Join the Feast. Bring Friends.

Challenge 27 - Joy in Spite of Stoopidity

The bridegroom and his friends.

John 3: 29

The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is complete.

This has been a challenge to get written and scheduled. I moved to a new address two days ago. I have no internet so everything is on my phone. But! it is being written as part of a challenge…so I guess that's ok.

John the Baptist is addressing his disciples who have noticed that the new guy, Jesus, is also baptizing and his crowds are growing. By using the bride, bridegroom, and friend analogy, John's disciples will understand that John's ministry is coming to an end. That just as the friend would hand the bride off to the bridegroom, so John is now stepping back. For Jesus had just told them, “For God so loved the world that he gave His only Son…in order that the world might be saved through Him…the light has come into the world…” (John 3: 16-19 ESV).

John had prepared the way and now he was prepared to step back, to decrease in favor of Jesus’ ministry (John 3: 30 ESV). John was bearing witness to Jesus (stand/histēmi) and his heart was postured to yield (hear/akouō) to Him. Consequently, John's joy was complete.

His joy was whole. It filled his whole being.

Y'all. This is the joy that is ours in hearing and yielding to the truths of Jesus. This joy is reserved for those who believe in Who He is and what He has done for us. For the world. For His bride. When we understand that this truth about Christ is unchangeable, we will have a grasp on this rejoicing with joy that cannot be weakened.

Come join the wedding feast. Sit at the table. Bring friends. And experience joy fully satisfied.

And for fun JOY, here are some pics from the kid's wedding this past February.

---