One of the most popular radio stations in Central Florida—where I reside—begins playing Christmas music on Thanksgiving Day. Their format is exclusively Christmas from the fourth Thursday in November until December 26^th. Our FM Christian station has taken to the same format.

Since the days of my mother playing her holiday albums on the stereo system that meant more to her than the television ever could (I still have her Doris Day, Andy Williams, Bobby Vinton, and Connie Francis—to name a few—albums) and ushering in the “season with a reason,” I have linked the joys of Christmas with it’s music.

Is it any wonder? The Christmas story found in Luke’s gospel climaxes with a song heard from the heavens, sung by angels to poor shepherds watching their flock.

The First Christmas Song

This year I’ve heard “Go Tell it On the Mountain” more than in seasons past. As I’ve sung along with the various artists who have released it on CD, I’ve been struck by the word “go.” The more I’ve pondered it, the more I’ve come to realize why that is exactly.

In Dr. Luke’s Christmas story, he writes:

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

Notice the words of the shepherds. They begin with the words “Let us go…” When they had gone, the story says, and when they had seen; they went out and began to tell others. They “spread the word.”

It Didn’t Stop There

It is from Matthew’s gospel we read the story of the Magi’s visit. King Herod—a true maniac if there ever was one—heard that the magi were seeking the child born under “the star” and called him the “king of the Jews.” This “declaration” did nothing for King Herod except raise his madness to new heights. He called the Magi to him and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child.” (Matthew 2:8b, emphasis mine)

If you know this part of the story, you know this was Herod’s effort to kill the baby Messiah and that the magi did not follow through with his command. Jesus grew from baby to child, from child to man, and then—at the age of 30—began his ministry of drawing mankind back to the heart of their Heavenly Father.