Go Tell it on the Mountain
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History and Context
History and Context
While shepherds kept their watching
O’er 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 the Savior’s birth.
Down in a lowly manger
The humble Christ was born,
And God sent us salvation
That blessed Christmas morn.
Go, tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, tell it on the mountain,
That Jesus Christ is born.
At the turn of the century a group from Nashville’s Fisk University traveled throughout the Eastern United States sharing with audiences African American spirituals passed down from generation to generation.
A professor named John Wesley Work Jr. was the leader of the group and the author of the hymnal where “Go Tell it on the Mountain” appeared.
It is not surprising to imagine a group of slaves on a plantation in the south singing a song about the Shepherds hearing about the birth of Jesus.
Slaves and shepherds had a lot in common
They were considered the bottom of society, rejected and abused.
And they were stuck, no escape this side of eternity.
Perhaps that is why the birth of Jesus was so worthy of a song.
For the slaves in the mid-1800’s, the story of Jesus coming to the lowly shepherds would have spoken to them.
And it was such good news they heard of that they would proclaim through their songs “Go Tell it on the Mountain”!
Tell everyone who would listen the good news of our savior’s birth.
Christmas brought hope to the slaves, stuck in hopelessness.
The song they wrote speaks of more of what Christmas brings.
Christmas brings good news for everyone.
Christmas brings good news for everyone.
When you read the stories of Christmas in the bible you find very different characters, all reacting in similar ways.
They seems to all realize that this baby’s birth is going to change things.
We find in each story the reality that the birth of Jesus is good news to any and to all.
1) The birth of Christ is good news for the lowly and meek. ()
1) The birth of Christ is good news for the lowly and meek. ()
The birth of Jesus is good news for the lowly shepherds, despised and rejected.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
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The birth of Jesus was worthy of praise for the shepherds.
Not much was worth of praise in the life of shepherds, but the birth of Jesus was good news to them. Actually it was the best news.
Many of us have gone through seasons of life, some of us have spent much of our life, feeling lowly and rejected like the shepherds.
Struggling to find value in our life, feeling like the blessings of life have passed us by.
But the birth of Jesus is good news for the lowly.
The savior of the world was born into a poor family, in a small town, to a young, and probably quite scared, couple.
He grew up like many of us, in a simple, working-class family.
He never held a political position, went on a luxury vacation, or drove a new car.
Many of His best friends turned their back on Him at His greatest time of need.
BUT:
2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
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He joyfully took on our sin and shame on the cross.
The birth of Jesus is good news to the lowly.
2) The birth of Christ is good news for the wise and wealthy.
2) The birth of Christ is good news for the wise and wealthy.
The birth of Jesus is good news for the Wise men,
wealthy, smart, and powerful.
They were astrologists and interpreters of dreams
They were revered by kings, as Daniel was to King Nebuchadnezzar.
They were seemingly wealthy as they brought Jesus gold and expensive oils and perfumes.
These wise men had been studying, with eager expectation, of the coming of a King.
2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
When they saw the star over the city of Bethlehem, they left their homeland “in the east” and came “to worship” the one they believed was good news for their lives and their world.
So when they saw the star over the city of Bethlehem, they left their homeland “in the east” and came “to worship” the one they believed was good news for their lives and their world.
So when they saw the star over the city of Bethlehem, they left their homeland “in the east” and came “to worship” the one they believed was good news for their lives and their world.
They brought extravagant gifts, bringing their best ton express the significance of the person they were there to worship.
It is often easier for us to see our need for a savior and king when we are in need.
But when we are healthy, financially comfortable, and overall doing pretty well, who needs Jesus.
We would never say that, but when we examine our hearts and look for the thing we are resting in, hoping in, and finding joy in, is it Jesus.
Those who are rich in money feel like they have enough money to guarantee tomorrow, so they don’t think much about needing to stay right with God has their security for tomorrow;
We would never say that, but when we examine our hearts and look for the thing we are resting in, hoping in, and finding joy in, is it Jesus.
Has your privileged state or your intelligence gotten in the way of you realizing how Good the news of Jesus really is?
The birth of Christ is good news, even to the wise and wealthy.
3) The birth of Christ is good news for the powerful and proud.
3) The birth of Christ is good news for the powerful and proud.
The birth of Jesus is good news for Herod
Herod obviously doesn’t see this as good news.
He is threatened and he will go to great links to protect what he feels is rightfully his.
No one will take his power and position away if he can help it.
He must maintain the control he deserves.
But the birth of Jesus is good news to the proud and the powerful.
Herod was not a peaceable man.
He was suspicious and anxious, always seeking to protect his position, his power.
He was proud, making his desires the central focus, at the expense of whatever may get in the way.
In Christmas brought the opportunity to give up the battle, to find peace in the true king.
4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood
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He is the “ruler of kings on earth”. He is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords.
The sense of self-sufficiency or respectability is all an illusion. o One small, microscopic bacteria entering your body could change everything about your life. § One of the most famous generals of the Civil War died from a tick bite. Armies could not stop this guy, but one little insect brings him down. o One phone call telling you there has been a wreck could destroy everything you cherish most. o One unexpected summons into your boss’s office on a Friday afternoon could ruin all your financial prospects. o And if you think of yourself as a basically decent person, one honest look into the mirror of God’s word will rid you of that illusion.
The sense of self-sufficiency that many of us live with is really just and illusion
One small, microscopic bacteria entering your body could change everything about your life.
One phone call telling you there has been a wreck could destroy everything you cherish most.
One unexpected summons into your boss’s office on a Friday afternoon could ruin all your financial prospects.
And every bit of that is OUT OF YOUR CONTROL.
Praise God that Jesus was born!!
Christmas bring the opportunity to respond.
Christmas bring the opportunity to respond.
Will you be like the shepherds- looking to Jesus for the hope and joy He offers in the midst of the suffering and struggles of life?
For salvation from sin and redemption.
Will you be like the wise men- finding fulfillment, joy, and satisfaction in Jesus
more than any thing this earth could ever bring?
Or will you be like Herod should have been- finding rest and peace in the struggle for control and for staying “ahead”?
Christmas brings an opportunity for change, as we respond to the good news Jesus brings.
And as we respond and as the Gospel of Jesus begins to reshape us and reform us, it will drive us to go and tell.
Christmas brings the burden to go and tell.
Christmas brings the burden to go and tell.
As we sit in this room today there are an estimated 24,000 people living in Ohio county.
of those, nearly half claim no affiliation with a church.
Even with all the churches represented in this community, many of the services this Sunday morning will be scarcely attended.
Many of our neighbors today have little to no Christian witness in their life.
Paul says in
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
It is clear here, salvation comes from confession of sin and belief in Jesus.
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If we believe that Jesus is good news for everyone, why is it only a handful of those that attend this church today will share the love of Jesus with someone in their this year.
Studies show that only 50% of Christians actually share the Gospel with someone in a year.
200 years ago a group of slaves in a field, the lowliest of their society, realized how glorious the news of Jesus was and how everyone needed to hear it.
So they sang “Go tell it on the mountain. Over the hills and everywhere. Go tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born.”
Paul goes on to write in
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
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God has chosen HIS people, SAVED by HIS Son, to make HIS salvation known.
The birth of Jesus is good news.
it is good news for everyone in this room today.
It is good news for your neighbors, your coworkers, your family members, and your friends.
It is good news that requires a response of faith.
And it is good news that is worthy to be proclaimed from the mountain tops.
So go tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born!!
So go tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born!!