Scripture Reading: Luke 3:1-38, Isaiah 40:1-10, John 3:25-30
Our neighborhood in Franklin, Tennessee, sits just a stone’s throw from Mack Hatcher Parkway, one of the city’s busiest roads. In recent weeks, a road crew has been preparing a large section of that road for a major widening project—two lanes becoming four. For the next several years, Franklin residents will watch and wait as the plans unfold and a new way is prepared. Watching and waiting. Waiting and watching.
The people of Israel knew that rhythm well. For centuries, they had been watching and waiting—not for a road project but for the arrival of their Messiah, the promised One who would come and rescue them. And before the Messiah came, God had promised something else: A voice would cry out in the wilderness, calling the people to prepare their hearts. That voice belonged to John the Baptist.
John understood that the people’s deepest need was not deliverance from Rome. They needed rescue from something far more oppressive—the dominion of sin that reigned in their hearts. They needed, as Isaiah put it, a pardon for their iniquity (Isaiah 40:2).
John’s role as the one who would prepare the way for Jesus was no accident. It was ordained. Centuries before John was born, God had announced through Isaiah that a messenger would come, one who would make straight the path for the Lord’s arrival (vv.40:3–5). When Luke recorded John’s ministry in chapter three, he explicitly connected it to that ancient prophecy. John’s faithfulness in fulfilling his calling is a testimony to God’s faithfulness in keeping His promises to a people who had been watching and waiting for a very long time.
What did that preparation look like in practice? Preaching. Baptizing. And pointing—always pointing away from himself and toward the One who was coming. John called people to genuine repentance, the kind with hands and feet: Share your coat, deal honestly, don’t exploit others (Luke 3:10–14). And when the crowds began to wonder if John himself might be the Messiah, he was quick to set the record straight: “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I am is coming. I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals” (v.16).
This was not false modesty. It was the joy of a man who knew exactly who he was and who Jesus was. In John 3, when his own disciples grew concerned that everyone was flocking to Jesus instead of him, John responded with one of the most beautiful pictures in all of Scripture. He likened himself to the groom’s friend at a wedding—the best man who stands nearby, listens for the groom’s voice, and rejoices when he hears it. “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).
This is the posture of a faithful servant and a worthy model for every one of us. We, too, are called to be voices, not the Word itself; preparers of the way, not the destination. The question worth sitting with today is simply this: Are you pointing people to Jesus or to yourself?
Written by Will Heydel
Leave a Reply
76 thoughts on "The Way Prepared"
❤️✝️ Lord prepare my heart to receive Your Word!
❤️❤️
Amen
I pray to be a light to point others to the Lord. I pray that he takes away my desire for my own glory and pride. I only want others to see Christ in me. ♥️
❤️
❤️
❤️
God cares about every trivial thing in our lives. He speaks through His Word, all we need to do is spend time with Him and read it.
This morning I was upset that my daughter has once again taken a favourite, more costly, newer sweater of mine that I can’t replace. And in today’s reading was Luke 3:11, “He that hath
TWO coats, let him impart to him that hath none…”-KJV / thank you Lord that you care❤️
This is beautiful. Thank you for sharing!
John’s instructions were clear, Preparing the Way for Jesus, calling the people to baptism and repentance of their sins. He was the voice of the one crying out in the wilderness. John baptized with water but Jesus will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and Fire.
❤️
Amen!
❤️❤️
Amen
Amen
Lord, may You increase in me! Help me to decrease myself, and Point others to YOU!
Amen
Others have said this but I am struck by how much I am enjoying Luke’s gospel outside of the advent period. You see the words in a different way studying it out of season.
John is one of my favorite people in the Bible, and John 3:30 really stood out to me today: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John had every opportunity to make his ministry about himself, but he didn’t. Even when people began leaving him to follow Jesus, he wasn’t jealous. This was exactly what he wanted! His purpose was never to make himself important, it was to point people toward Christ. This really challenged me today to ask myself whether I’m doing the same. I want less of my life to be about me and more of it to point people toward Jesus. ❤️
Wanting the same❤️
I had the same experience reading those words – wow!
Wow. I had never read this passage like this before. I never understood the “He must increase, but I must decrease” verse. This makes total sense and is such an inspiration to look at myself and see if I am increasing Jesus in my life instead of focusing on myself all the time.
