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

 

After these things Jesus and His disciples came to 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, Jesus taught Nicodemus, "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.  He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come into 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 to the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized. My study Bible points out that in John 4:2 we're told that Jesus did not baptize, but His disciples.  

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."  John the Baptist, my study Bible tells us, is called the friend (or "best man"), while Christ Himself is the bridegroom.  Regarding the term the Jews in John's Gospel, we must remember that John the Baptist, Jesus, and their disciples were all Jews, and this included the author of the Gospel.  This term is not used to designate a whole people, but in John's Gospel is usually meant to designate the "party" of the antagonistic religious leaders; in this sense it is more akin to a political term in its usage.  Moreover, there are clear exceptions in John's Gospel within the leadership as well, such as Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea.

"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."   My study Bible comments here that John expresses a humility that serves as an example for all believers.  He renounces all earthly glory and reputation for the sake of Christ.  As John allows Christ to increase in him, John himself finds true glory.  Moreover, my study Bible adds, this statement indicates the end of the old covenant.  As the law vanishes, the grace of Jesus Christ abounds.  John's declaration is also revealed in the liturgical calendar:  John's birth is celebrated at a time when the sun begins to decrease in the sky (June 24), while Christ's birth is celebrated when the sun begins to increase.

"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 echoes Christ's teaching in verse 18.  My study Bible asks us to note the absence of the word "alone" in this statement of faith.  St. John Chrysostom's comment is cited here:  "We do not from this assert that faith alone is sufficient for salvation; the directions for living that are given in many places in the Gospels show this."  See also James 2:14-24. 

 

 We begin to observe repeated themes in John's Gospel.  First of all, let us consider John's statement:  "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."  This is yet again an affirmation of John's extreme humility, which my study Bible noted, above, and which has served throughout the centuries as an example particularly for those in monastic vocations.  But notably it is yet another expression of the identity that we find in Christ, for John's identity is clearly stated by him as his place in history in relationship to Christ.  This also has served for inspiration for those who would be devoted in service to Christ, and in their faith.  John the Baptist declares that he is the "friend of the bridegroom," and although John himself was highly revered in his own lifetime, popularly considered to be a holy man by the people, and had many disciples of his own, he would lead his disciples to Christ with his recognition of Christ as bridegroom, and himself as the friend.   John teaches us how we find ourselves in our faith, "face to face" with Christ, and serves as an example for the faithful.  In the ultimate expression of what this means for him and for us, John declares that his joy is fulfilled.  Moreover, John's humility and holiness allows him the insight into who Christ is:  "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."   This is a statement which reflects John's knowledge of Jesus as Son, as sent, and as authority as designated by the Father.  And he adds, "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, as my study Bible pointed out, is a statement of faith akin to Christ's own teaching about faith in Himself.  As friend to the bridegroom, John is also in a position to advise others, those who would follow, regarding faith in the Son.  So, in these several ways, we find that identity through humility in relationship to Christ defines, builds, and teaches not only about ourselves and our place in the story of salvation, but also gives us direction and purpose in service.  When John (echoing Jesus) says that the Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand [my emphasis], it seems to me we are meant to take this quite literally, as applying to all of creation, and everything in the world.  Therefore it is a statement of Christ's authority, especially as supplanting the one whom Jesus has called "the prince" or "ruler" of this world (see John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11).  And this notion is united to us in Baptism itself, because it is in being baptized that we first renounce that "ruler" and are reborn into a life of faith in Christ, recognizing Christ as authority over all, and the One sent to give us that life abundantly, to give us the words of God, and the grace of the Spirit, which John says is not given by measure.   In all these things, we are to recognize ourselves as beneficiaries of Baptism, as followers of Christ, as those led by this last and greatest of the Old Testament prophets, John the Baptist.  Let us consider how these words echo for us day by day, as we may daily consider how our baptism works in us and in our lives, regenerating and building identity, fulfilling joy, and casting out what is not supporting that abundant and holy life.