John the Baptist Exalts Christ

²²After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and xwas baptizing. ²³John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized ²⁴(for yJohn had not yet been put in prison).

²⁵Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over zpurification. ²⁶And they came to John and said to him, a“Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, bto whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and call are going to him.” ²⁷John answered, d“A person cannot receive even one thing eunless it is given him ffrom heaven. ²⁸You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, g‘I am not the Christ, but hI have been sent before him.’ ²⁹iThe one who has the bride is the bridegroom. jThe friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, krejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. ³⁰lHe must increase, but I must decrease.”10

³¹mHe who comes from above nis above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and ospeaks in an earthly way. pHe who comes from heaven nis above all. ³²qHe bears witness to what he has seen and heard, ryet no one receives his testimony. ³³Whoever receives his testimony ssets his seal to this, tthat God is true. ³⁴For he whom uGod has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit vwithout measure. ³⁵wThe Father loves the Son and xhas given all things into his hand. ³⁶yWhoever believes in the Son has eternal life; zwhoever does not obey the Son shall not asee life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

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