The Bridegroom’s Friend

22-26 After this conversation, Jesus went on with his disciples into the Judean countryside and relaxed with them there. He was also baptizing. At the same time, John was baptizing over at Aenon near Salim, where water was abundant. This was before John was thrown into jail. John’s disciples got into an argument with the establishment Jews over the nature of baptism. They came to John and said, “Rabbi, you know the one who was with you on the other side of the Jordan? The one you authorized with your witness? Well, he’s now competing with us. He’s baptizing, too, and everyone’s going to him instead of us.”

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24 (This was before John was put in prison.)(A) 25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing.(B) 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi,(C) that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified(D) about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”

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