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There was a man sent from God whose name was John.
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(John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”)
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John the Baptist Denies Being the Messiah
Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was.
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John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”
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“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know.
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This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
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John Testifies About Jesus
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
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Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.
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John’s Disciples Follow Jesus
The next day John was there again with two of his disciples.
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Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus.
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And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).
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John Testifies Again About Jesus
After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized.
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Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized.
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(This was before John was put in prison.)
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An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing.
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They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”
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To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.
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Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman
Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John—
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“You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth.
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John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.
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“I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me.
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[The earliest manuscripts and many other ancient witnesses do not have John 7:53—8:11. A few manuscripts include these verses, wholly or in part, after John 7:36, John 21:25, Luke 21:38 or Luke 24:53.] Then they all went home,
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Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed,
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and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.”
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The Purpose of John’s Gospel
Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.
