Study Desk

After these things Jesus and His ^(C1)disciples came into the land of Judea; and there He was spending time with them and ^(C2)baptizing.

Now John also was baptizing in Aenon, near Salim, because there was an abundance of water there; and people were coming and being baptized—

for ^(C1)John had not yet been thrown into prison.

Then a matter of dispute developed on the part of John's disciples with a Jew about ^(F1)(C1)purification.

And they came to John and said to him, "^(C1)Rabbi, He who was with you ^(C2)beyond the Jordan, to whom you ^(C3)have testified—behold, He is baptizing and all the people are coming to Him."

John replied, "^(C1)A person can receive not even one thing unless it ^(C2)has been given to him from heaven.

"You yourselves ^(F1)are my witnesses that I said, '^(C1)I am not the ^(F2)Christ,' but, 'I have been sent ahead of Him.'

"He who has the bride is ^(C1)the groom; but the friend of the groom, who stands and listens to him, rejoices greatly because of the groom's voice. So this ^(C2)joy of mine has been made full.

"He must ^(F1)increase, but I must ^(F2)decrease.