January 11, 2014, Gospel

John 3: 22-30

3:22 After these things, Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judea. And he was living there with them and baptizing.

3:23 Now John was also baptizing, at Aenon near Salim, because there was much water in that place. And they were arriving and being baptized.

3:24 For John had not yet been cast into prison.

3:25 Then a dispute occurred between the disciples of John and the Jews, about purification.

3:26 And they went to John and said to him: “Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, about whom you offered testimony: aia hoi, he is baptizing and everyone is going to him.”

3:27 John responded and said: “A man is not able to receive anything, unless it has been given to him from heaven.

3:28 You yourselves offer testimony for me that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but that I have been sent before him.

3:29 He who holds the bride is the groom. But the friend of the groom, who stands and listens to Him, rejoices joyfully at the voice of the groom. A pēlā, this, my joy, has been fulfilled.

3:30 He must increase, while I must decrease.