AFEWMOMENTSWITH
FRIEND OF THE BRIDEGROOM
I have only been a best man once in my life. That
We also know that the Bridegroom is Jesus,
“Joey” from the old show “Friends” rolling with
auspicious day happened on December 11th,
the Lover of our souls.
his signature, “How you doin?” line every time
2004, and the wedding in question happened
to be that of my older brother, Michael.
he meets a pretty girl – even if that girl happens
So, who does that leave in this story? It leaves
to be the Bride, promised to someone else.
the friend of the Bridegroom.
I was honored, excited, and more than a little
Then there’s the “’Friend of the Bridegroom’
bit nervous. What did being a best man actually
In this case, that friend is John the Baptist. In
Best Man”: He’s there to help this wedding go
mean? What was my job? What if I got it wrong?
our modern-day vernacular, John the Baptist
off without a hitch. He never stands between
Like most things, I was overthinking the whole
would be the best man. And that’s where things
the bride and groom. He never flirts to gain the
deal. As the day came and went, I realized that
started to connect for me in deeper ways, as I
affection of the Bride. He never draws attention
my job was to do everything in my power to
saw that being a worship leader is very much
away from this beautiful moment of communion
make sure that the Bride and the Bridegroom
like being a friend of the Bridegroom. I began
between the two. And, if need be, this Best
had a joyful and memorable day. I sang a song.
to think about how a few of those different
man is there to help the bride find the groom.
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.
It seems like John the Baptist learned something
(John 3:29)
What if we never came between the Bride and
I said a prayer. I laughed and got teary-eyed.
But mostly, I got out of the way. Above all, it
was their day. It was their celebration. And
I realized quickly that my main job was to
facilitate that.
A few years after serving as my brother’s
best man, I read a verse that connected that
incredible moment to the equally incredible
moments when I stand up in front of our
church, Grace Chapel, and encourage the
congregation to worship. The verse that
connected the dots for me records a
conversation between John the Baptist and
some of his disciples - disciples who were
concerned that more and more people were
turning to follow a new teacher named Jesus.
On that day, I wasn’t looking for the perfect
pretty useful in John 3:29 - something that
serves us well as Lead Worshippers today.
The Bride’s affections belong to the Bridegroom
- and the Bridegroom alone. The friend stands
by and rejoices greatly at the voice of Jesus. In
this, the best man finds his joy fulfilled. When
we have the honor of leading worship, what
if we took on the “friend of the bridegroom”
a