Go Tell It
“After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” Luke 2:17-18 CSB
Hey friend,
What is your favorite Christmas song? I’ll be honest. That is a hard question for me to answer. I have so many that are tied to wonderful childhood memories like the song Silver Bells. Silver Bells will always be one of my all-time favorites. One of my fondest memories is being at my Aunt Della’s house at any time of the year, especially at Christmas time. We would always play the piano, sing, and dance to a plethora of songs. Every single time I hear Silver Bells, my mind can’t help but wander down memory lane to her house. Inside we would sing Silver Bells as I would dance around the kitchen.
The other day, I heard a Christmas song that took me back down memory lane to the church I grew up in. The song was “Go Tell It on The Mountain.” This song is one of my favorites as well and reminds me of our key verse in Luke 2:17-18, “After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.”
God chose to announce Jesus’ birth to a group of humble shepherds (vs. 8) and boy, was it the announcement of the century! I can just imagine the shepherds frightened and amazed state when out of the night sky an angel appears telling them the good news that the awaited Messiah had come. When the angels had left, the shepherds couldn’t wait to go see about what the angels proclaimed. I’m sure the shepherds were thinking, “Was it really true? Had the long-awaited Messiah come? Was He the Savior sent to redeem humanity?”
Verse 16 tells us that the shepherds didn’t waste any time in their quest to see the Messiah. They didn’t just go when it was convenient, and they didn’t put it off until another day. Nope. The scripture says they hurried. And once they got to the stable with Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus, we see that their encounter with the Messiah changed them. They weren’t the same shepherds that they were the day before and they couldn’t keep it to themselves.
Friend, they had to go tell it. They couldn’t keep silent about their encounter with Jesus.
What about us? Do we go and tell about our encounter with Jesus?
Dear friend, has your life been changed by Jesus?
Mine sure has.
Which reminds me of another Christmas song that speaks to my heart called, “A Baby Changes Everything.” By Faith Hill.
The last part of that song is my favorite. It goes like this…
My whole life has turned around
I was lost and now I’m found
A baby changes everything
Sweet friend, we were lost and now we are found. Jesus left his throne in glory to humble himself all the way to the cross – for you and for me. Oh, what amazing love!
We are a changed people - redeemed and set free all because of Jesus– glory hallelujah!!
We must go tell it!
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for loving us enough to send your Son Jesus to save us from our sins. Thank you for choosing to appear to humble shepherds. You didn’t just come for the rich or the ones who have it all together but you came for everyone – especially for people like me. Thank you for reminding me that I need to be just like these shepherds who was changed by their encounter with Jesus. So much so that they couldn’t keep it to themselves. They had to go tell it. Lord, give me boldness to tell others about your abundant love. Help me to go tell it! In Jesus name, Amen.
Dig Deeper:
“The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.” Luke 2:20 CSB