It’s amazing to consider just what “Child” this was in Mary’s lap, sleeping. Angels were astounded. Shepherds were bewildered. Even His own mother didn’t quite realize what was laying in her lap---the one in whom all things lived and moved and had their being (Acts 17:28).

What “child” was this? And what “child” are you really supposed to be? Are you a “mess”---or can your life change if you too, like Christ, become a “mass?” Bear with me, and see.

If you were to ask people today who Jesus was, you’d probably get all kinds of answers, from the “pat” answer the Son of God, to the “one who was supposed to be the Son of God,” to a historical figure who started a new religion, to a fictional character on par with Santa Claus and other mythic legends that comforted mankind during more primitive eras of existence. The ever-popular (and actually, quite handy) Wikipedia describes Him this way:

Jesus[e] (c. 4 BC – c. AD 30 / 33), also referred to as Jesus of Nazareth and Jesus Christ, was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the central figure of Christianity. Most Christians believe he is the incarnation of God the Son and the awaited Messiah (Christ) prophesied in the Old Testament.

And of course, there was the famous explanation that of all people, actress Lana Turner gave years ago in the classic movie, “An Imitation of Life.” “Jesus,” she said, “is what you imagine him to be.” Kind of like Tinkerbelle in the 1950’s version of Peter Pan shown on television when I was a kid. As long as you mustered up a warm fuzzy belief in Him, He was real.

But what if I, or rather the Bible, would submit a different point of view? What if Jesus was indeed the Being who was the basis of all Being, the Creator, the Great "I AM" Moses wrote about in Exodus 3, who deserves that name because He alone "is" without any cause whatsoever? What if He is Being itself, and anything that lived and moved and had it's being lived in Him at all time, even when He was a baby in a manger?

What if, then, when He was “born” the universe contained in Him was “reborn,” or rebooted and got a fresh start? What if when He met every temptation and never sin, well, those of us who were “in” Him were included in His right response to life and sin? What if when He died “we” died, and all our sins died with Him (2 Corinthians 5:14)? And what if when He rose, “we” rose (Ephesians 2:6), and it’s no matter a matter of God being “up” there and us “down” here, but we’re all now with Jesus, in Jesus, at the right hand of God and we’re already “in” heaven with Him, and can let “heaven” (the kingdom of God) begin to live out of us now?

What child is this that lay in Mary’s arms, and included us in everything He ever did? And who are you really, if you could see yourself in light of the Ultimate Reality in whom you live, Jesus Christ?

When you look in the mirror, are you really seeing all there is to see? According to this Scripture, it isn’t!

Colossians 3:3-4 New International Version (NIV)
3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

You can begin living that life out loud now! If you want to find out who you are, find out who God is, and who you are in Him.

“What Child is this” is a great question. What child---and incredible unique success---are you going to be, when you finally tap into the life that is freely yours in Jesus Christ. The world can’t wait to see!

Merry Christmas (when the Christ became a mass). And Merry “You” Mass--- when you let the life of Christ become the “mass” that is supposed to be you!