Go, Tell it! - Part One

“When they had seen Him, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it were amazed about the things which were told them by the shepherds.” – Luke 2:17-18

Transcript of the video:

Every year when Christmas comes around, I get excited. There are several reasons, not the least of which is Christmas music - I love Christmas music! I love it because it’s happy. I love it because it’s common and familiar, and everyone can sing along. I love it because it heralds the amazing truth that God became a human being, in order to restore our broken relationship with Him.

So, during the Advent season this year I thought I’d share about some of my favorite Christmas music. As I share, I hope that you’ll join me in telling the great story of the birth of a Savior for anyone who will listen and receive Him. We’re going to begin with “Go Tell it on the Mountain.” Stay with me to the end of this video and I’ll share with you five of my favorite versions of that song.

First, let’s start by saying a big thanks to John Wesley Work, Jr. and to Fisk University in Nashville, TN. They are the reason we get to sing “Go Tell it on the Mountain” to this day. Although Work taught Latin at the school, his first love was music. Work was the director of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, who would travel, sing, and raise money for Fisk University. But Work also knew that the traditional African American folk songs could easily disappear if they weren’t somehow captured and shared, so Work spent significant time writing and publishing traditional African American folk songs. Among the songs was the beloved, “Go, Tell It on the Mountain.”

Now the chorus of this celebratory song may well come from Luke 2 which tells the story of angels appearing to shepherds and announcing to them that a Savior had been born, and where they could find Him. So, the shepherds went to see the newborn Christ. Verses 17-18 of that chapter say, “When they had seen Him, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it were amazed about the things which were told them by the shepherds" (Luke 2:17-18). That night changed those shepherds. They now had an amazing story to tell.

I love "Go Tell It" because it reminds us that Christmas is a great time to tell others about Jesus. Our world loves to celebrate getting together with family and friends at Christmas, which is a wonderful thing to do. I mean, how many songs have been written about being home for Christmas? But this season is a reminder that Jesus left His home because He wanted a relationship with us. You may have people around you who have no place to belong at Christmas time. Jesus came to us. We get to go to them.

Is there a person or two who come to mind - people who need to see God’s love through you, and hear about our Savior, coming to earth for us? Take a minute with me and think about those people. “God, thank you that you came to me. Help me to willingly go and tell the people you have placed on my heart today that Jesus Christ is Born. For Your glory. Amen.”

I told you when we started that I would share five of my favorite versions of “Go Tell It on the Mountain.” Now I have to be honest, it’s always hard for me to narrow down my choices, but here are five versions I recommend. Since “Go Tell It on the Mountain” is a traditional gospel song, it seems right to begin with the version done by the Queen of Gospel herself, Mahalia Jackson. Many traditional gospel songs have been adopted by the south, so I’m going to give you two southern versions - one old and one new. Andy Griffith, that’s right, Opie’s dad recorded an old school southern version that is a hootenanny of a good time. And this year Zach Williams came out with an upbeat southern rock celebration. Now, my personal favorite, probably comes from a Grusin-Rosen Productions compilation. If you’re familiar with jazz, you probably know those names. On this compilation, the Yellow Jackets do a great modern jazz version that pulls from bluegrass and gospel influences and is full of surprises. My last recommendation comes from an American Idol contestant from season three, George Huff. His version is a church meeting, full gospel jam with a bit of a modern twist.

So, what’s your favorite version of “Go, Tell it on the Mountain”? Please comment and let me know. More importantly, who are you going to tell this Christmas season that Jesus Christ is Born?