Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled

After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized. Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. For John had not yet been thrown into prison. Then there arose a dispute between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purification. And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified -- behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!" John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but, 'I have been sent before Him.' He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

- John 3:22-36

In yesterday's reading, we read the words of Jesus testifying about Himself. He said, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." Therefore we receive the word, that God's love permeates all things and is the basis of Jesus' ministry. Judgment comes in our response to that love. He said, "For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized. So far in John's Gospel, we have read of Jesus in Galilee, at a wedding in Cana, in Capernaum, and at the first Passover festival of His ministry at the temple in Jerusalem. Here He returns to an area in Judea and He Himself is baptizing followers with His disciples. We recall the original scene near Bethany (Bethabara) beyond the Jordan River at which John baptized Jesus. Here, we presume He is closer to Jerusalem.

Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. For John had not yet been thrown into prison. Then there arose a dispute between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purification. The Gospel gives us a timeline: it is a time when John the Baptist -- a prophet widely considered a holy man, with many disciples and followers, from among whom has come Jesus' first disciples -- is still preaching and baptizing a baptism of repentance in preparation for the Kingdom. John's Gospel will constantly make reference back and forth to events known to have happened by the time of its writing. Here, John tells us that it was before the Baptist was thrown into prison. There is an assumption that the audience already knows the important historical events in this timeline. John's Gospel is written to teach us meanings and truths, events that reveal who Jesus is. The dispute with "the Jews" means that John's disciples are in a dispute about purification most likely with the authorities and experts in the Law, Pharisees and scribes. They are in a dispute with members of the religious leadership.

And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified -- behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!" Whatever the dispute with the leadership, John's disciples come to the Baptist regarding Jesus, and all those who are coming to Him now for baptism. Later in John's Gospel it will be members of the Pharisees themselves who make this statement, that "the world has gone after Him!"

John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but, 'I have been sent before Him.'" John begins to testify about himself, and also to recall to them his testimony about Christ at the Baptism. This is not a competition about figures in the territory of religious leadership at this time in Israel's history, but quite the opposite. It is a testimony about the work of God in the world, and those who labor together for this Kingdom. The Baptist places all things in perspective when he puts first things first: "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven." Through this relationship, and the great commandment of the love of God, the Baptist himself has performed in his ministry and his purpose, that he has "been sent before Him." The words here harken us back to Jesus' recent words to Nicodemus, regarding His own testimony: "No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven."

"He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease." John the Baptist is fulfilling his mission in the great love of God, the action of the Spirit in the world. It is Jesus who has the Bride, which is Israel, or the people of God. Therefore, as friend of the bridegroom, he plays his role and rejoices greatly simply to hear the bridegroom's voice. John's humility before God and the unfolding of this divine economy, his fulfillment in his own role as Forerunner and greatest of the Prophets, teach us about our own approach to this great work. Are we, too, friends of the Bridegroom? A part of His body, each playing our own roles? John's ultimate expression of great humility is in these words: "He must increase, but I must decrease." My study bible says, "The Forerunner expresses profound humility and acceptance of his role in the service of God. He renounces all earthly glory and reputation and glories only in Christ. John's aspirations of hope and joy as a minister and servant of God have now been fulfilled."

"He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." Here we have another testimony to Jesus' identity, to His place and being, and His central role in the salvation history of Israel and of the world. This time, though, it is not Jesus who testifies of Himself (as in Monday's reading, when He was speaking to Nicodemus), but it is John the Baptist who testifies, a second witness. Jesus testifies to what He knows, says the Baptist, and is from above, above all. All things are given into His hand, including the words of God, from whom He is sent for us and the whole world. Again, as in yesterday's reading, we have words of love and of judgment. God's son has been sent to the world, for the love of the world -- but how we receive His testimony also tells of judgment.

John's Gospel today gives us a second testimony about Jesus, His role and identity, His place in the salvation history of Israel and of the world. Jesus is the Bridegroom. Yesterday, He testified Himself as to His identity and His work. Today we are given a second testimony to Jesus, that of John the Baptist. I think we cannot underestimate the powerful and widely-recognized authority of holiness in the figure of John the Baptist. His testimony here is meant for readers to understand that John himself showed extreme humility before Jesus, and pointed to Jesus as true Bridegroom. It is an authoritative testimony, from a figure whose authority is unquestionable -- a man of radical humility and holiness, with many, many followers of his own. As for we who read this today, we must come to understand our own role as "friends" of the Bridegroom, our own place in the history of salvation, in God's plan for the salvation of the whole world. God's love gives us a role to play, too, in the Body of Christ. We have our own places in this salvation history. The great figures in these Gospels show us the way, especially John the Baptist in his image of tremendous holiness and authority as a revered figure of leadership -- and his great image of humility that he presents before us. This is what we learn from him. In order to find our own joy, our own place of fulfillment in this history, this mission or dispensation of love and salvation, we too need to understand humility and what it means. Humility before God means that we accept our own places as friends of the Bridegroom, and whatever role we can play in that wedding feast and preparation is going to be the one that fulfills us, if we can but accept it. In this sense, we each have a testimony to accept, a word to receive. In that word is our own identity, a role, a function, a job to do. What is your work in the great work of salvation? We remember, it all starts "for God so loved the world." How do you participate in that love? How are you fulfilled in this role? With what joy do you hear the Bridegroom's voice and take your place as His friend?