John 3:29

“Listen,” John continues, “There are only one bride and one groom in a wedding.  The groom is the one that has the bride.  They are the main event.  The best man—well, he just hangs around being happy for the groom. So you see, Jesus’ joy and success is mine.  That’s all I need.”  John 3:29 EFP

What an incredible man John is.  Here he is being prodded to be jealous of Jesus, in a sense, by his very own disciples.  The mysterious Jewish man must have really built a case for Jesus trying to wrestle the prophetic mantle from John.  But John shows his mettle and takes the high road. 

He replies to the challenge with a simple mental picture, about a bride and a groom on their wedding day.  In this picture he is not the groom.  He is the best man.  On the wedding day, the best man is not on center stage, the bride and groom are firmly the focus of the attendees’ attention.  Lesson number one:  Jesus is the focus.  That’s the way things should be.  John says, “Jesus is on center stage,” and my role is to redirect the focus onto him when it’s on us.

But there is another point:  John also says, “That’s all I need.”  When Jesus is the focus, my life is complete.  John understands that premise.  He is not lured into the trap of believing he is the focus, or that he deserves the attention.  He has skills.  He is gifted.  He possesses a powerful message.  He draws people to listen to him from all over the countryside.  But all he needs is to see Jesus become the focus.  I don’t do well in the spotlight.  When I try, it does not end well.  If only I could learn as John the Baptist did—when Jesus is the focus, and that’s all I need!