John’s Final Witness & Imprisonment
Asked about the one now baptizing more than he, John gives his last great witness — “He must increase, but I must decrease” — and names Jesus the bridegroom from above, into whose hand the Father has given all things. Then John is put in prison, and Jesus withdraws into Galilee.
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The reading is the Restoration Edition — the Joseph Smith Translation reading — carried beside each Gospel and set against the King James baseline. Headers give both numbering systems: the RE chapter and verse, and the traditional KJV reference.
14Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.
22After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judea, and there he tarried with them and baptized. 23And John also was baptizing in Aenon, near to Salim, because there was much water there. 24And they came and were baptized, for John was not yet cast into prison. 25Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying. 26And they came unto John and said unto him, Rabbi, he who was with you beyond Jordan, to whom you bear witness, behold, the same baptizes, and he receives of all people who come unto him. 27John answered and said, A man can receive nothing except it be given him from Heaven. 28You yourselves bear me witness, that I said I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. 29He who has the bride is the bridegroom. But the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. This my joy is therefore fulfilled. 30He must increase, but I must decrease. 31He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth is earthly, and speaks of the earth. He who comes from Heaven is above all. 32And what he has seen and heard, that he testifies, and but few men receive his testimony. 33He who has received his testimony has set to his seal that God is true. 34For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives him not the spirit by measure, for he dwells in him, even the fullness. 35The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hands, 36and he who believes on the Son has everlasting life and shall receive of his fullness. But he who believes not the Son shall not receive of his fullness, for the wrath of God is upon him.
22After this Jesus and his disciples went to the land of Judea, and while there he taught, dined and worshipped with, and baptized them. 23John the Baptist was also baptizing north of there in Aenon, near to Salim, where the water was plentiful at that time of year. 24Crowds continued to go to John, and this occurred before he was imprisoned.
25A controversy arose between traditionalist Jews and John’s followers about authority to baptize. The traditionalists hoped to have John denounce Jesus baptizing. 26They went to John, hoping to turn his answer against Jesus. They asked John, The man you baptized beyond Jordan now is also baptizing and drawing away people to follow him, but he has not been given authority by us or by you.
27John answered and said, Authority comes from Heaven, to both him and to me. 28I told you I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent to prepare the way for the Messiah. 29I am only like a guest at another man’s wedding, and not the groom. But I rejoice to be in the groom’s company. Jesus is the groom. He is the one whose mission is the more important. 30He must increase, but I must decrease. I have come to end an era in Israel, but he has come to begin another. 31He descended from Heaven to serve here, and all of us need to acknowledge him — I not only refuse to deny his authority, I confirm it.
32Because John the Baptist saw and heard Jesus identified by Heaven as the Messiah, he testified boldly of him. But few people were willing to accept John’s testimony about Jesus. 33Despite that, his testimony was true. God made John a witness and therefore John’s witness was binding. 34Jesus was a messenger sent from the Heavenly Council to declare the truth, and Jesus had limitless access to the record of Heaven, the truth of all things, the light that quickens every thing. He is the one Moses prophesied would come and all Israel must give him heed or be cut off. 35God the Father loves and acknowledges Jesus as His Son, and has made him the steward over all creation. 36We are required to acknowledge God’s Son to be rescued by him, for only the Son can rescue us from the Fall of Adam. Jesus lived as the example, proving the pattern for redemption from the Fall as he progressed from grace to grace, until he received a fullness — in other words, grew in light and truth until he was filled with truth and stands as the light of the world.
- John’s whole joy is to hear the bridegroom’s voice and then to step back: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” What would it mean to measure our own success the way John measured his — by how fully another is lifted up?
- The RE softens “no man receiveth his testimony” to “but few men receive his testimony.” How does that small change reframe John’s faithfulness — and the value of a true witness even when few will hear it?
- The witness who pointed the way is silenced in prison just as Jesus’ ministry opens in Galilee. How does John’s decreasing — even unto prison — prepare the way for the kingdom he announced?