He was just out of college, not much older than us. It was my junior year of high school – an English class – fantasy literature to be exact. “What were we doing?” – I thought. Sure, I loved music, but the teacher led our class in breaking down the lyrics of some popular rock n roll songs of the day – exploring deep meanings. This was school, right?
Looking back all these years later, I ponder that exercise and think, ‘Yes, that was school, but that was cool!’ Why? Well, in one sense, it was getting us high schoolers to think, and thinking is good, yes? But more than that, there is value in understanding.
Fast forward to Christmastime 2015! I’ve been a Christian now nearly three decades and thoroughly enjoy Christmas music. Yet a high school teacher exposing this ‘once upon a time teenager’ to an educational exercise over music many moons ago had an affect upon my mind and spirit…and still does.
You see, I still enjoy studying the lyrics of music, both secular and sacred. For there is value in understanding. In the spirit of Christmas and the Great Commission, ‘Go Tell It On The Mountain’ (based on Luke 2:8-20) is a song of which I’d like to briefly reflect (click here to listen to a splendid rendition).
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.
Go and tell that Jesus Christ is born. So simple and at the same time, so profound. When Jesus gave His final marching orders to the disciples in Matthew 28 and Acts 1, He said ‘go and make disciples’ (Matthew 28:19), letting them know they would be His witnesses ‘to the ends of the earth.’ (Acts 1:8).
Why go tell people about Jesus? Because He is good news! In fact, He is the embodiment of The Good News, the gospel. And good news is something to be shared. For sharing it blesses not only those who receive it, but also those who deliver it: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation” (Isaiah 52:7).
While shepherds kept their watching
Over silent flocks by night,
Behold throughout the heavens,
There shone a holy light:
The shepherds feared and trembled
When lo! above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our Saviour’s birth:
The routine, mundane activity of life shattered in a moment by supernatural revelation – shepherds rocked in fear, angel chorus rocking God’s praises. And the reason? The birth of a baby in Bethlehem:
Down in a lowly manger
Our humble Christ was born
And God send us salvation,
That blessed Christmas morn
God, the Son, leaving the throne in Heaven in the dead of night – in order to bring salvation. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
Like those Shepherds of old, I was also rocked by supernatural revelation. But it was not only the reality of Messiah’s birth that moved me and changed me, it was also the reality of His death and resurrection. For I believed and received life in His name at 23 years of age. And because of HIs grace, I can join the angel chorus of praise. For I am eternally grateful to God and desire to proclaim His excellencies because He has delivered “me out of darkness and into HIs marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
When I am a seeker,
I seek both night and day;
I seek the Lord to help me,
And He shows me the way:
He made me a watchman
Upon the city wall,
And if I am a Christian,
I am the least of all.
A seeker I desire to be. Jesus said in John 15:5, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” To follow Jesus is to abide in Him, to seek after Him – in order to fulfill His Kingdom purpose – to know Him and make Him known!
A watchman He has made me to be. What kind of watchman will I be? In general, the Old Testament watchman served to protect from the physical enemies, standing upon city walls (Isaiah 62:6, Ezekiel 33:6). The New Testament watching is spiritual protection from enemies of the soul (Acts 20:28, I Timothy 4:16). To be a watchman is to steward a Kingdom responsibility. Oh to be a faithful watchman! But how? “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:10). [See also 2 Corinthians 3:5, Philippians 4:13]
The enemy of our soul and the souls of all people is sin and death. In one sense to be a watchman in regards to the Great Commission is to proclaim salvation in Jesus’ name (Colossians 1:28-29). For the Savior was born to die – that we might be delivered from the power of sin and death. And this is not only the good news, it is the very best news! So…
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.
