John 3: 29 – 30 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 the Baptizer said this to settle an argument between his disciples and a Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. They came to John to ask him whether he was aware that Jesus, whom he had baptized earlier in the Jordan, was now baptizing and many people were going to him. John’s response must have taken them by surprise – no hint of jealousy or anger but simply: “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You yourself can testify that I said I am not the Christ but I am sent ahead of him.” (John 3: 27 – 28). Then John compared himself to the friend of a bridegroom. Today in context of weddings we call that person the “best man”. He stands proudly beside the bridegroom and will later give testimony to his finest qualities, but in no way is he there to usurp the position of the bridegroom. And when the bridegroom steps forward to greet his bride, he takes a step back and stands aside. John admitted that the same joy a best man feels was now his and he was content and complete. Jesus had come. He was yielding and making room because “the one who comes from above is above all”. (See verse 31).

Have you yielded the right of way to God’s Son? Does it bring you joy to enthrone him in your heart and life? I don’t mean: Do you praise and worship him? Most believers do, on Sundays at least. What I am asking is do you subject your desires, passions, emotions, goals to his scrutiny and joyfully submit when you are denied the thing you feel you most want to do or be?