Show Don't Tell: John 3:22-30

Instead of saying "John the Baptist pointed to Jesus' greater ministry," hear the wedding analogy. After this, Jesus and his disciples go into the Judean countryside, where he spends some time with them and baptizes. Now John also is baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there is plenty of water—and people are coming and being baptized. This is before John is put in prison. An argument develops between some of John's disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. They come to John: "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." Jealousy for their teacher. John answers: "A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.' The bride belongs to the bridegroom. 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. He must become greater; I must become less."