Go Tell It On the Mountain

“Jesus gave His charge: ‘God authorized and commanded me to commission you: go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Then instruct them in the practice of all that I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:18 The Message.

Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere. Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.

This simple American Negro Spiritual was passed down by oral tradition and first published in 1907. Many, who were in physical slavery, struggling in every way, looked to Father God above for strength, help and hope.  Thus, these spirituals have such deep meaning.  In these often intolerable conditions Scriptures were quoted and Bible Stories repeated.  Someone told the Good News to John Wesley Work, Jr. and he told the word with this song.

Today our culture is becoming very dark and many are in spiritual slavery.  We have learned that light chases darkness away and Jesus is the LIGHT and LIFE.  We need to shout the Good News of his birth and redemption from the mountain tops. His mission was to set the captives free. (Luke 4:18-20). We celebrate God’s gift of a baby – sweet and innocent.  People reach out to a baby – just check out the supermarket and the grandmothers ‘oohing and aahing’. 

But, as we learned after 9/11, people may reach out to God for comfort and peace, for a while, but the name of JESUS – not so. So powerful is His name that even the demons tremble and obey! Many in our culture use it in distain and we are accountable for all that we say. So, speak the Good News! Say with the angels “Good tidings of great joy!!! Unto you a Savior is born.” (Luke 2:10)    Jesus, Name above all names: Savior. Redeemer. Coming King.  One day – maybe soon – “EVERY knee shall bow in heaven and earth and under the earth, and EVERY tongue confess that Jesus Christ is LORD to the glory of God the Father.”  Phil 2:10-11

Part of my selecting and giving gifts over the years, many of which I made, was the thrill of watching loved ones open them – sometimes after strange puzzles or treasure Hunts Gramps sent our kids to find. But hearts are often saddened and hurt when gifts are not acknowledged or enjoyed.  Jesus the God-man is God’s gift to us; so take off the wrapping, invite him in, be blessed by his love, and walk in his light. Jesus the man is our pattern for living.  Writer Henry Gariepy said, “Jesus became God’s self-disclosure.  In Jesus God entered humanity, eternity and invaded time.”

SOOO, my friends, Go tell it on the mountains!  To your family, at school, at work and at play – Jesus Christ was born, lived a sinless life, died for our sins, was resurrected and today is sitting at the right hand of the Father – or maybe standing, readying the troops, and calling for our David to groom and prepare the white stallion for His return as King of kings.  Go tell it on the mountains.

Christmas is More                               (Author unknown)

Christmas is more than a day at the end of the year

More than a day of joy and good cheer

Christmas is really God’s pattern for living

To be followed each day by unselfish giving

Then Peace on Earth will come to stay

When we live Christmas every day.