birth is a common thread in many religions, practices of gratitude. “In the beginning,” is a way to start over, to wash ourselves of guilt and sin, and to begin again, to heal, to forgive. It is an opportunity to allow ourselves the possibility of change.
What better image to invoke feelings of love and understanding, forgiveness and hope than a new born baby? No greater fragility exists, no greater vulnerability exists. The very image calls for love, for action to take care, to protect. In answering that call, we go forth with open hearts, without reservation or judgement, giving of ourselves fully. It is then, and only then, that we are fully open to receive, to love unconditionally, to forgive.
It is in helping others that we see our true best selves. The image of the new born Christ is a perfect way to celebrate giving and in turn, receiving. There is no healing without giving. There is no healing without receiving.
Consider the magnitude:
Over 2.1 billion Christians will celebrate Christmas this year the birth of one new born baby, one of over 107 billion people to have ever walked this earth. Over 2.1 billion people have the chance to open their hearts, to give and to receive, to love and to forgive. The potential for good is staggering.
What Child is this?
A simple, poor, unknown, new born baby who has changed the world, who is changing the world.
So, while you hurl yourself towards another New Year, prepare for another Christmas morning, take a moment, grab your favorite drink, put up your feet and exhale, ask yourself,
What Child is this,
Who laid to rest,
On Mary’s lap, sleeping?
Whom angels greet,
With Anthems sweet,
While Shepherds watch are keeping?
Ask yourself. Consider the possibilities. And remember, With God, all things are possible. Matthew 19:26.
No comments have been added yet.
