And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.’  

- Mark 16:15

Every Christmas we sing “Go Tell It On the Mountain” thanks to the spiritual collector and song writer, John Wesley Work (Jr.).

John Wesley Work grew up in Nashville, and as the son of a church choir director, he loved music. He earned his Master's in Latin and went on to teach ancient Latin and Greek…but his first love was always music.

Work turned his love into his obsession, becoming the first African-American collector of Negro Spirituals.

Building his collection was no easy task as the spirituals were passed down verbally, from plantation to plantation—very few were ever written down.

But Work was up to the challenge, publishing his first book, New Jubilee Songs as Sung by the Fisk Jubilee Singers, in Songs of the American Negro, a six-year undertaking. It was in this second volume that "Go, Tell It on the Mountain" first appeared.

The song's original singers accomplished the same task the angels gave the shepherds on the first Christmas outside of Bethlehem, proclaiming, “Jesus Christ is born!” 

And now, thanks to the publishing of John Wesley Work, so can we.

Go, tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain,
That Jesus Christ is born.

While shepherds kept their watching
Over silent flocks by night
Behold throughout the heavens
There shone a holy light.

Go, tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain,
That Jesus Christ is born.

The shepherds feared and trembled,
When lo! Above the earth,
Rang out the angels chorus
That hailed the Savior's birth.

Go, tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain,
That Jesus Christ is born.

Down in a lowly manger
The humble Christ was born
And God sent us salvation
That blessed Christmas morn.

Go, tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain,
That Jesus Christ is born.

Faithfully,
Pastor Chris

Paper Sunday is blessed to collaborate with Chris Harper on this Advent Devotional Series.

Chris Harper is a speaker, writer, and disciple-maker. Chris is President of 252Edu, a consulting firm based in Dallas, Texas. Chris serves schools, churches, and non-profits by helping them "grow in wisdom, favor and stature with God and man.”

When not taking ground for King Jesus, you can find Chris on the basketball court playing a pick-up game. Chris is a sneakerhead, an avid reader, and loves a good cheeseburger. You can follow him @252consulting on Instagram.