When Joy Meets Darkness

When Joy Meets Darkness

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, ‘This was he of whom I said, “He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” ’) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.

John 1:1-18

This Christmas, my family and I have travelled to my parent’s homeland, Malaysia, where the air is thick with the scent of street food and tropical fruits, and every gathering feels like a celebration. I love how the rhythms of life here feel so colourful and communal, with bustling markets, the chatter of strangers sharing news over steaming cups of teh tarik, and friends venturing out for some midnight roti-canai.  We’ve come here not just for the delicious curries (though that’s usually reason enough) but so my grandmothers can meet their two youngest great-grandchildren—my daughter Hazel Joy and my nephew Will, both just one year old.

The joy of this moment has been palpable, anticipated for months, and realised the instant they saw those little faces. My Nan (my mother’s mother) has been heralding their arrival to her entire village - in her words “The Maha Raja and Maha Ranee” (the great king and queen) were coming. I wouldn’t have been surprised if she had handed out printed itineraries for ‘public viewings’.

Both my grandmothers have lived through deeply dark times. My father’s mother, Grandma, grew up during World War II on the island of Penang, living through the trauma of Japanese occupation. Both grandmothers endured the harsh realities of a patriarchal culture, where the tyranny of men in their households was too often excused or overlooked, and struggled with mental health challenges in a time when stigma and silence made the dark times even darker. 

Now, watching them delight in the giggles and cuddles of Hazel and Will, I see something miraculous: a joy that the darkness could not extinguish.

In John 1 we encounter one of the most profound proclamations in Scripture and are reminded of the cosmic significance of Jesus’ coming. He is the Word made flesh, the presence of God dwelling among us, the embodiment of grace and truth. His light is not just for a chosen few but for everyone—bringing hope, joy, and the promise of justice to a world shrouded in darkness.

And there is plenty of darkness to contend with. In 2024, we have faced the hottest year on record, with catastrophic floods, hurricanes and heatwaves; while the recent election of Donald Trump as U.S. president will sadly have implications across the world, including on climate action progress and Middle East policies that have left Palestinians fearing even greater suffering. Meanwhile, here in Australia, children as young as ten continue to face incarceration, with new QLD legislation meaning some may face life sentences.

In moments like this, it is easy to despair. But the story of Jesus’ birth—and the light he brings—reminds us that darkness does not have the final word. In Christ, we have the promise of restoration, of brokenness being mended, and of justice flowing like a mighty river.

This hope is not abstract and distant; it is embodied and made present by the followers of Jesus. It comes alive in those who commit to reflecting his light into the world’s darkest places in anticipation of the time when every shadow will be dispelled. This was evident at Common Grace’s Let Justice Flow conference, where over 100 Christians from across Australia gathered to pursue justice together. The stories and possibilities that emerged from our time together, and meeting with our nation's leaders, continue to inspire me and remind me that God’s justice is already at work among us.

As I watch my grandmothers coo over their great-grandchildren, I am struck by a deeper truth. Just as their joy over Hazel Joy and Will represents the triumph of life and light over the shadows of their past, so too does the birth of Jesus bring joy to all creation—a joy that surpasses all darkness, heralding hope and pointing to life as it should be.

This Christmas, may we embrace that joy. And may we, as the Common Grace community, be like my Nan, announcing the arrival of this joy to the world—not with printed itineraries but with lives that reflect the light and justice of Christ in a world longing for renewal.

Gershon Nimbalker is the National Director of Common Grace and founder of Sojourners Social Change Consultants. He has more than 15 years of experience working in advocacy, policy, and research, as well as leading and growing grass roots movements to campaign on issues of social justice. Gershon lives on the lands of Awabakal peoples in Newcastle, NSW with his young family.

This devotional is the last in a series of daily email devotionals for Advent 2024 reflecting on the life-giving, thirst quenching justice of Jesus we long to see flow across these lands. A justice overflowing with love and compassion, bringing forth hope, healing, nourishment and flourishing for all.

We pray this series has blessed you in this season of Advent.