This week I would like to briefly look at the second paradigm found in the Scripture we have been looking at (John 3:27-30). In our ministries we must have a ‘friend of the Bridegroom’ paradigm in relation to the people we are entrusted to lead.

As John’s disciples ask him what he feels about many leaving his ministry to follow Jesus, John responds by giving this central paradigm. He states, “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” (John 3:29). As a friend of the bridegroom, John understood that it was his job to prepare the bride to meet the bridegroom. It would have been a travesty for him to steal the attention or affections of the bride to himself.

We must see ourselves in our ministry in a similar way as John. We are friends of the bridegroom (Jesus) who are partnering with Him by the Holy Spirit to prepare His bride (the Church) for Him alone. This is the real point of leadership. If we possess this paradigm of leadership we begin to view people rightly. We in no way see them as a means to our own success or impact, but we see people as the inheritance of Jesus Christ. This causes us to ask the Lord for ways by which to use our resources, strengths, influence, etc. to serve their destiny in Christ in order to bring them forth in partnership with Him as a spotless bride, prepared for her husband (see Eph 5:25-32).

Paul saw his ministry in a similar way. He wrote to the Corinthians, “I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin” (2 Cor 11:2).

Next week we will look at how possessing a friend of the bridegroom paradigm of leadership will keep us from having a spirit of control related to the people under our leadership.

Blessings.