Bridegroom's Friend
Notes
Transcript
Weddings
At a wedding, my granddaughter Melissa asked, “Why is a bride always dressed in white?” “Because white represents happiness, and today is the happiest day of her life,” I replied. Her next question was: “Then why is the groom dressed in black?”
- Clara Null
I was watching my five-year-old granddaughter play with her toys. At one point, she staged a wedding, first playing the role of the mother who assigned specific duties, then suddenly becoming the bride with her “teddy bear” groom. She picked him up and said to the “minister” presiding over the wedding, “Now you can read us our rights.” Without missing a beat, she became the minister, who said, “You have the right to remain silent, anything you say may be held against you, you have the right to have an attorney present. You may kiss the bride.”
- Sonja Ely
1001 Quotes, Illustrations, and Humorous Stories: For Preachers, Teachers and Writers
Many over the past 30 years - I should have kept a record
I’m officiating over 4 weddings (so far) this fall
In church’s, in wedding venues, and outdoors - nice weather and extremely hot!
From a friend’s dining room to Purdue’s football Pavilion
As I meet with couples - one of the things I will invariably share with the groom is that it is “all about the bride.”
Not true in the times of the gospels and the old testament.
Often “arranged” - a bridegroom paid a dowry - now they are betrothed - wait 12 months - the bridegroom’s friend (best man) helps get things prepared - communicates with the bride. The bridegroom spends those 12 months to get a place ready to bring his bride and eventually raise his family.
Then, the time comes - the bride is told to be ready - she still doesn’t know what time he’ll come for her (usually close to midnight) - the bridegroom’s friend announces his coming - he escorts them to the prepared place - waits for the bridegroom to say the marriage is consummated - and the week long celebration with family and friends begins.
In all of that - the bridegroom is the center of attention. The bridegroom is the reason that the marriage is taking place.
I share this so you’ll have context as we read John the Baptist’s words in our scripture this morning.
Please stand as we honor the reading of God’s word:
22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized.
23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized.
24 (This was before John was put in prison.)
25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing.
26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”
27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.
28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’
29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.
30 He must become greater; I must become less.”
31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all.
32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony.
33 Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful.
34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.
35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.
36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
THE WORD OF GOD, FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD
A little jealous about what the “other guy” is doing
John’s response “I’m not the Messiah”
Jesus comes from heaven with a message - those who believe have eternal life
Focus on: Verses 29-30
John the Baptist’s response:
Who has the Bride?
Completed Joy
Less is Greater
Who has the Bride?
Who has the Bride?
The Bridegroom! The bride belongs to the bridegroom.
Who is the Bridegroom? Jesus!!
Who IS the Bride? - the church! We are! We belong to him!!
Jesus has paid the price - he has gone to prepare a place (John 14) - he is coming for us when we least expect Him
Then there will be a great wedding supper
7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.
Revelation 19:9 (NIV)
9 Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”
Like John - we are also the Bridegroom’s friend - who finds our joy completed in Him...
Completed Joy
Completed Joy
Our life becomes about what the Bridegroom wants
Our life becomes about pleasing the Bridegroom
We want the best wedding and marriage ever
As the friend of the Bridegroom - we’re waiting for him - we’re listening for his voice
3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
4 We write this to make our joy complete.
Our joy becomes complete as we fellowship with Him and become less...
Less is Greater
Less is Greater
as Jesus becomes greater!
The two verbs are used elsewhere of the waxing and waning of the sun or the moon. - Andrew T. Lincoln, The Gospel according to Saint John, Black’s New Testament Commentary (London: Continuum, 2005), 161.
A way of daily life - we become less so he becomes greater - we’re just the moon reflecting His light - better for His light to shine.
Not just a testimony as the NIV labels this section...
NLT & ESV label this section: John the Baptist Exalts Jesus
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
I become less and less so that Jesus can be seen more and more
As I do that - God works in me to fulfill His purpose
17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Grace (unfailing love) - v36 - “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life”
Truth (unfailing faithfulness) - v31 - “The one who comes from above is above all”
The Bridegroom is greater than the Bridegroom’s Friend.