Charles Ellicott Commentary John 3:29

"He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, that standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom`s voice: this my joy therefore is made full." — John 3:29 (ASV)

He that hath the bride is the bridegroom.—This is the only instance in this Gospel where the familiar imagery of an Eastern marriage meets us. (See Note on Matthew 9:15, where we have the same imagery in the answer of our Lord to these same disciples of John, then taking sides with the Pharisees, on the question of fasting.) The “friend of the bridegroom”—called by the Hebrews “Shôshbçn,” and by the Greeks “Paranymph”—was charged with the preliminaries of the marriage.

He arranged the contract, acted for the bridegroom during the betrothal, and arranged for, and presided at, the festivities of the wedding-day itself. It was a position of honor, in proportion to the position of the bridegroom himself, and was given to his chief friend.

That friend then rejoiced in his joy, and there was none brighter on that day than he. This, in John’s thought, is an illustration of his own position.

The bridegroom is the Messiah; the bride is the Kingdom of God—the church, consisting of all who with pure hearts are willing to receive Him; the friend who has arranged the betrothal, who has prepared these hearts, is John himself.

He now stands and hears the Bridegroom. Some of those who had been prepared by him for the Bridegroom would have come, perhaps, and told him of his words. He is now near. Throngs crowd to Him. The bride is approaching.

Do they see in all this matter for envy? It is to him the consummation of all hopes. His life-work has not been in vain. His cup runs over. His joy is fulfilled.