❤️
Sister Shes
I lead a small group of women in conversations, not formal studies, around designated books of the Bible or scripture once a month. I grow anxious before each gathering, and why?! I am getting in the way of the message. I am allowing myself, my ego, my personality, as convener to be front & center. I worry if I have prepared enough. I worry if, by my own standard, if I get it right! What I hope to realize – am beginning to realize – is I should stand aside & let all that is said or done point to Jesus. It is not about perfection or prescription. It is about how the Spirit, not any person, shows up at the table or in our midst. Let this be my admonition. Let this be my constant prayer. Let me decrease! Let Him increase! So help me God!
❤️
Thanks for sharing this, Gwineth52. I lead a women’s bible study and will be pasting this reminder into the front of my study guide.
~
“let all that is said or done point to Jesus. It is not about perfection or prescription. It is about how the Spirit, not any person, shows up at the table or in our midst. Let this be my admonition. Let this be my constant prayer. Let me decrease! Let Him increase! So help me God!”
I want to decrease and Jesus increases. I pray that the goal of my life would be pointing others to Jesus. I don’t think it always is.
I try to point to Jesus but in all honesty fear creeps in sometimes and steals that. I need to try harder.
“John understood that the people’s deepest need was not deliverance from Rome. They needed rescue from something far more oppressive—the dominion of sin that reigned in their hearts”. This is a very profound understanding. Rome was an external enemy. The real enemy is from within. If Rome was defeated, the people would still carry the same greed, pride, bitterness and selfishness, and continue to wrong each other. We cannot escape it by changing circumstances. It rules from the inside, and it is hard to see. Everyone can see a large troops of army, but who can see the sin in the heart? Thank you sisters so much for your advice and prayers. I will learn to be patient and give my eyes rest. I love you and I appreciate you very much. Be blessed dear sisters.
❤❤❤
Everyday I look for your thoughts on our reading. Thank you for being YOU! <3
Franklin TN is one of my favorite places! I would love to live there.
`
But God has planted me in Colorado. I don’t feel that I fit in. But am I making it more about myself than others. I should be planting seeds. I’m surrounded by so many unbelievers. Unbelievers that are very engaged in new age practices. But I am judging and with that judgement I’m surely not planting any seeds.
~
I think that God is nudging me here to straighten up. To act and behave like a believer. To plant seeds for Him. To decrease so that He may increase.
❤️
“We too are called to be preparers of the way”. Shine your light brightly in Colorado Traci!!
♥️. I try to be a good person and lead by example.
I had to research Nathan taking Solomon’s place on the genealogy. Nathan is in Mary’s line and Solomon is in Joseph’s line.
But wait, isn’t this Joseph’s line? (v. 23)
Luke traces Mary’s line. And Matthew traces Joseph’s line.
Always Jesus!!!!
Am I a faithful servant that points to Jesus? I sure hope so.
.
That is something I need to work on, I think.
The big question “Are we pointing to Jesus?!”
Every week I have such a weight to “do well” enough to point them to Jesus in jail ministry! I know it is the Spirit that works through them, yet, I just WANT them to receive it! On a week like last, all new girls that didn’t participate or show hardly any sign of where they stand, it was so challenging. And even for the ones that come often, their faith is so tested after waiting for over a year with still no answers to their fate.
I often leave and think…that wasn’t good enough!lol.
It also is good to think about in my comings and goings everyday. Lord, let my light always glow and shine for you daily.
It’s like we want to be on fire for Jesus, yet life can get so hard and weary. But that is where our faith can also point to Jesus, right? Showing that in the valleys He is with us and our hope. In pain and sufferings He still is my all and all. Then also on the mountaintops of Joy, I sing his praises!
It’s a unusual rainy morning here in SWF that’s got me feeling very melancholy and eh. My sister has been very sad the last 2 days, I’m thankful I can be here for her talking on video for long periods. Please continue to pray for her.
Even on the days where it seems nothing gets through at the jail, you are there planting the seeds. That’s your calling – to plant the seeds. The Holy Spirit will do the rest.
Praying every day for your sister, and for you. ❤️
Praying for your sister.
Praying for your family Rhonda❤️
Praying for you and your family, Rhonda.
He must increase but I must decrease. John 3:30. This should be our goal as believers. So different from our world! But so much the mindset of God’s upside down kingdom. Less of me and more of you has been my prayer lately! To quote my pastor, it is not about me but about more changed lives!
Praying this today! Thankful for the reminder!
