“How wonderful it is to see someone coming over the hills to tell good news. How wonderful to hear him announce, ‘There is peace! We have been saved!’ and to hear him say to Zion, ‘Your God is the king!’”
Isaiah 52:7 (ERV)
What’s the last big news you’ve shared? Who did you tell first?
When we have really good news, we don’t want to keep it to ourselves.
We’re looking at popular Christmas hymns this month. In “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” the shepherds had great news to share.
What is ours?
While shepherds kept their watching
O’er silent flocks by night,
Behold throughout the heavens
There shone a holy light~ ~ ~
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.
But we’re not one of the shepherds. We didn’t hear the angels or see baby Jesus or run to tell others.
What do we have to share?
We often don’t even know what our own good news is. Yes, we know the broader story: Jesus came as a baby to save the world. But sometimes the generality of that message loses its punch in the daily specifics of our lives.
What is your good news? If you’re in the midst of your own personal struggles, how can you confidently tell others that Jesus is the giver of peace and joy? And who wants to hear what you have to say anyway?
Take a step closer to this song. Discover three ways in which we, too, can “Go Tell It on the Mountain.”
1. Tell Your Part of the Story
We don’t know the exact author of this song. But we do know it was written by African-American slaves in the American south by at least 1865. Life was extremely difficult for them. They endured or died from atrocities that most of us can hardly even imagine.
Yet these are the ones who wrote a song of good news?
Yes. Perhaps especially during the hard times, we notice God’s small and large graces even more keenly. We’re looking for hope. And hope can be found.
Pay attention to where you see God’s goodness in your own life. Even in difficult circumstances.
That’s your part of His story that you’re responsible to tell. And it’s an important part of the story, however small you may feel it is. It’s nothing you create yourself. Just share what you’re seeing and hearing.
2. Tell Those Who Need to Hear
Negro spirituals were written and sung by and for those who needed hope. They needed to remind each other that God wasn’t finished yet. Justice would still come. Righteousness would prevail in the end.
We need to hear those messages, too.
Who in your life needs to hear words of hope?
Maybe when they hear how God has worked and is working in your corner of the world, they can feel hopeful that He is powerful and kind enough to do it in their corner, too. Your story is meant to be shared.
God works in your life for more than just you; it’s meant for others, too.
3. Tell It Wherever You Go
Like most Negro spirituals at the time, “Go Tell It on the Mountain” was originally passed on as an oral tradition among plantations, not as a written one. Only when John Wesley Work, Jr., the son of a church choir director and a Greek/Latin professor himself, collected songs to compile in the songbook, Folk Songs of the American Negro, in the early 1900s, did “Go Tell It on the Mountain” become widely known.
It’s since been sung millions of time, and continues to be sung in many different styles and by many different voices. (Watch the video below.)
Where can we sing our good news today?
Wherever we naturally find ourselves. We don’t have to have a stage or a recording contract or an audience. Our friends and co-workers and families are the ones who listen to us talk about other things; why not hear us talk about what Jesus has done for us?
We can be confident that God will put the right people in our lives who can benefit by the message we have to share about Him. Just as the shepherds told those around them about the birth of Jesus, we, too, can share with those around us about the life of Jesus.
When we share joy with others, we create more joy for ourselves. Our faith increases when we are more attentive to God’s works and goodness. It brings Jesus honor when we tell others how good He is.
Sharing Jesus is sharing Love. That is good news.
Go tell it yourself. On the mountain, over the hills, and everywhere.
Watch and hear:
Especially from 1:27 onward, enjoy this beautiful version of “Go Tell It on the Mountain” by The Mississippi Mass Choir. It will bring you joy.
“Go Tell It on the Mountain”
[If you can’t see the video, click here]
What good news from this year can you tell?
Who has shared good news with you this past year?
Please share in the comments.
Related:
Listen to this week’s episode of Pass the Mic podcast – Safe Havens in Tumultuous Times – to be encouraged by the faith and strength of the black church in times past as well as in the present.
Great message on one of my favorite songs… My boys’ eyes even light up when that one comes on! Christmas Blessings, to you!
