I have a small confession to make. To this day, when I hear someone read from Luke, chapter 2, I hear the voice of Linus. It must be from growing up as a product of the 60s & 70s. (I posted the video at the bottom of the page so as not to distract any more than I already have.)
As I mentioned the other day, the angels that got to participate in the announcements regarding Jesus’ birth had an awesome assignment. I’ll bet any one of us would have loved that job, or even a chance to be in the choir. (Maybe we were in that choir…)
When the angel appeared to the shepherds keeping watch in the fields, he obviously gave them a bit of a scare, but he then made an announcement that would go down in the annals of recorded history as one of the most familiar quotes of all time:
Good tidings. Have you thought much about those words? Seems like a simple enough idea – the angel had a happy announcement to make. But, there is more to it than that.
If you look at the footnote corresponding to “Good”, you get directed to the Topical Guide listing of “Gospel’. That makes sense right? We’ve all heard it explained this way, from the Middle English roots:
Good Tidings = Good News = Good Spell = God Spell = Gospel
Euangélion = Gospel
It is the gospel of great joy, and it is for all people!
The angel was announcing more the birth of the Savior. He was announcing to the shepherds – and to the world – that the Gospel of Jesus Christ had begun. The Plan that had existed before the world began – the Plan that we fought to be a part of – was finally coming to pass.
Until the Savior had His mortal experience, most everyone that had already passed through mortality was stuck – waiting in the spirit prison, living with hope, and faith, that one day He would arrive, and set the course of the Gospel in motion. And everyone who has lived since that day can look backwards with hope and faith that He did come to earth and fulfill His great purposes.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ was embodied in the manger that night, in the form of a tiny infant. That infant would grow to become the embodiment of all principles of the Gospel, and the very plan of salvation that can now bring us hope, joy, peace, purity and eternal life.
The angel’s announcement was not merely “good news.” It was everything.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKk9rv2hUfA
originally published, December 22, 2011
Did the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding pop into anyone’s mind besides mine??? Quick – grab the Windex!!!
In Bulgarian, my mission language, it’s Евангелието (evangalieto) = gospel. But really, I’m sure the angles told the shepherds this, but many other things as well. 🙂
I get more truth and emotion from Linus’ talk than anywhere else.
Thank you for that tingly moment. Good tidings = Gospel. Makes sense to me.
And yes, Linus and Luke 2 go together in my head, too.
I love the coming across the phrase “good tidings” when it’s not in Luke 2. For example, an angel brought “glad tidings of great joy” to King Benjamin (Mosiah 3:3) and to Samuel the Lamanite, too (Helaman 13:7). Am I going to accept that declaration the way Benjamin’s or Samuel’s audience did? Something to ponder.
Two things:
1. Once teaching Gospel Doctrine I announced that the world’s greatest orator would be reciting the famous Luke verses for our Christmas lesson. I pressed play expecting Linus, and instead got Arnold Schwarzenegger saying “Happy Holidays, don’t drink and drive.”
2. In 3 Nephi 1: 2-3, where Nephi (son of Helaman) departs out of the land and disappears, I’ve always wondered if, because of a personal request or whatever, Nephi was translated and granted the opportunity to be one of the announcing angels at Christ’s birth.
Charles Schulz insisted on including quotes from the Bible in this. The critics hated it, but it’s been a classic for me growing up, then my kids, now my grandkids watch it at Christmas time. Would it feel like Christmas without Linus quoting Luke 2?
It’s amazing what we can learn when we dig deeper into the meanings of words and the proper translations of things.
I loved this post.
Great post! Here is a scripture that I LOVE that validates what you have said: 3rd Nephi 27:13-15,
13 Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you—that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me.
14 And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil—
15 And for this cause have I been lifted up; therefore, according to the power of the Father I will draw all men unto me, that they may be judged according to their works.
In Christ’s words, the Atonement is the Gospel…
This was fascinating, I’m glad you made this clear, I had no idea until now about that linguistic connection. It makes total sense.
Love your blog, man.
Jeff
Ha ha. Me too. I was having our Primary class on Sunday (11-year-old boys) imagine what it would have been like to be one of those shepherds, and as part of my description I used that very same scripture. The reason I was able to quote it so easily was because of Linus. Thank you, Linus!
Something tells me not too many of this year’s Christmas specials involve quoting scripture.
Our lesson was actually about the Second Coming, and we moved from imagining what it would have been like to be there when He was born to thinking about what it will be like when He comes. When you think about it like that, it makes it all the more exciting.
I was also talking to my six-year-old son this week about the Second Coming and how we don’t know when it will be. He said, “I hope it’s tomorrow, because I can’t wait to see Jesus.” If only we could all be at that point (again).
I have been thinking about that very phrase “Good Tidings” this week. I appreciate your post- the announcement has new meaning for me, now. And although I am a lot younger than you, I too, always think of Linus. 🙂 I LOVE the Peanuts gang!
No, I hear it too! I suppose it’s because Charlie Brown’s Christmas was a fixture in my home every year…
As to the linguistics, I spent a semester in college studying Biblical Hebrew, and a semester after that in Linguistics 101. In hindsight, I probably should have flip-flopped those, but they definitely gave me an appreciation for language. In fact, my understanding of Biblical language may have paved the way for me to better understand and accept the JST. 🙂