Also, praying for all of you! Have a blessed day!
“Are you pointing people to Jesus or to yourself?”
.
I hope with all my heart that I am pointing people to Jesus. Earlier this morning I was asking God to help me to reflect Him. I don’t want people to just see me and think I’m a good person – I want them to see Jesus in me and know that any goodness I have, is because of Him.
– – –
I never picked up on John 3:29 before, and as I read it today a picture came to mind. It was John preaching and baptizing but hearing something so he stops and listens. He recognizes that it is the voice of Jesus, and his heart becomes filled with joy…oh that I would be listening for Jesus, and that my heart would overflow with joy at the sound of His voice!
– – –
Happy Wednesday She’s, and welcome to all of you who are new to SRT! ❤️
❤
Isaiah 49:9-10 (NLT):
9 O Zion, messenger of good news,
shout from the mountaintops!
Shout it louder, O Jerusalem.*
Shout, and do not be afraid.
Tell the towns of Judah,
“Your God is coming!”
10 Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power.
He will rule with a powerful arm.
See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.
.
Does my life point others to Jesus? May it be so, Father!
.
SHE READS TRUTH – Franklin, TN, is one of my favorite places!!!
We have stopped there for supper on travels through Tennessee. ❤
.
Love, hugs, and prayers! ❤
.
Yesterday we had a Christmas Scripture. Today I am sharing a Christmas song! lol It’s what came to mind!
.
SONG SHARE:
Go, Tell It on the Mountain
❤️
Jeff and I visited Franklin a few years back – it was a lovely town! “I thought, I could live here!”
Our worship leader and her family recently moved there, just a town over from Franklin – we look forward to visiting them!
.
Have a blessed day Cee Gee!
That’s awesome, Sharon! You have a blessed day, too! ❤
❤️ I love Christmas :)
Ditto, Mercy! ❤
“This is the posture of a faithful servant and a worthy model for every one of us. We, too, are called to be voices, not the Word itself; preparers of the way, not the destination. The question worth sitting with today is simply this: Are you pointing people to Jesus or to yourself?”
Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word and that from the very beginning you had a plan for your Son Jesus to be our Savior. Thank you for hope, forgiveness and redemption that is available to us. Help us Lord to point others to you. To have the posture of a faithful, humble servant, a voice of hope and truth in this dark and lost world and ones that boldly and courageously lead and prepare the way for others to see you. Help us to show others the Way, the Truth and the Life in all we do. In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen
Adding my amen to your beautifully written prayer!
How are you doing, Wendy? ❤
Thank you CeeGee. I am ok. Thankful to be better than I was 3 months ago, but still struggling with symptoms and side effects. I am managing so level of unwell most days but hopeful that soon things will level out and settle down. Appreciate your prayers so much❤️
Amen
Amen❤️
Thank you for the prayer, Wendy!
Beautiful prayer, Wendy.
Praying for you daily ❤️
Thank you Teresa❤️
Amen, beautifully said ❤️
Yes, Amen!
We are called to be voices not the word itself! What a powerful statement that is.Holy Father, thank you for this revelation. I learn so much here at She Reads Truth. May God keep you all safe and healthy and always hungry for His Word!
Amen, Widgeon! ❤
Amen Widgeon!
I, too, learn so much from everyone at SRT and I am so thankful for you all!❤️
Same!❤️
I got a little nerded out in the early verses of Luke 3 this morning. I found it interesting that Luke made sure that his account was historically accurate ….both according to Roman history as well as Jewish history. Noting Tiberius Caesar….as well as Annas and Caiaphas. Ensuring a connection to both the Gentile and Jewish reader.
That caught my eye this morning, too, Karen- those names, like the genealogy list, are there for a reason. ❤ Good catch!
Are you pointing people to Jesus or to yourself?
.
Such a good question to be asking myself, daily. Am I making a “straight path” for others to find Jesus? Lord, may I point to You in all I say and do so that when You return with Your “winnowing fork,” there will be moe “wheat” to gather.
.
MERCY – take it easy on your eyes! May your healing be swift. And may you have wisdom about limiting the screens at work.
.
RHONDA J – continued prayers for Braydon.
.
Yes Kelly that question caught me too. Are we pointing people to the only one who saves, Jesus?
❤❤❤
Prayers for your second interview, etc.
Thank you Kelly!
❤️
Amen and thank you for your advice.
❤️