The Joy of the Best Man

Friend

We loked at John 3 last week, what a joy that passage is to go thru, what hope those few verses bring, and how terrible the truth that people are already condemned by their sins. But Thank you Jesus for the blood and the cross, for reaching down to us and saving us right where we are. While driving to work most mornings i am able to catch a few Christian radio programs , Adrian Rodgers, David Jerimiah, and Chuck Swindoll on occasions. At some point earler this week i heard somone refering to what John the Baptist said in John 3:29 “He who has the bride is the groom. But the groom’s friend, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the groom’s voice. So this joy of mine is complete.” If you were here last week you know we just breezed right on passed this verse

Word Pictures in the New Testament John 3:29

His office is to bring groom and bride together

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 3

Enough for me to be the Bridegroom’s friend, sent by Him to negotiate the match, privileged to bring together the Saviour and those He is come to seek and to save, and rejoicing with joy unspeakable if I may but ‘stand and hear the Bridegroom’s voice

The theological weight of this passage lies in its clarification of roles. John’s disciples must not be jealous of Christ’s success, since Christ is the Bridegroom who possesses the bride while John is only the friend who prepares for the marriage. The friend’s importance ends when the marriage concludes, but the Bridegroom’s continues to increase1. This reflects John’s understanding that his ministry was preparatory—he came to make overtures from the Bridegroom to His people and to prepare them for espousal with Him. A bonus point here maybe the writer/Apostle John is setting up this idea for the upcoming woman at the well story. It is at a well where Jacob meets Racheal, Jesus meets the woman there, and maybe setting the stage for the salvation of all including Samaritans and the gentiles they are mixed with, the gospel going to the uttermost

Anxiety, depression, addiction, grief, loneliness, and estrangement

We will tackle these issues through the use of Tim Keller’s “yes, no, but yes” model of addressing culture.

Yes- These issues are a reality for many believers today, and they often are exacerbated by factors beyond their control, many times leading to the need for medication and professional therapy.

No- These issues are not only physical, mental, and sometimes medical realities. They are also very much intertwined into our spiritual reality, and specifically our relationship

with Jesus. Because of this, medication and therapeutic treatment may, and often do, help, but they will ultimately fall short of addressing the root issues holistically.

Yes- There is a road forward as we learn to allow Jesus to speak into and transform the realities of our hearts, and learn to see Him more clearly.