Day 4

Scripture to Read: John 3:29–30

God used John the Baptist in some incredible ways to help others see that Jesus was the Messiah who was prophesied about in God’s Word. As God used John the Baptist, we read what John the Baptist said about Jesus in John 3:29–30, “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. So this joy of mine has been made full. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.” John the Baptist referred to himself as “the friend of the bridegroom.” Of course, Christ is the Bridegroom, and His bride is the church (every baptized born-again believer). John the Baptist was helping the people understand that since he was Jesus’ friend, then, of course, he was going to rejoice even to hear Him. John the Baptist knew he had been born for this purpose, to be used by God to proclaim the Messiah’s arrival. He knew that he was not there to build a following for himself but to lead others to follow Christ. The reason John the Baptist said, “So this joy of mine has been made full,” was because his joy was knowing Christ as his Friend and Lord. True joy only comes when we are fully surrendered to Christ (Romans 13:14, Ephesians 5:18, Galatians 5:16) and walk with Him daily. Christ is our joy, our purpose for living, and He alone fills us with His Spirit so we fulfill all He has for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).

Challenge & Application

• Why was John the Baptist full of joy, and how do we get filled with joy each day? • What does it look like to be full of the Holy Spirit and not full of our fleshly desires?

Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!

Devotionals from this week

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Day 1

God has called every believer to testify about our Lord Jesus Christ. We have the privilege of telling each other about what Christ is doing in and through us. We are also responsible for sharing Christ with the people in this world who are still lost in their sins. God used John the Baptist to testify about Christ as God used him to prepare ...

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Day 2

We see in John 3:22 that the way the Scripture reads, it sounds like Jesus was baptizing. But in John 4:1–2, which we’ll examine more closely a little later, God makes it clear that Jesus was not baptizing, but His disciples were. As Jesus invested in His disciples, we read in John 3:25, “Therefore there arose a discussion on the part of John...

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Day 3

As God used John the Baptist to proclaim Christ’s arrival, as we saw in yesterday’s devotion, there was still some confusion about who John the Baptist was and who Jesus was. We read today in John 3:26–28, “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...

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Day 4

God used John the Baptist in some incredible ways to help others see that Jesus was the Messiah who was prophesied about in God’s Word. As God used John the Baptist, we read what John the Baptist said about Jesus in John 3:29–30, “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices grea...

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Day 5

John the Baptist wanted to leave no doubt in his disciples’ hearts and minds about who he wanted them to follow. As John the Baptist spoke to them, he said in John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Unless someone is willing to die to their old life they’ll never experience new life through Christ. John the Baptist knew that he an...

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Day 6

John the Baptist again reminded all of the Jews who were with him of who Christ was and what He came to do. We read in John 3:31, “He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.” John the Baptist reminded the Jews that Christ was from above but tha...

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Day 7

John the Baptist was led by God the Spirit to teach his disciples all about Jesus and what He came to do. We read in John 3:33–34, “He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure.” God used John the Baptist to share with...

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