Go Tell it on the Mountain
Yes, African Americans sang “Go Tell it on the Mountain.” It was adapted from spirituals to a hymn by John Wesley Work Jr., an African American born 1872. He was a musicologist, an expert who studied music. His music interests and gifts brought this well-known hymn into existence.
African Americans weren’t the first ones to proclaim “Go Tell it on the Mountain.” It was shepherds... despised, dirty, smelly shepherds. Herding sheep had consequences. Remember why shepherds watched sheep-day AND night? Predators. Sheep tasted good to wolves; lions-you get the picture. Spend all day, all night outside with smelly sheep. What happens? You become smelly, and dirty and because of it despised by “clean” people.
This is such a wonderful account. Dr. Luke writes that God sent angels to the despised shepherds. They were the first in the world to hear “a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ, the Lord.”
Don’t miss the significance of the angel’s announcement or the power behind it. Shepherds may have been despised, but they were self-trained professional naturalists. They knew how nature worked. They watched hundreds of sunrises and sunsets…they saw storms form and seasons change. They expertly knew nature. No one respected them for this. They were-you know-shepherds.
THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS!
The angels great proclamation gave the shepherds a significant amnesia. They completely forgot to watch the sheep! After the angels left them, they looked at one another in stunned silence. Then one of them came to his senses, jumped up and said, “We have to get to Bethlehem-NOW!”
…and they found Jesus…just as the angels said. Then what happened?
Luke writes, “They spread the word…Shepherds brought to the world “good news of great joy that will be for ALL the people …a Savior has been born to you, He is Christ, the Lord.”
My friend…today we find strife, hatred and evil…as in Bethlehem, the world needs a Savior today. It is not only shepherds who were dirty and smelly-despised…our sins make us despicable.
Unspeakable Joy! There is a Savior-good news! The best news ever!
Go
Tell
It
on the Mountain!
Everywhere…