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2020-02-26 to 28 Pictures: Charleston, South Carolina

One of the few upsides of having to cancel our Spring Break trip last March at the onset of the pandemic is that we are "stuck" with a rather large voucher from one of those discount airlines. Last autumn, Tricia and I spent a weekend in Savannah, Georgia and had a...

A John 3:16 Craft for Kids

John 3:16 is one of the most well known and reassuring verses in the Bible. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.John 3:16 (NIV) The following is a little craft I threw...

2020-03-01 Pictures: Lyndsey’s College Signing Day

This afternoon Lyndsey made it official, signing her letter of intent to play college basketball for the Hiram College Terriers starting next year. While she made the decision and committed to Hiram before Christmas, she has been looking forward to this day since her...

2020-02-13 Pictures: Lyndsey’s 18th Birthday

I am little behind on posting photos. These are some of my favorites from a couple of weekends ago when we got a chance to celebrate Lyndsey's 18th birthday. It's hard to believe that my little girl is officially an adult. It was nice to have the family all back...

What is DOCTRINE?

Introduction I love working with kids, and I love teaching them hard concepts in ways they can understand. To that end, for years I have been working on a dictionary of theological terms for kids and teens. In sharing those definitions, there seemed no better place to...

If You Want It Done Right

In all likelihood, you know how the phrase ends: If you want it done right, DO IT YOURSELF! This is a bit of a mantra for me, and frankly, something that I struggle with daily both in leadership and in my Christian walk.  In theory, this is easy to accept. ...

What Does God Hate?

This is the little and humble post that started it all. I happened to be reading through my Bible, and this passage impacted me so much that I posted a little blurb about it on Facebook. That was July 28, 2008, and I've been writing and sharing ever since. (Maybe...

December 16 – Go Tell It On the Mountain (A Christmas Carol Advent)

9 MORE DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!

Video

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd02dhWBV3w

History

“Go Tell It on the Mountain” was written as an African-American spiritual song by John W. Work.  The carol dates back to the 1860’s and has been performed by a number of gospel performers over the years.

Commentary & Analysis

This song starts with the scene of the shepherds watching their flocks outside Bethlehem when suddenly a light from heaven appeared and angels came to tell them of the birth of their savior and ours (Luke 2:8-15).  The chorus of the song rings out with joy about the good news of Jesus Christ and echoes the feelings that innumerable people have had upon learning what Jesus Christ has done for us – “Go, Tell It On the Mountain, Over the hills and everywhere.”  We are called to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to those who do not know him (Matthew 28:19-20).

The third verse recounts the story of Jesus’ birth in a manger (Luke 2:13).  It also reminds us that lying in that humble manger was the savior of all mankind (Acts 16:31).  The fourth verse reminds us of the lostness we felt prior to accepting Jesus as Lord.  Finally, the fifth verse reminds us that we should never be proud in our standing as Christians.  We are called by God out of his grace, and the only appropriate response to that is one of humility.

Questions for further Reflection / Devotion

The following questions are meant for your reflection and or devotion.  Feel free to meditate on them, discuss them with your family or others or post your responses here.  I would love to hear from you.

  1. Reflect on the time before you knew Jesus.  What was your life like?
  2. How has your life changed since finding Jesus Christ?  How is your life different today than it was prior to knowing Christ?
  3. When you thinking of your own salvation story, do you think in terms of “finding God” or “God calling you?”  What does this tell you about your own view of salvation?
  4. What do you think is meant by the line “He made me a watchman, Upon the city wall?”
  5. What can you do this Christmas season to “Go tell it on the mountain?”  Who can you tell the Good News of Jesus Christ to?

Lyrics

While shepherds kept their watching
Over silent flocks by night,
Behold throughout the heavens,
There shone a holy light:

CHORUS
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.

The shepherds feared and trembled
When lo! above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our Saviour’s birth:

CHORUS

Down in a lowly manger
Our humble Christ was born
And God sent us salvation,
That blessed Christmas morn:

CHORUS

When I was a seeker,
I sought both night and day;
I asked the Lord to help me,
And He showed me the way:

CHORUS

He made me a watchman
Upon the city wall,
And if I am a Christian,
I am the least of all.

CHORUS

Return to a Christmas Carol Advent index page.

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