16 For God lovedaj the world in this way:G He gaveH his one and onlyak Son,al so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.am 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemnan the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned,ao because he has not believed in the nameap of the one and only Sonaq of God. 19 This is the judgment: The lightar has come into the world,as and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hatesat the light and avoids it,I so that his deedsau may not be exposed. 21 But anyone who lives byJ the truth comes to the light, so that his worksav may be shown to be accomplished by God.”

JESUS AND JOHN THE BAPTIST

22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went to the Judean countryside, where he spent time with them and baptized.

23 Johnaw also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water there. People were coming and being baptized, 24 since John had not yet been thrown into prison.ax

25 Then a dispute arose between John’s disciplesay and a JewK about purification.az 26 So they came to John and told him, “Rabbi,ba the one you testified about, and who was with you across the Jordan,bb is baptizing—and everyone is going to him.”bc

27 John responded, “No one can receive anything unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah,bd but I’ve been sent ahead of him.’be 29 He who has the bridea is the groom. But the groom’s friend, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatlyA at the groom’s voice. So this joya of mine is complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”

THE ONE FROM HEAVEN

31 The one who comes from aboveb is above all. The one who is from the earth is earthly and speaks in earthly terms.B The one who comes from heaven is above all.c 32 He testifiesd to what he has seen and heard, and yet no one accepts his testimony. 33 The one who has accepted his testimony has affirmed that God is true.e 34 For the one whom God sent speaks God’s words, since heC gives the Spiritf without measure. 35 The Father loves the Song and has given all things into his hands.h 36 The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the SonD will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.i