Tell the Story

We are fast approaching Christmas Day, when we as believers celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Over the next few Sundays, we will be looking at the account recorded by Luke. This was such a significant and momentous event, but it’s important to remember that Jesus’ birth was just  one of three of the most significant events in the history of mankind. The second was when He gave His life on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins in order to provide a way for us to be reconciled back to God the Father. And, the third was when He conquered death by His resurrection. As we celebrate and sing about the baby Jesus laying in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head, we must also remember the reason for his birth. As we read in the first chapter of the Gospel according to John, In the beginning, long before Jesus’ fleshly birth, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He continued in verse 14, The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

One of the songs we sing during Christmas is Go, Tell It on the Mountain. It comes from the passage in Isaiah 42: 11-12 where it describes inhabitants of Sela singing for joy and crying out from the mountaintops. The refrain to the song says, Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere, go tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born. Throughout the New Testament, we are instructed to tell others about Jesus  and to eventually make disciples of those who believe. It should be our joy to tell everyone about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Even during, and especially at Christmas, we should tell the complete story.  

As a child, I can remember sitting in front of the television watching the many Billy Graham crusades where a Canadian singer, George Beverly Shea would sing, among other songs, Tell Me the Story. It speaks, not only of Jesus’s birth, but His death, burial, and resurrection. It goes,

Tell me the story of Jesus, Write on my heart every word;

Tell me the story most precious, Sweetest that ever was heard.

Tell how the angels in chorus Sang as they welcomed His birth, 

Glory to God in the highest! Peace and good tidings to earth.

Fasting alone in the desert, Tell of the days that are past,

How for our sins He was tempted, Yet was triumphant at last.

Tell of the years of His labor, Tell of the sorrow He bore,

He was despised and afflicted, Homeless, rejected and poor.

Tell of the cross where they nailed Him, Writhing in anguish and pain;

Tell of the grave where they laid Him, Tell how He liveth again.

Love in that story so tender, Clearer than ever I see:

Stay, let me weep while you whisper, Love paid the ransom for me.

When George sang this song, he was sincere with every word as though he meant it from the bottom of his heart. As I read through these lyrics, it causes me to cling to each syllable and word, making it more meaningful than just singing along with the melody. 

Let’s remember and be thankful for the complete story of Jesus during this Christmas season.

Pastor Bryan