John's Joy Is Complete

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 2:29

I’ve been in a few wedding parties enjoying the time leading up to the marriage.  It’s full of preparation including getting sized for suits, shoes, and shirts.  Cars need to be organized to drive the wedding party around on the day of the wedding.  The hall has to be decorated where the wedding meal will be eaten.  Speeches and toasts need to be prepared to add to the enjoyment of celebration of the nuptials’ vows.

The time leading up to the wedding day is filled with joy for the bridegroom and for me a time wondering where and how I can add to his special day.  Usually a party is organized for the bridegroom where he is the center of attention.  Often now these parties include both the bride and the groom.  Usually a meal is eaten and advice and congratulations are given. 

When the wedding day arrives and all the preparations have been made, it’s time for the friends of the bridegroom to step aside and let the groom take up his role as husband, make his vows, sign the marriage certificates and take his bride for himself.  The friends can watch with joy as the groom joins himself to his bride.

In this verse above John is making reference to Jesus beginning his ministry and the people of the time starting to go to him instead of John.  John is using the analogy of a wedding, the bride being the people John was preaching to (today anyone who believes in and follows Christ), Jesus being the bridegroom, the Saviour of the world.

John is happy to have fulfilled his role as the best man for the bridegroom.  When the bridegroom arrives John no longer has anything left to do but step aside and let this man take his place.  In spiritual matters John steps aside from people thinking he might be the Christ and lets Jesus take his rightful place as the Saviour of the world.  John has made all the preparations for the coming of the ‘bridegroom’, by telling everyone of the soon coming lamb of God.  John’s joy is complete.

Just as John had joy knowing that Jesus had come we also can find joy in knowing that we are:

Part of the ‘bride’ of Christ (we are included in His family) .

Sharing with those who are not yet following Jesus as to who He is and introducing them to the intimacy found with Him, which will be complete at the marriage feast of the lamb.

God's Grace

This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.  If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives.

1 John 1:5-10

Yesterday I talked a little bit about my experiences as a dental hygienist and what it was like dealing with clients that told me how well they take care of their teeth, only to find out the truth when I had to do a proper inspection.  Then the consequences of not properly taking care of their teeth, often leading to drilling out the cavities and fillings put in place. 

Then I compared that to what it's like for anyone of us to tell ourselves what we think is true spiritually about ourselves, but when God's light is shone on our lives, we see the truth for what it really is.

Today I want to highlight something we should all be eternally grateful for, and that is God's grace.

To be clear:

• God is light
• In Him there is no darkness at all
• The blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin
• If we confess our sins
• He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Now imagine if you are in the dental office and it turns out that you need a cavity drilled out and a filling placed in, then the dental hygienist says to you and the dentist, "I'll sit in the chair and take the drill and filling in your place.  You don't have to feel the pain and discomfort."  In fact you can leave the office, you don't have to feel the needles in your gums; feel the medicine being injected and the resulting numbness, or hear the sound of the drill, smell the rotten cavity being removed, or feel the pressure of the filling being put in its place.  Yet, YOU somehow miraculously get the benefit of having the cavity removed and filled without having to go through the experience.

Would you accept the offer?  Wouldn't you be thankful for the sacrifice for your benefit?

That is similar to what Jesus has done for you.  He took your place and took your cavity (sin) upon Himself, and you get to walk away free.  That is grace.

In Romans 8 it tells us that "...there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because...Jesus...set me free..."

Today walk in the light as He is in the light and feel the freedom He has given to you.  

Oh, and by the way, unlike the dentist, there is no charge for His services. :)