John

After John’s messengers had left, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?

I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John, yet even the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

All the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice. For they had received the baptism of John.

For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’

When Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, he was perplexed. For some were saying that John had risen from the dead,

“I beheaded John,” Herod said, “but who is this man I hear such things about?” And he kept trying to see Jesus.

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that a prophet of old has arisen.”

One day in a place where Jesus had just finished praying, one of His disciples requested, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the gospel of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.

John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or from men?”

But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.”

There came a man who was sent from God. His name was John.

John testified concerning Him. He cried out, saying, “This is He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’”

And this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?”

“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands One you do not know.

All this happened at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and resting on Him.

The next day John was there again with two of his disciples.

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John’s testimony and followed Jesus.

Now John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because the water was plentiful there, and people kept coming to be baptized.

(For John had not yet been thrown into prison.)

Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the issue of ceremonial washing.

So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Look, Rabbi, the One who was with you beyond the Jordan, the One you testified about—He is baptizing, and everyone is going to Him.”

John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.