Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judaea, and there he was with them for some time, giving baptism
John was also baptizing in Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there. People kept coming and were being baptized,
(This was before John was thrown into prison.)
Then a question came up between John's disciples and a Jew about washing.
so they went to John and told him, "Rabbi, the man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan, the one about whom you testified-look, he's baptizing, and everyone is going to him!"
John replied, "No one can receive anything unless it has been given to them from heaven.
You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.'
The groom is the person to whom the bride belongs. The best man, who stands and listens to him, is overjoyed when the groom speaks. This is the joy that I feel.
He must become more important, but I must become less important.
He who comes from heaven is greater than all others: he who comes from earth is of the earth, and of the earth are his words: he who comes from heaven is over all.
He gives witness of what he has seen and of what has come to his ears; and no man takes his witness as true.
The person who has accepted his testimony has acknowledged that God is truthful.
For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.
