⁴¹ and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign,^(A) all that John said about this man was true.”^(B)

³³ And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water^(A) told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’^{(B) 34} I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”^[a](C)

John Testifies About Jesus

²⁹ The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God,^(A) who takes away the sin of the world!^{(B) 30} This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’^(C)

²⁶ They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi,^(A) that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified^(B) about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”

²⁷ To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. ²⁸ You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’^{(C) 29} The bride belongs to the bridegroom.^(D) The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.^{(E) 30} He must become greater; I must become less.”^[a]

³¹ The one who comes from above^(F) is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth.^(G) The one who comes from heaven is above all. ³² He testifies to what he has seen and heard,^(H) but no one accepts his testimony.^{(I) 33} Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. ³⁴ For the one whom God has sent^(J) speaks the words of God, for God^[b] gives the Spirit^(K) without limit. ³⁵ The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.^{(L) 36} Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,^(M) but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

¹¹ What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs^(A) through which he revealed his glory;^(B) and his disciples believed in him.^(C)

²⁷ He is the one who comes after me,^(A) the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”^(B)

Warnings and Encouragements^(A)

12 Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be^[a] on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.^(B)

²⁶ But what did you go out to see? A prophet?^(A) Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ²⁷ This is the one about whom it is written:

²⁸ I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God^(C) is greater than he.”

²⁹ (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John.^{(D) 30} But the Pharisees and the experts in the law^(E) rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)

Jesus Calls His First Disciples^(A)

5 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,^[a] the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God.^(B)