03/25/2025
Yesterday we spoke of being the friend of Jesus in the context of placing him before us in all things, but today we will look at what kind of friend the groom has chosen for His best man. What kind of friend should we truly be?
“He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.”
John 3:29 KJV
When a man chooses a best man or a woman her bridesmaid we consider all of our family and friends before finally deciding on who has been the truest friend and closest confidant; who has stood beside us at all times, but most of all... who can always be trusted. That person is our dearest friend because their character is impeccable, and most likely matches ours perfectly. What makes us think that Jesus is any different when He chooses His best man?
As I read Pastor Oswald Chambers this morning, he considered this relationship between Jesus and ourselves and then described it like this:
"In order to maintain this friendship and loyalty to the bridegroom, we have to be more careful of our moral and vital relationship to Him than of any other thing, even obedience. Sometimes there is nothing to obey, the only thing to do is to maintain a vital connection with Jesus Christ, to see that nothing interferes with that." - Oswald Chambers
Have you ever been to a party where one of the host's friends acted as though he was actually the host; striving to be the center of attention? I have seen this happen on several occasions, but a true friend of the host is the one who makes certain that the glasses stay full, the table is stocked with food, and that the host has time to speak with everyone there, then, after the party is over and the guests have departed, he is the one who remains behind to help clean up and joyfully talk about all that had transpired during the revelry.
We should be that way with Jesus. Delivering the gospel doesn't make us the host, but rather the friend who serves the host's guests. We see this in church circles just as we do in the example of the party. Perhaps we see a pastor who steps between Jesus, the object of the gospel he has been called to preach, and the congregation so as to take the spotlight. Sometimes it is those who serve within the church that want everyone to know how important they are, rather than leading others to know Jesus. Folks like this forget that they are simply servants, and for whom they should be doing these things. There are so many examples, and each one is dangerous... in them we can cease becoming friends of the groom and instead become His competitor for the attention of his guests, and heaven forbid his bride.
I read an article one time that dealt with the fact that true servants should be forgetful of themselves; in other words, true servants care more for the interests of those they serve than their own selves. Does this describe us as we strive to be true servants and true friends of Jesus?
Our churches and church life are much like the world around us in that they are full of imperfect people. It is that way because the church is a halfway house for those seeking freedom from the addiction of sin, yet when certain of these sinners begin to pretend to be like the host or begin feeling like the owner of the house they are meant to serve... then they are no longer serving Jesus by saving and healing but have returned fully to the role of the patient. Let's not kid ourselves, we are all patients and sick with sin in one way or another, and will be for life, but as we approach our spiritual healing, it is appropriate to reach back and lend a hand to those following behind us... not to demonstrate our piety, but to say... I am like you more than you know; let's walk this road together.
Friends of the Groom are forever by His side and helping to promote Him and His interests. So, as we approach our faith and the trappings of faith, are we doing this with the right heart? Is our character growing more like Christ's with each passing day? Are we attending to our relationship with Christ in such a way as to not overshadow Him and redirect praise to ourselves? Are we behaving and reaching the point in our hearts and souls in which Jesus might consider us to be close friends, and desire to have us not only as guests at His wedding with the Church, but as groomsmen, bridesmaids, or even a best man, or maid of honor?
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your Son Jesus Christ, and I pray that He will always see me as more than just a face in the crowd, but as His dear and true friend as well. Help me Father to place your best interests and those of your Son Jesus before my own; not only out of obedience, but out of a deep and abiding love for you and Him. Lord, I praise your name and humble myself in your service. For just as much as I wrestle with sin every day, and I know that I will occasionally stumble, I also know that you will catch my hand when I fall and will lift me up as I call out and reach for you. If my shadow should ever touch you Lord, then brush me aside and instruct me in humility because I am meant to subjugate myself to you, and to be heard like your Son who prayed to you in the Garden of Gethsemane saying... "yet thy will, not mine be done." Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my Father, God, master, protector, savior, provider, and truest love. Holy are you who hears my prayers and calls me His friend. Help me Lord to behave like the friend you so desire, and when it is time to select the groomsman for the marriage of your Son Jesus then at least let me be among those who are worthy of consideration. I praise and adore you Father, and I walk faithfully with Jesus to the New Jerusalem as His eyes remain fixed upon His new bride’s face. Let me stand by Him as a trustworthy friend for all eternity and listen for his voice outside the wedding chamber as I await the proof of this, His faithful bride. There in that place and on that day hear me as I shout with joy and signal the beginning of the wedding party. Let me serve the guests and give all glory to you, the master of the house, as I dote upon your guests and remain your Son’s true friend throughout eternity… Praised be to you O God on the highest and hear all creation shout Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Then let all in attendance at this, the wedding of your Son to His bride the Church, sing out gleefully…
Amen! Amen! Amen!
Supporting Scripture:
“You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants,[a] for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”
John 15:14-16 ESV
“6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,
“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
8 it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure”—
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.””
Revelation 19:6-9 ESV
Rich Forbes