All You Want for ChristmasSample

Go Tell It on the Mountain

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 'Your God reigns!’” – Isaiah 52:7

Think

We live in a world that has excelled in sharing bad news. If you turn on the radio or television or read the newspaper, you are bound to hear a lot of stories that solicit fear or speak about tragic events that are going on in our world. Wars, shootings, sickness, and crime have become the news we expect to hear. In fact, we are so accustomed to hearing bad news that we don’t even realize the negative effect it has on our minds and attitudes.

On the other hand, good news has become something we no longer expect. We certainly appreciate hearing news of weddings, babies being born, or our team winning, but even that news is often overshadowed by the negative outlook of our world today.

The way people receive news has changed throughout the centuries. Before the time of motorized vehicles or phones for communication, people relied heavily on word of mouth for their news. Runners or scouts would be sent out regularly to look at what was going on in neighboring villages or go ahead of travelers or armies and bring back the word of what was ahead. People would wait with great anticipation and keep looking up to the highest points to get the first glimpse of these folks returning with what was hoped to be good news. Both then and now, being aware of the latest news was and is very important, and there has always been a reliance on others to bring the news.

Apply
The great news that the angels brought of Jesus being born was news that changed the world. The news brought hope to the hopeless and trumped all bad news from any source or time. Slaves from the mid-19th century often sang about this good news of Jesus as a way of encouraging one another in the midst of difficult circumstances. But their song “Go Tell It on the Mountain” did more than just give them hope; it also challenged them to go and share the good news of Jesus.

Imagine these folks singing and shouting to one another, imploring each other to go and be the one who shouts from the mountaintops the good news of Jesus to those waiting in the valley below. We, too, are called to be ones who share this great news of Jesus being born to anyone who will hear. Go tell it on the mountain and over the hills and everywhere.

Pray

Dear God, help us to sort through all of the distracting news of the Christmas season and be inspired by the reminder of the good news of Jesus. Help us to find places to share the good news with others and have the courage to share it boldly and passionately wherever we find ourselves. Amen.

Author - Mike Clemmer serves as the Lead Pastor of Maple Grove Mennonite Church in Atglen, PA. Mike and his wife, April, live in Strasburg, PA. They have three children and four grandchildren.