John the Baptist Exalts Christ

John 3

22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and x was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for y John had not yet been put in prison).

25 Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over z purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, a "Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, b to whom you bore witness - look, he is baptizing, and c all are going to him." 27 John answered, d "A person cannot receive even one thing e unless it is given him f from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, g 'I am not the Christ, but h I have been sent before him.' 29 i The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. j The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, k rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 l He must increase, but I must decrease." 1

31 m He who comes from above n is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and o speaks in an earthly way. p He who comes from heaven n is above all. 32 q He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, r yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony s sets his seal to this, t that God is true. 34 For he whom u God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit v without measure. 35 w The Father loves the Son and x has given all things into his hand. 36 y Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; z whoever does not obey the Son shall not a see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

  1. Cross References
    John 3:26
    And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness - look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.
    John 4:1 - 2
    Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John
  2. Cross References
    John 5:35
    He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.
    Matthew 4:12
    Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee.
  3. Cross References
    John 2:6
    Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.
  4. Cross References
    John 3:2
    This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.
  5. Cross References
    John 1:7
    He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.
  6. Cross References
    John 12:19
    So the Pharisees said to one another, "You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.
  7. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 4:7
    For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
    Hebrews 5:4
    And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.
  8. Cross References
    John 6:65
    And he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.
    James 1:17
    Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
  9. Cross References
    Matthew 21:25
    The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?" And they discussed it among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?
  10. Cross References
    John 1:20
    He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ.
  11. Cross References
    Malachi 3:1
    Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
    Mark 1:2
    As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way.
    Luke 1:17
    And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.
    Acts 19:4
    And Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.
  12. Cross References
    Matthew 25:1
    Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
  13. Cross References
    Judges 14:20
    And Samson's wife was given to his companion, who had been his best man.
    Song of Solomon 5:1
    I came to my garden, my sister, my bride, I gathered my myrrh with my spice, I ate my honeycomb with my honey, I drank my wine with my milk. Eat, friends, drink, and be drunk with love!
  14. Cross References
    Matthew 9:15
    And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.
  15. Cross References
    Matthew 3:11
    I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
  16. Cross References
    John 8:23
    He said to them, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
  17. Cross References
    Romans 9:5
    To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
    Ephesians 1:21
    Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
  18. Cross References
    Romans 9:5
    To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
    Ephesians 1:21
    Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
  19. Cross References
    1 John 4:5
    They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them.
  20. Cross References
    John 3:13
    No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.
  21. Cross References
    John 3:11
    Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.
  22. Cross References
    John 3:19
    And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
    John 1:11
    He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
    John 5:43
    I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.
    John 12:37
    Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him.
  23. Cross References
    John 6:27
    Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.
    2 Corinthians 1:22
    And who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
    Ephesians 1:13
    In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.
    Revelation 7:3 - 8
    Saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.
  24. Cross References
    1 John 5:10
    Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son.
  25. Cross References
    John 3:17
    For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
  26. Cross References
    Ezekiel 4:11
    And water you shall drink by measure, the sixth part of a hin; from day to day you shall drink.
    Ezekiel 4:16
    Moreover, he said to me, "Son of man, behold, I will break the supply of bread in Jerusalem. They shall eat bread by weight and with anxiety, and they shall drink water by measure and in dismay.
  27. Cross References
    John 5:20
    For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.
  28. Cross References
    Matthew 28:18
    And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
  29. Cross References
    John 3:15 - 16
    That whoever believes in him may have eternal l...
    John 5:24
    Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my wo...
    John 6:40
    For this is the will of my Father, that everyon...
    John 6:47
    Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes ha...
    John 6:54
    Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood h...
    1 John 5:12 - 13
    Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not ...
    John 11:25 - 26
    Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and t...
    John 20:31
    But these are written so that you may believe t...
    Matthew 19:16
    And behold, a man came up to him, saying, "Teac...
  30. Cross References
    Romans 2:8
    But for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.
    Ephesians 5:6
    Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
    Colossians 3:6
    On account of these the wrath of God is coming.
  31. Cross References
    John 3:3
    Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
Next Book Next Book