Jesus Made A Way

John 1:4–5 “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shined in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” - Jesus Made A Way!

“When it looks as if we can't win You wrap us in your arm and step in And everything we need you supply You got this in control And now we know that You made a way When our backs were against the wall And it looked as if it was over You made a way And we're standing here Only because You made a way.” Those are the lyrics from the song by Travis Greene, Made a Way.

On this Sunday before Christmas, I want us to consider those words, Jesus Made a Way. It might have been blurry for a moment but God came through. As we have hurried this season for the celebrations of Christmas, gathering with friends and family, hosting and attending parties; I think it’s appropriate for us to ponder, yes, Jesus truly has made a way for me, for us.

The passage before us reveals some truths that are essential for us to know, if we are to have a right understanding of this season and this holiday we call Christmas.

John does not write about angels, shepherds, stars, or sheep. And while this may be an untraditional text for the season, John, however, does something the other Gospel writers do not do. He puts the greatest Christmas delivery of all time into context. He tells us, in part, what we need to know about the purpose of God sending His only begotten Son, Jesus, into the world.

Christmas is filled with many distractions. Between the Personalities, the Presents, and the Practices, it is easy to forget the real reason for this season. If we are not careful, we will allow the rituals and symbols to hijack the true reason we gather during this celebration of Christmas.

On Christmas day, God sent us the very heart of heaven. He did so because the world was headed to a dead place but God sent His Son to make a way for us.

Jesus, God’s only son, eternally, equally and effectively God was sent to us that the way to the father would be made possible. Later in this book Jesus says of Himself, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the farther except through me.”

All through his life, He proved He was the Way-Maker. From “Peace be still” to “Rise and walk” to “Lazarus come forth” to “Thy sins be forgiven thee” to “It is finished,” the truth and power of His deity were on constant display. Every word, every deed, every miracle declared Him to be eternally, equally and effectively God.

Think of it this way: man can’t make anything that runs as it should. But look at our planet and that it does not travel in a true circle; it travels in three directions simultaneously. It revolves on its axis; it travels around the sun, and other planets deflect its path. Still, it does not lose more than one/one-hundredth of a second every one hundred years. Jesus Made A Way.

Combine that with the fact that whether you look at the universe with a telescope and see how big it is or you look at this universe with a microscope and see how small it is. When you see the order, symmetry, harmony, and beauty of all that is, only a fool would fail to conclude that God did it and is in control. As a matter of fact, Psalm 14:1: “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God...”

What does it all mean? The One Who Made A Way was born into this world over 2,000 years ago as a helpless infant. He lived here in poverty and rejection, only to die a horrible death on a cross. He did all of this because of two purposes found in the text. How did Jesus Make A Way?

By Offering Life Over Death – Verse 4 - “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” When Jesus came into this world, He entered a world filled with dead folk. But these dead folk don’t know that they are dead.

In the 1999 movie, The Sixth Sense, young Cole Sear played by Haley Joel and child psychologist Malcolm Crowe played by Bruce Willis, there is the scene where Malcolm is asking Cole some questions.

Cole Sear: I see dead people.

Malcolm Crowe: In your dreams? [Cole shakes his head no]

Malcolm Crowe: While you're awake? [Cole nods]

Malcolm Crowe: Dead people like, in graves? In coffins?

Cole Sear: Walking around like regular people. They don't see each other. They only see what they want to see. They don't know they're dead.

Sadly, that’s the state of those who do not have a personal saving relationship with Jesus. They are living a dead life thinking they are alive. But Jesus came to offer life over death.

Life is a key theme in the Gospel of John; used over 35 times. There are at least four essentials for human life: light, air, water, and food. (If either of these went away, everything and everyone would die). Guess what, if you got Jesus, you have is all of these! He is the Light of life (John 8:12). He is the “Sun of righteousness” (Mal. 4:2). He gives the “breath of life” (John 3:8; 20:22), He is the Living Bread of Life (John 6:35ff). Jesus can do all this because the bible says, He is the life.

Therefore, Jesus came so that dead folk could live! When a dead, lost person meets Jesus, they pass from death unto life. John 5:24 “...he who hears Jesus’ word and believes in Him who sent Him has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” When that dead person becomes alive in Jesus, everything in their life changes.

It has been said that “three things make life worth living: a self-fit to live with; a faith fit to live by; and a purpose fit to live for.” Only Jesus Christ can give you all three. John 10:10 “...I have come, Jesus says, that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” He gives life, and He gives it abundantly! He gives life on purpose! Real life is more than walking, talking, eating, breathing. Real life, abundant life, joyful life is found in knowing God through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 John 5:12 “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” How did Jesus Make A Way? By Offering Life Over Death.

By Offering Light Over Darkness– “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shined in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

So not only are folk without Christ, spiritually dead, they are also spiritually darkened! Jesus came to change all that! He said, “I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” Jesus came to deliver the lost from darkness and to bring them into His glorious light:

Ephesians 5:8 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light”

Colossians 1:13 “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,”

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”

I can hear the messianic prophet Isaiah who knew about this darkness, but despite the black cloak of chaos and war that surrounded him, he anticipated something far greater: a coming Light—with a capital “L”—because this Light would arrive as a baby and forever redeem the dark side of the coin. Isaiah prophesied, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given . . . and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6). This Light would bring justice, righteousness, and peace with “no end” (v. 7).

Light is referenced in the Bible more than 250 times, and each time its symbolism is clear: Light represents the presence of God, Christ, and holiness.

Jesus came into this world to bring spiritual light into our spiritual darkness! He stood in the darkness of creation and said, “Let there be light,” and one day He stood in the cold darkness of my heart and brought light to my soul. 2 Cor. 4:6, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Many of us have learned this hard and beautiful truth firsthand: We must endure great darkness in this world, but we also know the bearer of all light: Jesus Christ and therefore we can say, Jesus Made A Way!

I truly believe that I am looking into the faces of some people who can testify that Jesus Made A Way. He answered your prayer, He lifted your burden and those that He didn’t lift He became strong in you so that you can bear them. He touched your life, He turned things around, He led you into green pastures of provision, placed you beside the still waters of peace, prepared a table of plenty before every hater you got, dried your tears, mended your broken heart, made a way out of no way for you, put food on your tables, roof over your head, shoes on your feet, clothes on your back. Jesus Made A Way.

I need to remind somebody up in here that, He gave you real hair, fake hair, implants, dentures, new knees and hips; He has made your enemies your footstools, He has elevated you with promotions.

Have I got at least 7 people who can help me close this sermon and testify, Jesus Made A Way.

When the sun was going down on your situation, Jesus Made A Way.

When your foot almost slipped and you were about to throw in the towel, Jesus Made a Way.

When this old flesh was getting the best of you, Jesus Made a Way.

Somebody asked the question: how did it all happen. All I know is that I use to be that way but now I’m this way. I used to live like that but now I live like this. I used to use those words, by now I use these words. I used to run with that crowd but now I run with this crowd. Jesus Made a Way.

Yes, He moved mountains, made walls fall, chains break, giants flee, with His power, He perform miracles.