What Child is This?

Nº 227

weekly devotions to refresh your soul by Dr. Dan Bolin - December 6, 2022

Deity is not to be explained but to be adored; and the Sonship of Christ is to be accepted as a truth of revelation, to be apprehended by faith, though it cannot be comprehended by the understanding. - Charles Spurgeon

The Englishman Willian Chatterton Dix suffered serious physical and mental challenges while working in Glasgow, Scotland. During a deep depression he began reading his Bible. In 1865, he encountered Matthew’s record of the Christmas story and penned the famous carol, What Child Is This?

What Child is this? Who is this baby who hinges the measurement of time from B.C. to A.D. and is forever memorialized in creche tableaus, surrounded by lowly shepherds and regal wisemen?

Joseph had the same question 2,000 years ago. Stunned by Mary’s announcement and considering his options, an angel calmed Joseph’s anxious heart and instructed him. “You shall give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21b) Matthew added Isaiah’s prophetic words from Isaiah 7:14,”...they will call him Immanuel—which means, “God with us.’” (Matthew 1:23b)

What Child is this? He is God’s Son who came to Earth to be with us, die in our place, save us from the penalty of our sin, and offer abundant life with Him forever.

The ultimate question of Christmas – and of the ages – remains, What Child Is This? Each of us must answer that question. And our answer makes all the difference.

Dan Bolin

Author & President

Refueling in Flight Ministries, Inc.

Expenses for Refueling In Flight Ministries will be about $45.000 in 2023. The major expenses are related to travel for teaching events. Dan’s travel plans for 2023 include training youth pastors in Italy and teaching one-week intensive courses in Christian camping at seminaries in India, and Myanmar. One-time gifts or monthly support are deeply appreciated.