I learned recently that the writers of the gospels each had a different target audience, specific groups at which they aimed their messages. Matthew wrote to the Jews, Mark to the Romans, Luke to the whole world, John to the Christians. Matthew wanted to convince the Jews that Jesus was their prophesied Messiah. Mark was probably Peter’s scribe, and they were missionaries working within contemporary Roman culture. John’s writings are the most esoteric of the four gospels, and so his intended audience was probably those who were already initiated into Christian teachings, a sort of advanced lesson for those who already had a strong foundation in the faith and accepted Jesus as the Messiah.
Luke’s narrative is about the journey of the Savior through Palestine. It seems he had first-person interviews with Mary; her point of view, things only she would know, show up in his gospel more than anywhere else in scripture.
Luke tells about Joseph and Mary, frantic and pained, as they scramble to look for the boy Jesus, finding Him at the Temple where He astonished the learned men with His answers and questions.
She brought Jesus to the Temple at Jerusalem as a baby, eight days after He was born. Simeon knew by the Holy Ghost that he would not die until he had seen the Christ. He was directed to the Temple by the promptings of the Spirit, “…and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
“Then took he him up in his arms and blessed God, and said,
“Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
“For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
“Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
“A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel” (Luke 2:27-32).
This child was to be the Messiah in Israel, and the Savior of all people.
Mary and Joseph were amazed when this total stranger walked up and began prophesying about Jesus. Simeon was so glad to finally see the Messiah that he was content to die.
It was not the first time strangers had come to view the Infant Jesus. When Mary and Joseph arrived late at the caravansary, the resting spot for the night for a caravan (perhaps because Joseph slowed whatever animal she rode due to her delicate state) all the alcoves (“inns”) in the structure were full. She gave birth in the middle of a central courtyard at the caravansary, most likely, where the travelers huddled in the surrounding alcoves could keep an eye on their livestock. None of them would make room in their chosen sleeping spots for a young woman going into labor.
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
“And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:8-11). He told the shepherds how to find Jesus: He would be lying in a feedbox. This is the least likely place to find a newborn baby. A choir of angels burst into song: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (v. 14). The shepherds ran and found Mary and Joseph and Jesus, and then told everyone about what the angel had said and the angels had sung about Him. (Those who made no room for Mary and Joseph in that moment must have felt low.)
All people—that is to whom the “good news” of the angel came.
There are many babies born each day, probably to have difficult lives, and there have been billions of babies born over the centuries. Why did heaven encourage the whole world to rejoice over this particular Child? Luke gives the general idea that this is a good thing, to all people; John explains in some detail the WHY behind all the singing and hosannas and hallelujahs.
Peace
Fast forward to the last days of Jesus’ mortal life, the night He was betrayed by Judas in Gethsemane. Jesus knew His poor Twelve would be distraught and darkened in their minds and hearts at what was about to happen, and so He offered them comfort during the Last Supper. John records in great detail what He said in those last moments with His Twelve disciples.
Peter is emphatic about his devotion to the Lord: “I will lay down my life for thy sake.
“Jesus answered him…I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice” (John 13:37-38). This is extremely depressing news—Peter will deny the Lord? We all deny the Lord to some extent, though. Each one of us sins, betrays the Lord by ignoring our consciences and His commandments, to some degree. “…the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt. 26:41).
Jesus consoles Peter, and everyone else who reads the very next words in John’s account: “Let not your heart be troubled…
“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you…
“…I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
“…because I live, ye shall live also” (John 14:1-3, 19).
We all eventually go over the cliff we call death (though we avoid it strenuously), and we have very limited ability to see if anyone is waiting at the bottom to catch us. It is great consolation to know that Jesus has gone ahead of us, and prepared a landing place—but only consoling when we BELIEVE it. The stronger our faith in what Jesus says, the more peace we feel. How can we believe it when we cannot yet see it?
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). What is this other-worldly source of peace, beyond the consoling power of the five senses, of carnal security?
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14:26). The Spirit will confirm the validity of what Jesus says about preparing a place for us, and in a way more firm and convincing than the five senses can muster.
“…when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth…” (John 16:13).
