The Wedding

Sermon Notes

John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ 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. He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies, and no one receives His testimony. He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life, and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
John 3:27–36 (NKJV)


The beauty of a wedding…a time of commitment, vows, expressions of love, and beautiful symbols of oneness. There are three characters in this illustration that John the Baptist is teaching. There is the Groom (Jesus), the Bride (the Church), and the Friend (John).


THE FRIEND. (Best man)
Heaven’s assignment for the friend was:

• Given to him from heaven.
• Only God hands out the assignments.
• Attend or Obey the Groom – what has the groom asked of you. “For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God…for God gives the Spirit without limit.” God is all in!
• John preceded the coming of the groom. John was, according to Isaiah, the “voice of one crying in the desert…prepare the way for the Lord!”
• John said, when the friend hears the voice of the groom…he rejoices. This is where we will decrease as the Lord increases.

THE BRIDE (The Church)

• The bride represents the church.
• Jesus was establishing the Kingdom in this infant church.
• By faith we enter the Kingdom of God.
• Jesus loves his bride!
• Their assignment from Heaven was to believe.
• Like a human wedding…the church prepares to be one with Christ.

THE GROOM (Jesus)

• Father God has prepared Jesus as the groom.
• He has given The Resurrected Christ all power, all authority, both in heaven and on earth.
• Not even the gates of hell will prevail against the bride…because the groom has taken charge!

THE GROOM’S SECOND COMING

• First Coming: John preceded the Lord preparing the way for his coming.
• Second Coming: thee Spirit filled church prepares the way for the Lord’s coming.
• The Spirit that is given without measure is not just for show. We must step into our God given assignment.
• We must speak as the Spirit gives us the words.
• Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the son of man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life.