John 3:22-36

22After these things Jesus and His disciples went into the land of Judea, and there He spent time with them and baptized.

23Now John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was an abundance of water there; and people were coming and were being baptized—

24for John had not yet been thrown into prison.

25Therefore there arose a controversy between John’s disciples and a Jew in regard to purification (ceremonial washing).

26So they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi (Teacher), the Man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan [at the Jordan River crossing]—and to whom you have testified—look, He is baptizing too, and everyone is going to Him!”

27John replied, “A man can receive nothing [he can claim nothing at all] unless it has been granted to him from heaven [for there is no other source than the sovereign will of God].

28You yourselves are my witnesses that I stated, ‘I am not the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed),’ but, ‘I have [only] been sent ahead of Him [as His appointed forerunner and messenger to announce and proclaim His coming].’

29He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands by and listens to him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this pleasure and joy of mine is now complete.

30He must increase [in prominence], but I must decrease.

31“He who comes from [heaven] above is above all others; he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks [about things] of the earth [his viewpoint and experience are earthly]. He who comes from heaven is above all.

32What He has [actually] seen and heard, of that He testifies; and yet no one accepts His testimony [as true].

33Whoever receives His testimony has set his seal [of approval] to this: God is true [and he knows that God cannot lie].

34For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God [proclaiming the Father’s own message]; for God gives the [gift of the] Spirit without measure [generously and boundlessly]!

35The Father loves the Son and has given and entrusted all things into His hand.

36He who believes and trusts in the Son and accepts Him [as Savior] has eternal life [that is, already possesses it]; but he who does not believe the Son and chooses to reject Him, [disobeying Him and denying Him as Savior] will not see [eternal] life, but [instead] the wrath of God hangs over him continually.”