The information given through the means of the Spirit is pure, and the feelings that accompany this witness are stronger than mere emotions resulting from a belief; they transcend normal feelings, and provide peace beyond the physical crutches and vices the world frantically clings to in order to maintain calm, or ignore or forget the inevitability of death.
Love
The world is groaning for the lack of good feelings. Turn on the radio—you do not even have to listen to the news to hear dire words. The most popular songs are about the disintegration of love more often than they are about its success. It is catchy funeral music for the death of joy and love.
Pure love, like so many treasures the world seeks, is hard to find because it is hidden in the places where we are least likely to look for it.
“As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love…
“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
“Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:9-14).
Who looks for love in obedience? But Jesus says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). How does that lead to love? He continues:
“I will not leave you comfortless (the Greek here literally means orphans): I will come to you…
“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest manifest myself to him…
“…If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him” (John 14:18, 21, 23). Can we always see God when He is near? No, but He comes near to those who are trying to do what He has told all people to do—keep the commandments, repent, do good.
This relationship is reciprocal: “If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it” (John 14:14).
Those who are bound to Jesus will find themselves close to others who share that same bond with Him. Forming loving relationships with this kind of people is easier, because they are changed by Him bit by bit to become more like Him (loving), and because He can act as a referee between those who love each other and Him.
Joy
Jesus also told His disciples about finding happiness that dark night before He was arrested.
“…your sorrow shall be turned to joy” John 16:20.
“Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
“…ask, and ye shall receive that your joy may be full” (John 16:23-24).
How does He give us joy? He has created an earth for us, full of good things that delight the senses, but He offers us a kind of joy that transcends those things. “Verily, Verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy…” (D&C 11:13).
The Holy Spirit is not just the Comforter; He also fills us with joy. The presence and power of the Spirit automatically increase joy, like a blanket increases warmth or sunlight improves vision.
“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). This seems callous at first glance. We are stuck in the mud; Jesus made it out; why rejoice about His freedom when we are still bogged down? Because we get to inherit everything He has, things we cannot earn on our own. He suffered misery in our place; He offers us His joy reciprocally.
“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” (John 15:11). We are not simply to follow Jesus; we are to put Him on, like putting on clothes (see Romans 13:14), borrowing all the enhanced powers we can from Him.
“…why was [Jesus] perfect? Because He was the Son of God, and had the fullness of the Spirit…” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 188). A fullness of the Holy Ghost also entails a fullness of joy. He wants us to share that joy, to always have His Spirit to be with us.
“Wherefore, fear not even unto death; for in this world your joy is not full, but in me your joy is full” (D&C 101:36). “But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come” (D&C 59:23). Perhaps what feels like joy here will be mere peace by comparison to the real joy that awaits us in heaven.
All People, Everywhere
Because Jesus suffered for everyone, past, present, and future, all people everywhere can find peace, love, and joy through Him. We can inherit everything He has ultimately, because He invites us to follow Him and join Him where He is.
As sunlight becomes scarce, and the Holiday Season rolls around again, it seems to make those who are happy, happier, while it also exerts a powerful effect of making those who are unhappy even less happy. It might amplify our nagging doubts and worries. A combination of free time, memories of joys that used to be, unmet expectations and dashed hopes, mixed with liberal doses of sucrose all converge on those who are struggling and seem to magnify their problems. Loneliness becomes darker; desires and hopes seem even further out of reach; it is possible to feel like a stranded traveler on a train station platform, watching trains full of happy people going by without stopping to invite anyone aboard. Oddly, moments and even months and years of these kinds of trials are probably a part of what we signed up for before we were born into this world (which Truman G. Madsen once called a “spook alley”).
Why were we shouting for joy at the chance to come here, if it was going to be so treacherous and potentially painful? Because we (all people, everywhere) accepted the premortal Messiah. We believed He would get us out of this mess intact, and back to God, worthy to stay forever. I am finite, but I know that Jesus has infinite power to manage circumstances, and to work with individuals. Peace, love, and joy are the intangible yet real cargo He seeks to load us up with, if only we will learn and live a few simple rules, be humble, exercise some faith, repent, and follow the Spirit.
