23. John was also baptizing. He was at Aenon near Salim, where there was plenty of water. People were coming all the time to be baptized.
24. That was before John was put in prison.
25. Some of John's disciples and a certain Jew began to argue. They argued about special washings to make people "clean."
26. They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan River is baptizing people. He is the one you gave witness about. Everyone is going to him."
27. John replied, "A person can receive only what God gives him from heaven.
28. You yourselves are witnesses that I said, 'I am not the Christ. I was sent ahead of him.'
29. The bride belongs to the groom. The friend who helps the groom waits and listens for him. He is full of joy when he hears the groom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.
30. He must become more important. I must become less important.
31. "The One who comes from above is above everything. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks like someone from the earth. The One who comes from heaven is above everything.