John 3:29-33 (WEL) “He who has the bride is the bridegroom, but the bridegroom’s friend, who stands by and listens, rejoices greatly for the bridegroom’s voice. So, my joy is completely full. 30 “He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 “He who comes from above is over everything. He who is from the earth is from the earth and speaks earthly things. He who comes from heaven is over everything. 32 “Therefore, he testifies of what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 “He who has accepted his testimony has affirmed that God is true.
V29 “He who has the bride is the bridegroom, but the bridegroom’s friend, who stands by and listens, rejoices greatly for the bridegroom’s voice. So, my joy is completely full.
Jesus is the bridegroom; John the Baptist is the bridegroom’s friend. John expresses his joy that Jesus is greater than he is. Because Messiah has now come, John the Baptist feels complete and joyful.
It is true that the church (all believers from Pentecost to the Rapture) is the bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 5:32, and Revelation 21:9), but verse 29 is an illustration of John’s joy at being the friend of the bridegroom. A principle is taught that there is joy in being second, since the first to receive glory and honor is God. We must always put God first in our lives. If we do something wonderful and people point that out, then we must give glory to God who gave us the gift, ability, success, etc.
Compare John 5:36.
V30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.
A principle that God always must be the priority. John’s statement also is prophetic, because this is exactly what happened.
Some believe verse 30 is when John the Apostle is speaking. The context is better understood if these words are from John the Baptist’s. Compare Matthew 3:1-12.
V31 “He who comes from above is over everything. He who is from the earth is from the earth and speaks earthly things. He who comes from heaven is over everything.
From above indicates John the Baptist’s insight that Jesus has no beginning and has existed in the third heaven eternally before His human birth.
John the Baptist compares himself to one from the earth, as all humans are related to Adam. Jesus was not, for God the Father is the father of Jesus.
(College Press):
“These words of witness to Jesus’ deity are but a continuation of the witness John is giving his disputing disciples. These disciples must recognize, as did Andrew, Peter, Philip, and the other early disciples of John, that the Lamb of God has come and He is the pre-eminent One. Thus, the Baptist points out, since Jesus came from the “bosom of the Father,” He is superior to every mortal. He is above even a great mortal like John the Baptist, for this prophet was earthly in origin like all other mortals (cf. Matthew 11:11). These loyal (but jealous) disciples of John must see that the “one to whom all men are flocking” is the One Who has come down out of heaven with the complete and final counsel of God (cf. John 1:9-15; John 3:11-13). The Baptist states an axiom which not only applies to ordinary fallible men, but also in some instances to Spirit-inspired mortals when he says, “he that is of the earth . . . and of the earth he speaketh.” John the Baptist and some of the apostles, when left to their own fallible reasoning, reverted occasionally to carnal thinking and speaking (cf. Matthew 11:2-3; Galatians 2:11-14).”
V32 “Therefore, he testifies of what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony.
John the Baptist speaks of Jesus the Messiah, who has seen and heard the Father, God the Father. Even though what Jesus is teaching and will be teaching is God’s words, most of Israel and Gentile reject and refuse to believe. Compare John 3:11.
V33 “He who has accepted his testimony has affirmed that God is true.
Those of us who believe have accepted, believed, trusted in, and affirmed God’s testimony is true.
Matthew Henry:
“God is true, though we do not set our seal to it; let God be true, and every man a liar; his truth needs not our faith to support it, but by faith we do ourselves the honour and justice to subscribe to his truth, and hereby God reckons himself honored. God’s promises are all yea and amen; by faith we put our amen to them, as Rev 22:20. Observe, He that receives the testimony of Christ subscribes not only to the truth of Christ, but to the truth of God, for his name is the Word of God; the commandments of God and the testimony of Christ are put together, Revelation 12:17. By believing in Christ we set to our seal, First, That God is true to all the promises which he has made concerning Christ, that which he spoke by the mouth of all his holy prophets; what he swore to our fathers is all accomplished, and not one iota or tittle of it fallen to the ground, Luke 1:70, etc. Acts 13:32, Acts 13:33. Secondly, That he is true to all the promises he has made in Christ; we venture our souls upon God’s veracity, being satisfied that he is true; we are willing to deal with him upon trust, and to quit all in this world for a happiness in reversion and out of sight. By this we greatly honour God’s faithfulness. Whom we give credit to we give honour to.”
We learn:
• Jesus is greater than John the Baptist, who is himself great (Matthew 11:11).
• Jesus’s words are absolute truth.
Questions:
• Do you give all honor to God?
• Are you content to be second best?