The Bridegroom’s Voice by F. D. STARR

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 12, 1915

The Bridegroom’s Voice

By F. D. STARR

F. D. STARR

“THE friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.” John 3:29. At the time these words were spoken, John, the forerunner of Christ, was experiencing a severe test. As stated by himself, he was decreasing. But still his joy was full. It was such a delight to stand by and hear the Bridegroom’s voice! It was a very humble claim that he made for himself when he said he himself was a “voice,” as it were but the echo of the words of the prophet, spoken so long before. Now he is being superseded, his popularity is waning. But as the friend of the Bridegroom, his joy is on the increase. Soon he is to endure a test still more severe. Behind prison bars, his life of activity brought to an abrupt pause, he sends to inquire of the Master concerning his mission. The best consolation and assurance that could be afforded is sent to him: “The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” Instead of giving John assurance of being delivered from prison, or congratulating him on the great importance of his work and position, the Saviour gives him the proof that that wonderful voice is still having its effect on all classes of needy subjects. Even the dead hear the voice of the Son of God, and live.

“The disciples bore the message, and it was enough. John recalled the prophecy concerning the Messiah, ‘The Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.’”—“The Desire of Ages,” page 217. Although his own prison door still remained unopened, he could rejoice that by that omnipotent voice other prison gates were being thrown open. Although as a poor captive he still languished in the dungeon, it did not cause him to doubt the power of the One who was preferred before him to proclaim liberty to those who are bound, or to discredit the report that this good work was actually performed for others.

Wonderful man! What was the secret of all this? He was the friend of the Bridegroom, and was charmed to listen to his voice. Are we the friends of the Bridegroom? Are the opportunities for others to hear our voices now greatly restricted? Is our joy consequently greatly diminished? Let us, then, stand and listen to that celestial voice. Can we say we do not have the chance John had to hear that voice—that the Bridegroom is taken away from us? But were we not singing so recently,—

“Hearing his voice in every line, Making each faithful saying mine”?

Ah, yes; in that Word that was “made flesh and dwelt among us,” we hear him speaking to us as of old: “This is the way, walk ye in it.”

“I heard a voice, the sweetest voice That mortal ever heard; O, how it made my heart rejoice, And every feeling stirred!”

“To many minds a deep mystery surrounds the fate of John the Baptist. They question why he should have been left to languish and die in prison. The mystery of this dark providence our human vision cannot penetrate; but it can never shake our confidence in God when we remember that John was but a sharer in the sufferings of Christ.”—Id., page 223. May the Bridegroom’s voice cheer us as it did John.