Go, tell it on the mountainOver the hills and everywhereGo, tell it on the mountainThat Jesus Christ is born
While shepherds kept their watchingO’er silent flocks by nightBehold throughout the heavensThere shone a Holy light
The shepherds feared and trembledWhen, lo! Above the EarthRang out the angel chorusThat hailed our Savior’s birth
Down in a lowly mangerOur humble Christ was bornAnd brought us all salvationThat blessed Christmas morn
Go, tell it on the mountainOver the hills and everywhereGo, tell it on the mountainThat Jesus Christ is bornThat Jesus Christ is born
“Go Tell It on the Mountain” is an African-American spiritual song which was likely derived from the oral tradition, but was originally published by John Wesley Work Jr. (1871-1925)
Whenever something exciting or different happens, people can’t wait to get the news out. Social Media is quick at doing that! Whether it’s really significant or not. It spreads like wild fire. Think about these flash mobs. A flash mob is gathering a group of people (through text messages, Facebook groups, emails, whatever); ask them to come to a particular place at a particular time; they all do something for a short period; then simply disband and go about their business.
Some people need to hear about the business situation
with stocks and trading, to be in the know.
Some people are just gossips and need to hear or tell the latest.
Matthew
is a book about hearing and spreading the “Good News about Jesus”.
Matthew, a corrupt small-time tax collector for Rome, wrote a book about Jesus, a carpenter from Nazareth. Matthew was a Jew but had left his religion behind for the lure of wealth as a tax collector of Rome. It probably never occurred to him that the long-awaited Messiah purposely walked by his roadside office, looked him in the eyes and said “Follow Me”. And in a split second Matthew did!
Jesus gave Matthew an important mission, starting with him studying the geneology of Jesus, as is described in Matthew 1. He lovingly wrote an account of Jesus’ life. He intertwined the Old Testament links of the coming Messiah, His birth, death and resurrection — for us! Matthew cites Isaiah 7:14 which says that “the virgin will conceive”; Isaiah 53:4 saying “He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses, the atonement for our sins”; and Jesus, Himself said in Matthew 20:19, “And the third day He will rise again”. You can also find a reference to this in Hosea 6:2 where it is written, “He will raise us up on the third day, That we may live before Him.”
The purpose of the book of Matthew is to introduce us to our Saviour and our King who is forever with us even to the end of the age. The way we live by Matthew is to spread the word about Jesus, from person to person, by writing, by books or by hearing a sermon on TV and church. The important thing is that we heard it here first, and someone else needs to hear it from you.
Discover new ways to fulfil the Great Commission, just as Jesus told His disciples to do, and tell someone about the saving grace of Jesus. Today we have the internet – how far across the world can this great message spread? Ask God for a heart and opportunity to do it.
Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.