Go Tell

-We have the young and the old (Mary, Joseph, the Baby, and Simeon and Anna in the temple. Luke 2).

-We have the rich and the poor (the Magi and the young family. Matthew 2).

-We have the Jews and the Gentiles (the Magi were the non-Jews).

-We have the highest (angels) and the lowest (shepherds).

This wonderful story is clearly for "whosoever" and "all the world," as John 3:16 informs us.

It would appear that Mary and Joseph's account of the angels' appearances were so personal and so unbelievable that they either told no one at first or very few people.

The shepherds heard the message from the angels, left those miserable sheep to fend for themselves and raced into Bethlehem to see the Christ-child, then went out and told everyone what they had heard and seen.

Poor Zacharias. After questioning the angel inside the Temple (Luke 1), he was not allowed to tell what he had heard and seen until his son John was born.

Telling others of Jesus is a privilege many of us take for granted.

I think of the leper in Mark 1 whom Jesus healed. Then, the Lord instructed him to show himself to the priest and do what Moses commanded, but to otherwise keep the news to himself. However, he was just not able to do that. He went out and began to "blaze abroad" the matter.

Jesus tells you and me to tell everyone and we go home and sit down. Let the message of Chritmas ring out loud and clear. Don't be a Grinch. This message is for all people everywhere.