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: behold, 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. And so, this, my joy, has been fulfilled.

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