Christ Must Increase – John 3:22-36
3 (22) After this, Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside; there he spent some time with them, and baptized. (23) Now John also was baptizing at Enon near Salim, because there was plenty of water there; people were coming and were being baptized. (24) John had not yet been put into prison. (25) Now an argument arose between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of purification rites. (26) So they came to John, and said to him, Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan, the one about whom you testified, he is baptizing and everyone is coming to him. (27) John replied, A man can only receive what is given to him from heaven. (28) You yourselves can testify that I said, I am not the Christ; rather, I have been sent ahead of him. (29) The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands by and listens for him, greatly rejoices when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That is my joy, and it is now fulfilled. (30) He must increase, but I must decrease. (31) The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and he speaks of the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. (32) He testifies of what he has seen and heard; but no one accepts his testimony. (33) But whoever has accepted his testimony can affirm that God is true; (34) for the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, because he gives the Spirit to him without measure. (35) The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. (36) Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; but whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, on the contrary, the wrath of God remains upon him.
Now proceed to the next section of this study, entitled, Exploring the Passage.
