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!