BeBe Winans - What Child Is This Lyrics
Lyrics
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
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 a song on high!
The virgin sings her lullaby
Joy, joy for Christ is born
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing!
Haste, haste to bring Him laud
The Babe the Son of Mary
Nails, spears shall pierce Him through
The Cross He bore for me, for you
Hail, hail the Word made flesh the Babe
The Son of Mary
Video
What Child Is This
Meaning & Inspiration
BeBe Winans' rendition of "What Child Is This," released on November 18, 2003, as part of his album *My Christmas Prayer*, offers a profoundly moving exploration of the Nativity narrative, drawing the journey of Christ from His humble birth to His ultimate sacrifice into sharp, spiritual focus. While the carol itself originates from the 16th-century English tune "Greensleeves," its transformation into a sacred text by William Chatterton Dix in 1865 created a timeless piece that Winans delivers with an unshakeable conviction, prioritizing the theological depth over mere festive sentimentality. His interpretation serves as a powerful meditation on the incarnation, inviting contemplation on the profound mystery of God becoming man.
The song begins with the inquisitive question, "What Child is this who laid to rest / On Mary's lap is sleeping," immediately transporting the mind to the humble manger scene. This opening mirrors the wonder and confusion that must have greeted those first witnesses, seeing the Creator of the universe in the form of a vulnerable infant. It is a moment vividly depicted in Luke 2, where shepherds, keeping watch by night, are startled by an angelic host proclaiming "good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Winans captures this initial awe, setting the stage for the revelation of the child's true identity. The song's contemplative beginning prompts a personal reflection: who is this child, so seemingly ordinary, yet greeted by the celestial realm and observed by the most unassuming among humanity?
The response to this initial query forms the powerful declaration that anchors the song: "This, this is Christ the King / Whom shepherds guard and angels sing! / Haste, haste to bring Him laud / The Babe the Son of Mary." This core message is a direct affirmation of Jesus' divine kingship, echoing prophecies like Isaiah 9:6, which foretells the coming of a child named "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." The call to "bring Him laud"—to offer praise and worship—is not just an historical account but an active invitation for all generations to acknowledge His sovereignty. It underscores that the baby in the manger is no mere child, but the promised Messiah, the long-awaited King whose arrival changes everything, deserving immediate and fervent adoration from both earthly and heavenly realms.
The narrative further unfolds with the imagery of devotion and ownership: "So bring Him incense gold and myrrh / come peasant King to own Him / The King of kings salvation brings, / let loving hearts Enthrone Him." This verse directly references the gifts brought by the Magi in Matthew 2:11, symbolic of His royalty (gold), divinity (frankincense), and sacrifice (myrrh). The phrase "peasant King" brilliantly encapsulates the paradox of Christ's reign: a King born not in a palace, but in poverty, yet deserving of all reverence. This truth is foundational to Christian faith, asserting that Jesus, though born in humility, is indeed "King of kings and Lord of lords" (Revelation 19:16). More than merely acknowledging His status, the song urges "loving hearts Enthrone Him," implying a spiritual coronation within one's life, allowing His redemptive power to transform and govern. He brings "salvation," fulfilling the angel's prophecy to Joseph in Matthew 1:21: "you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
Perhaps the most profound pivot in the song comes with the stark, prophetic lines: "Nails, spears shall pierce Him through / The Cross He bore for me, for you / Hail, hail the Word made flesh the Babe / The Son of Mary." Here, Winans masterfully shifts from the joyous birth to the agonizing passion, connecting the cradle to the cross. This is not just a Christmas carol; it is an encapsulation of the entire Gospel message. It reminds us that the purpose of that infant's arrival was His ultimate sacrifice, fulfilling prophecies like Isaiah 53, which describes the suffering servant "pierced for our transgressions." The image of "nails, spears" directly points to the crucifixion (John 19:34). By linking the "Babe" to "the Word made flesh" (John 1:14), the song asserts the pre-existence and divine nature of Jesus, emphasizing that the vulnerability of the infant in Mary’s arms was part of a divine plan for redemption. BeBe Winans' delivery imbues these verses with a solemn weight, ensuring that the hope and joy of Christmas are inextricably linked to the sacrificial love demonstrated on Calvary, inviting a deeper spiritual engagement with the true cost of our salvation. This powerful journey from the manger to the cross, from innocent wonder to redemptive suffering, is what makes "What Child Is This" a timeless and essential reflection on the entirety of Christ's mission.