He who has the bride is the bridegroom; the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice; therefore this joy of mine is now full. He must increase, but I must decrease.” The synoptics begin their account of Jesus’ ministry only after John’s has been terminated by imprisonment (Mark 1:14). This leaves no room for parallel or competing missions—although there are indications of tension between the two movements (Matt. 11:2–19; Luke 7:18–35). John, however,