There appeared a man by the name of John, with a message from God.

(John testified to him and cried out??or it was he who said it??He who was to come after me is now ahead of me

John too was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, for there was plenty of water there, and people came there and were baptized.

For John had not yet been put in prison.

So a discussion arose between John's disciples and a man from Judea, about purification.

And they went to John and said to him, "Master, the man who was with you across the Jordan, and to whom you yourself gave testimony, is baptizing, and everybody is going to him."

John answered, "A man cannot get anything unless it is given to him from heaven.

So when the Lord learned that the Pharisees had been told that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John??2 though it was not Jesus himself who baptized them, but his disciples??3 he left Judea and went back again to Galilee.

You yourselves sent to John, and he testified to the truth.

But I have higher testimony than John's, for the things that my Father has intrusted to me to accomplish, the very things that I am doing, are proof that my Father has sent me,

He went across the Jordan again to the place where John used to baptize at first, and there he stayed.

And people came to him in great numbers, and they said of him, "John did not show any sign in proof of his mission, but all that he said about this man was true."

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, are you more devoted to me than these others are?" Peter said to him, "Yes, Master, you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Then feed my lambs!"

Again Jesus said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, are you devoted to me?" He said to him, "Yes, Master, you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Then be a shepherd to my sheep!"

Jesus said to him a third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because the third time Jesus asked him if he loved him, and he answered, "Master, you know everything, you can see that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Then feed my sheep!