23. John was also baptizing people in Aenon, a place near Salim with plenty of water. People were going there to be baptized.
24. This was before John was put in prison.
25. Some of John’s followers had an argument with another Jew about religious washing.
26. Then they came to John and said, “Teacher, remember the man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan River? He is the one you were telling everyone about. He is also baptizing people, and many are going to him.”
27. John answered, “A person can receive only what God gives.
28. You yourselves heard me say, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only the one God sent to prepare the way for him.’
29. The bride always belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who helps the bridegroom just waits and listens. He is happy just to hear the bridegroom talk. That’s how I feel now. I am so happy that he is here.
30. He must become more and more important, and I must become less important.
31. “The one who comes from above is greater than all others. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth. He talks about things that are on the earth. But the one who comes from heaven is greater than all others.
32. He tells what he has seen and heard, but people don’t accept what he says.
33. Whoever accepts what he says has given proof that God speaks the truth.
34. God sent him, and he tells people what God says. God gives him the Spirit fully.
35. The Father loves the Son and has given him power over everything.
36. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. But those who do not obey the Son will never have that life. They cannot get away from God’s anger.”