Where’s Your Joy

Where’s Your Joy

29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.

John 3:25-26

Marriage is commonly used in the Bible as a metaphor, parable and illustration. This is done for several reasons. The first is that everyone, especially in those days would understand what a marriage is. They were community events and few would be left out. Secondly, they were times of great joy and love and it’s those two things that are almost always the focus of the illustration when marriage is mentioned. There are few things in this world that have that level of joy and love. In this parable, the focus is also love and joy but in a very interesting way.

Usually the joy and love that is focused on in marriage illustrations is the one that exists between husband and wife. Here however the focus is on the groomsman. Except for some free food and drink, the groomsman really doesn’t gain anything in a wedding, not like the groom who gains a wife. And yet the groomsman seems just as happy as the groom many times. Although the groom is happy for what he is gaining, this being a personal joy, the joy of the groomsman is a joy that is focused on the groom, joy for another.

John the Baptist is putting himself in the place of the groomsman. With this story he is making it clear that even though the attention is leaving him, he is in great joy that Jesus is gaining attention. His joy is not for self but for the other, Jesus. He even goes on to say that his joy is fulfilled. That of course points to his common assertions that he was not the Christ but was preparing the way for the Christ. He was joyful because he saw his purpose being fulfilled in the true Christ.

Where does our joy come from? Are you only happy when you are the groom or bride? Do you need to gain for happiness to be in your heart or can you find joy in what others gain. In German, there is a word called Schadenfreude. This word roughly translated is the joy you feel in the suffering of others. This is why falling and accident videos on social media are so popular. This type of joy is the exact opposite of what John experienced.

So where does your joy come from. Is it from Schadenfreude or is it from seeing people succeed and win? Which one should you have and which one should you develop in your life?

As you go through your day, try and note where your joys are experienced. You may learning something in yourself that you need to change or develop.

Blessings
Pr. Steven Couto