They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.” To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.” John 3:26–30
Dear Lord Jesus, I’m not sure about a wardrobe of camel’s hair clothing and a diet of locusts and wild honey (Matt. 3:4), but I am sure I want more of John the Baptist’s joy—the joy of you becoming greater while I become less.
It seems that John could hardly think about you without experiencing joy. Indeed, he even leapt for joy in his mother’s womb at the announcement of your birth (Luke 1:39–41). O, that you would flood my life with that same doxological delight.
Jesus, when I try to imagine this kind of You-centered bliss, I get both excited and sobered. What would it be like to have a joy largely defined by people making much about you—so much, in fact, that I wouldn’t really notice them not making much about me? That would bring greater freedom from my self-centered insecurities and my need for people’s approval.
What would it be like to want your name to be loved and vindicated a million times over mine? What would it be like to patiently listen for your voice much more than clamoring for others to listen to me? That would bring more freedom from my need to be understood and to be in control of my reputation.
What would it be like to experience greater grief when people don’t “get” you than when they don’t “get” me? Surely that would be evidence that the power of the gospel is alive and well in my heart. What would it be like to say with John, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven” (John 3:27) and really, really mean it—to accept giving and the taking away in life equally as sovereign appointments from your throne of grace? That would bring freedom to love and serve you no matter what circumstances prevailed.
Lord Jesus, most kind and beautiful bridegroom, bring more of this joy and freedom to my expectant heart. I pray in your priceless and peerless name. Amen.