If it can draw the kids in as well as adults, we know it’s a good song. :) Glad your family loves this one, too, Liz. I can’t help but sing along when I hear it. Merry Christmas to you, too!
“When we share joy with others, we create more joy for ourselves. Our faith increases when we are more attentive to God’s works and goodness.” In the next week I will be on watch for ways God is good in my life, so I can share joy in family Christmas gatherings. Visiting from #heartencouragement.
I’ll be watching with you, Sarah. When we pay more attention to what God is doing, we begin to see more and more. I love how He works. :) Thanks for visiting us today.
What a thought provoking post Lisa. I feel like I have much joy to share this year. I am so thankful that God has allowed me to share my story of faith and finish my book on prayer. I cannot believe how He has walked with me and guided me through the unknown paths I was on during the process. i think we have to make a concerted effort to share the good news of what Jesus has done in our lives. You just never know whom you might be a blessing to. I hope you and yours have a fantastic weekend and a blessed holiday season!
You are such a strong encourager, Horace. I appreciate you sharing this good news here! It builds up my own faith to hear your stories about what Jesus is doing in your life. The Lord has kept you here for many reasons and we are blessed by your testimony about Him. Merry Christmas to you and your family too.
I love this song. And the video? Goodness! Great post and insight, Lisa. I feel similiarly with my little blog. “Look what God has done!” needs to be told and shown. It might only be one listening or gathering, but that one is worthy. Merry Christmas!
Isn’t that video wonderful? My daughter sung in the Gospel Choir at Auburn University for a few years, and it reminds me of their concerts. Always so inspirational. Yes–“Look what God has done!”–is the attitude to have. Thanks for sharing here, Kristi!
Thanks for the background on this song, Lisa, and the encouragement to tell what He has done on our own little mountains.
Learning the background on this song encouraged me even more. “Our own little mountains” – good way to put it, Barbara!
Hi Lisa! Go Tell It On the Mountain was my mom’s favorite Christmas song. I love to hear it!
I call going to tell about the Lord, evangelization. I think this song is saying get out there and show your world what Jesus looks like! He looks like caring, helping the poor, being present for family, just being a light in the darkness.
May God bless you this Christmas and into the next year!
Ceil
I agree with you 100%, Ceil. I think it looks just like those things, too, things that are within the grasp of each of us. Nicely said. What a special memory that you knew this to be your mom’s favorite Christmas song. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
My good news!!! Matt’s treatments are working for his cancer and his depression!!! I am getting the man I married back!!! Merry Christmas Lisa!!! Praising God here!!!
Oh, Katie! That is good news for real! So happy to hear that Matt is again becoming the Matt you know. Praising God with you!
Love this, Lisa: “When we share joy with others, we create more joy for ourselves.” Thank you for sharing the history and the video of “Go Tell It on the Mountain.”
You’re welcome, Crystal. It was interesting finding out the backstory to this song.
My favorite Christmas song is “O Holy Night”
I didn’t know all this about “Go Tell It on the Mountain” Thanks for all the info and insight.
Merry Christmas!
O Holy Night is one of my favorites, too, Rachel. Lots of good Christmas songs out there from long ago! Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Just LOVE this post!!! What heartening history, brings tears how these beautiful people had such hope and light in the midst of such oppression and pain. Blessed are they..those who will inherit the earth. Such a beautiful, hopeful post!!!!
I’m glad this touches you, too, Kathy. I’ll never think of this song in the same way again. Yes, we all have reason upon reason to hope. Merry Christmas to you.
Praising God that I have good news to share with some…some who need it, who have ears to hear. I have some who need it yet have closed ears because they do not want to hear the Good News. So I am His in these situations and allow Him to share the Good News through me or others so they see the ways of Christ through us, I pray. My prayers are good news as I care dearly about these precious ones in my life. My acts of kindness or ears to listen to them or a note of encouragement may be the Jesus Who they desperately need. Lifting each one in prayer to God. And I will still “Go Tell it on the Mountain” because the News is the best!!!!!
You speak wisdom, Linda. Not all have ears ready to hear, and you’re wise to know how to tell the good news in different ways that they are able to process. Telling the good news through our prayers—yes! Thank you, friend.