The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.  – John 1:5

CHRISTMAS offers Canadians a very literal expression of this scripture.

The days get colder, shorter, darker – and then, all of a sudden, in the midst of the declining light, we get to celebrate once again the true Light of the world. The contrast itself makes the metaphor that this holiday represents all the more poignant.

But what effect does this light, shining in our darkest season, have on those around us? How does God minister to the non-believing world, whether they know it or not, through this celebration of Jesus’ birth?

Grace seems to abound at Christmas, so much so that you don’t even have to believe in Christ in order to be blessed by it. It’s as if all the stores, TV stations, newspapers and workplaces have been unwittingly conscripted into participating in this celebration of salvation history, which has been dropped onto their lap. They’re swept up in the party, even if they don’t know why.

Isaiah also celebrated our day when he envisioned “the people walking in darkness, [who] have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned” (Isaiah 9:2).

There are many around us who have not yet recognized this great Light shining on them. But for those on whom it has dawned, it is a wonder-filled gift.

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The light of Christ expands within us, and will continue to do so “like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day” (Proverbs 4:18). This is the good news we anticipate for those around us as well.

Let us celebrate Jesus’ birth among ourselves. But let us also delight in the effect Christmas has on an unsuspecting world. Whether it realizes the ‘reason for the season’ or not, the world is still blessed by this celebration. Such is the lavish grace of God.  

Though the darkness has not yet understood it, the promise still stands: that those who walk in the shadow of this Light will sense something of its presence, dawning within their souls.

Text by Rob Des Cotes
Illustration by Fred Peter

December 2007