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Jesus and John the Baptist

22 Later, Jesus and his disciples went to Judea, where he stayed with them for a while and was baptizing people.

23-24 (A) John had not yet been put in jail. He was at Aenon near Salim, where there was a lot of water, and people were coming there for John to baptize them.

25 John's followers got into an argument with a Jewish man[a] about a ceremony of washing.[b] 26 They went to John and said, “Rabbi, you spoke about a man when you were with him east of the Jordan. He is now baptizing people, and everyone is going to him.”

27 John replied:

No one can do anything unless God in heaven allows it. 28 (B) You surely remember how I told you that I am not the Messiah. I am only the one sent ahead of him.

29 At a wedding the groom is the one who gets married. The best man is glad just to be there and to hear the groom's voice. That's why I am so glad. 30 Jesus must become more important, while I become less important.

The One Who Comes from Heaven

31 God's Son comes from heaven and is above all others. Everyone who comes from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all others. 32 He speaks about what he has seen and heard, and yet no one believes him. 33 But everyone who does believe him has shown that God is truthful. 34 The Son was sent to speak God's message, and he has been given the full power of God's Spirit.

35 (C) The Father loves the Son and has given him everything. 36 Everyone who has faith in the Son has eternal life. But no one who rejects him will ever share in that life, and God will be angry with them forever.

Jesus knew that the Pharisees had heard that he was winning and baptizing more followers than John was. But Jesus' disciples were really the ones doing the baptizing, and not Jesus himself.

Jesus and the Samaritan Woman

Jesus left Judea and started for Galilee again.

Footnotes

  1. 3.25 a Jewish man: Some manuscripts have “some Jewish men.”
  2. 3.25 about a ceremony of washing: The Jewish people had many rules about washing themselves and their dishes, in order to make themselves fit to worship God.

John Testifies Again About Jesus

22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized.(A) 23 Now John(B) also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.)(C) 25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing.(D) 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi,(E) that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified(F) about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”

27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’(G) 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom.(H) The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.(I) 30 He must become greater; I must become less.”[a]

31 The one who comes from above(J) is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth.(K) The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard,(L) but no one accepts his testimony.(M) 33 Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent(N) speaks the words of God, for God[b] gives the Spirit(O) without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.(P) 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,(Q) but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman

Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John(R) although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. So he left Judea(S) and went back once more to Galilee.

Footnotes

  1. John 3:30 Some interpreters end the quotation with verse 36.
  2. John 3:34 Greek he