John 3:29

He that hath the bride. God’s relationship to His people is often compared with that of groom to bride (see Isa. 54:5; Jer. 2:2; 3:20; Eze. 16:8; 23:4; Hosea 2:19, 20; 11:2; Eph. 5:25-27; etc.). Jesus now appeared to be successfully winning the people of Israel to Himself.

Friend of the bridegroom. The “friend of the bridegroom” was the middleman who made arrangements between the family of the groom and that of the bride. He would be pleased when the transaction reached a happy climax. John had fulfilled his appointed role of calling Israel to accept her spiritual Lord and Master, and now rejoiced at the apparent success of the One on whose behalf he had labored. His own “joy” was thus “fulfilled.” See on Mark 2:19.

Standeth and heareth. Perhaps John speaks of the friend of the groom as intent on learning the wishes of the groom and carrying them out. Or, John may refer to the moment when the groom greets his bride for the first time, face to face, and the groomsman rejoices at the successful completion of his task. Similarly, John could not regret that men were attracted to Christ; in fact, it fulfilled his fondest hopes.