Matthew 3 quotes Isaiah 40 when it reveals that John the Baptist was the one that was called to be the “forerunner” of Jesus to call ahead telling the earth to “prepare the way of the LORD; make His paths straight.” Last week we saw John as the “friend of the bridegroom”, the one who stands and hears and rejoices simply because of the sound of His voice. After making that announcement John makes the statement that he is probably most known for, when speaking of Jesus John said “He must increase, but I must decrease.” This statement has been talked of often and many times it has become a challenge to change, to let go of things in our lives and to make a greater effort to decrease so that Jesus can increase in our lives. I don’t believe that John was making a statement of intent, I believe he was making a cry of worship. John saw Jesus as He was. When he first saw Jesus, John declared: “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” John saw Jesus just as heaven sees Him. In Revelation 5 we see Jesus, looking as a lamb that was slain, take the scroll from the right hand of the Father and break the seals. At that moment all of heaven, earth, the creatures under the earth and even in the sea burst into song praising the Lamb who is worthy to take the scroll. John saw Jesus as heaven sees Him and he worshipped.
The “straight paths” we are called to walk in and create for our community have nothing to do with effort, work or personal change, they have everything to do with worship. Where Jesus is exalted paths become straight, where Jesus is worshipped the cross comes into clear view, where Jesus is seen in all of His glory, just as He is, His blood becomes the paramount gift in life. Jesus and His cross is the ultimate straight path. We all are equal in our sin and the wrath of God and only one path leads us to life and freedom, the cross of Jesus, He is the only way to the Father and His cross is the only way to Him. Today, I encourage each of us to live lives of worship not effort; lives that seek to see Jesus in all of His glory not lives that seek to show Him through all of ours. May we see what John saw and what the elders and creatures see right now, the Lamb of God, slain for our sin and risen for our salvation. There is no other straight path and there is no other need that this community or any other will ever have.