Become New with John Ortberg 17. The Surprising History Behind "Go Tell It on the Mountain"
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Dec 23, 2025 Explore the revolutionary roots of the Christmas carol, tracing its journey from Scripture to the African American spiritual tradition. Discover the powerful connection between joy, suffering, and the call-and-response style of spirituals. Learn about the significance of Watch Night services during the struggle for freedom, and how MLK’s last Christmas sermon emphasized love and resilience. This discussion illuminates how good news is a message meant for everyone, especially those who feel it’s not for them.
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Songs Contain Layered Biblical Meaning
- John Ortberg shows spiritual songs often encode layered meanings that listeners who know Scripture will complete mentally.
- Spirituals used biblical images to offer subversive hope to oppressed communities.
Bosom Of Abraham As Subversive Image
- Ortberg explains "Rock of my soul" draws on Lazarus resting "in the bosom of Abraham."
- Enslaved singers used that image to claim honor for the poor and warn the powerful about reversal.
Song Echoes Isaiah’s Deliverance Promise
- "Go Tell It on the Mountain" echoes Isaiah 52:7 and announces salvation to the captive.
- The song frames Jesus' good news as deliverance for the oppressed and bound.