Day 9
It was 1989. Dale and I were recently engaged and planning to marry the following spring. We had been invited to the wedding of friends from our church, First Baptist Atlanta. Both the bride and the groom were musicians, so I fully expected that the musical portion of the ceremony would be impressive. We climbed the front steps of the old historic church, ushers swung open the doors for us and down the center aisle we walked to find our seats in the almost filled to capacity sanctuary. Well, actually I don’t remember anything after we walked through the front doors, because all of my senses were on opulence overload. The sanctuary had been transformed into a rainforest, with greenery everywhere the eye could see. There was a full orchestra, not an ensemble or string quartet, but a full orchestra, to the right and left of the pulpit. And in the balcony was the Atlanta Boy Choir, young boys ages 8-15, dressed in their white robes with red sashes.
Dale and I were in the process of planning our upcoming wedding and my father had given me a budget. (He knew I would spend as much and a little more than I had, so this was wisdom on his part.) I was confident that just the flowers and greenery for this wedding would have eaten up two to three times my entire budget! As we took our seats, I leaned over to Dale and whispered, “Can they afford all this?” I know, I know - I never should have said a word. It was none of my business how much their wedding cost, much less if they could afford it. But that judgement, comparison, perhaps even jealousy was top of mind as I witnessed the extravagant yet thoughtful components of the wedding ceremony.
It wasn’t until later when talking with the groom’s best man we learned that the bride’s father had passed away decades before either of his daughters would marry. Before he died, he blessed both daughters with a very generous trust fund that was to be used specifically for their weddings. This couple couldn’t afford a wedding like this, but her father had spared no expense so that his daughter could have everything she wanted this big day to be. Even so, I imagine she would have traded every fern and musician for her dad to walk her down the aisle to her bridegroom waiting at the end of the aisle.
Everything about that wedding communicated that this was special, unlike any I’d ever attended before. Yet I didn’t have the curiosity needed to consider what it all meant. And then the best friend of the groom shared details that brought it all into focus for me. My judgemental thoughts and jealousy decreased while compassionate thoughts and joy increased.
In today’s reading we witness John the Baptizer once again engaging with his disciples and others regarding Jesus - his purpose, methods and popularity.
Read John 3:22-36
John the Baptist is doing his thing, baptizing folks in the Jordan Valley, specifically in an area known as Aenon, meaning “springs” or “fountains” in Greek. Across the river Jesus’ disciples were also administering the baptism of John, based on repentance and the desire for purification from sin. It was becoming visibly obvious to John’s disciples and everyone else that the crowds gathering around Jesus were getting larger by the day. John’s followers were understandably feeling a bit left out and perhaps even embarrassed for their leader, whose platform and influence seemed to be shrinking. To make sure John was okay, they just came right out and asked, “Rabbi, the one you testified about, and who was with you across the Jordan, is baptizing - and everyone is going to him.” (v 26) John’s response was gold, “Guys, I appreciate your concern, but I’m the best man at this wedding, not the bridegroom.”
Following a traditional christian wedding, during the reception and wedding feast, it is tradition that the best man shares a toast, a speech regarding his friend, so that everyone invited might know the groom better. Some of the guests might be part of the bride’s family and not be as familiar with the groom. The best man makes that connection for his friend, by sharing specific anecdotes that demonstrate the groom’s character and why he is a perfect match for his new bride. John the Baptist puts himself in this perspective when he says: “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.” (v 29)
John is Jesus’ best man. His mission is to make the Messiah known to all the wedding guests, to all of Israel. The humility he shows in doing it is inspiring, as he declares himself unworthy to carry Jesus’ sandals in John 1:27 and then makes introductions of his students, Philip and Andrew, who leave John to follow the Lamb of God. (Jn 1:35-42) John’s joy is complete as he sees Jesus doing exactly what He came to earth to do.
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” (v 30) The gospel writer John describes the Baptizer’s role in God’s redemption narrative clearly at the beginning of his writing, “There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. The true light that gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.” (Jn 1:6-9) At this point in salvation history, now that the light has come, the “lamp” has done its work. Later in chapter 5, Jesus describes John as a burning and shining lamp: “John was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But I have a greater testimony than John’s because of the works that the Father has given me to accomplish. These very works I am doing testify about me that the Father has sent me.” (Jn 5:35-36)
John represented the final Old Testament prophet, whose sole responsibility was to prepare God’s people for the Messiah, and was filled with joy to transfer the spotlight onto the New Covenant brought by and through Jesus. He was merely the best man, bringing the bride to her rightful husband.
Big Picture Questions for Today:
Is there part of you that, like John’s disciples, feels sorry for him? The crowds were all following him until Jesus showed up.
Do you tend to compare yourself to others, becoming jealous when your brothers or sisters in Christ seem to be winning and you are just treading water?
Pray and ask the Lord to give you a humble heart, eyes to see what He is doing and the desire to become less so that Jesus’ light can shine most brightly.
