We sing a song at Christmas time that says, “Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills, and everywhere.” The song is based on the verses in Luke 2:17-18.
Luke 2:15-18 “And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.”
The shepherds had seen the baby and they were so overjoyed. Their first response to the realization of this knowledge was to go and tell someone else. They had received the message from the angels and immediately they began to talk and make plans. Let’s go see this baby the angels have told us about. They knew God had made the information known to them and they were about to burst with excitement. The Greek word for haste is speudō, which means urge on (diligently or earnestly); by implication, to await eagerly. They didn’t take time to think it through or ask other people their opinion, they got up and went.
After seeing the child and his parents, they wasted no time letting others know what they had seen. It says they made known abroad. The Greek word they made known for abroad is περὶ, which means all over or around. They made known far and wide, everywhere they went. They didn’t wait for an opportunity to tell, they made their own opportunities. They went with the purpose of telling others about the Christ child, the long-awaited Messiah!
Can’t you just see these guys, dirty from the field, probably smelling like sheep, running up to anyone they could find, and proclaiming the good news? I’m sure we are not told every detail of that night, because I feel quite sure after hearing the shepherds, others ventured over to the stable where Jesus was born. Who knows how far they went telling this story? They were excited and wanted everyone to know the Messiah was here. Maybe they went to tell loved ones in another town or other shepherds in other fields. We don’t know the extent of their spreading the good news, which means the gospel, but we do know that all who heard it wondered about what they were told.
Because of their first-hand experience, they now had believable evidence that would satisfy others. Technically they became the first preachers of the “gospel.”
As Christians, our first duty after we are saved is to tell others what God has done for us. I remember when I was saved as a 10-year-old girl, the very first thing I did when the service ended was to find my friend and tell her about my salvation. She was exiting the building, and we had very high steps on the front of the church, I was afraid she was going to get away before I could speak to her, so I literally ran and stopped her halfway down the steps. I explained to her how I fell and what the Bible said about salvation, and the next week she was saved. I felt like I was floating on air and nothing could stop me from telling anyone who would listen to what God had done.
That was over 50 years ago, but I still get excited every time I share the good news of salvation. My concern now is that I don’t do it often enough.
It’s Christmas time, and most of us will have several celebrations that we will attend during the next week. Family gatherings, office parties, and school parties are all opportunities to share what God has done for you. You don’t have to know “all the right words,” you just need to tell your story of how God saved you. Be creative and listen to what people are saying, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and give you the words to say. I keep a New Testament in my purse, just in case I get a chance to show someone the Word. Can you imagine how Heaven would rejoice if we used all the opportunities God gives us to proclaim the good news just like the shepherds proclaimed?
We must keep our focus on Christ and why we celebrate this time of year. We must keep our minds on the fact that all are going to stand before God one day. We will either be condemned to Hell, or entered into Heaven. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by! Go tell on purpose!
