#448: "What Child Is This" by Shane & Shane

More Than a Song - Discovering the Truth of Scripture Hidden in Today's Popular Christian Music

There is a long-held practice in teaching biblical theology. It uses questions and answers to help the student remember the foundations of their faith. Shane & Shane sing a traditional Christmas hymn that asks and answers an important question, "What Child Is This?"

Many people in the life of Jesus asked this question (or something similar to it), and this week we set out in the book of Luke to make a list of answers we can refer back to in our own faith walk.

In this week's episode, I discuss the following:

• Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - this week's Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
  • Read in context
  • Read and keep on reading
  • Make a list
  • Historical context
• What child is this?
  • The angel Gabriel's answer - Luke 1:30-35
  • The angel's answer to the shepherds - Luke 2:10-12
  • Jesus' answer to his parents - Luke 2:41-52
  • Jesus' answer to his hometown synagogue - Luke 4:16-30
  • Jesus' response to the Pharisees and scribes - Luke 5:17-26; Luke 7:36-50
  • Jesus' response to his disciples - Luke 8:22-25
  • Peter's answer - Luke 9:20
  • God's answer - Luke 9:35
• An alternate question -- what is this word? - Luke 4:36
• A scene we discussed at length in Episode 446
• How Herod represents how some answer this question, "what child is this?" - Luke 9:7-9
• The historical context around Herod, the tetrarch - The Lexham Bible Dictionary - Logos Affiliate Link
• "A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher." C.S. Lewis quote from "Mere Christianity" - Amazon Paid Link

"Many people keep asking 'what child is this' and they have enough information to declare an answer that moves them to action, but rather they are like Herod who hears about Jesus and talks about Jesus, but will not follow Jesus."

‌

More Than a Song Playlist

Additional Resources

• Lyrics - NewReleaseToday.com
• "What is Advent and How is it Celebrated?" - Bible Project
• My new favorite Bible Study Software - Logos Bible Software Affiliate Link
• "The Savior of the world: The message of Luke's gospel (The Bible speaks today)" - Amazon Paid Link

Weekly Challenge

Pick up the gospel of Luke, start in chapter one, and read and keep on reading. Look for the areas of Scripture where there seems to be curiosity surrounding Jesus's identity. Make a list of identifiers as you meditate on who Jesus really is.