John 3:24-29

²⁴That happened before John was put {they put John} in prison.

²⁵Then some of John's disciples and a certain Jew started arguing about the Jewish rituals of washing things to make them acceptable to God.

²⁶Then those disciples went to John and said to him, “Teacher, do you remember the man who was with you when you were baptizing people on the other side of the Jordan River? He is the one you were telling us about. Well, now he is baptizing people, and many people are going to him instead of coming to us!”

²⁷John replied, “A person can become important only if God MTY permits it. So we should not be jealous about Jesus being popular!

²⁸You yourselves can verify what I said. I told you that I am not ◄the Messiah/God's promised king►. Instead, I told you that I was sent {that God sent me} to prepare the way for him.

²⁹Let me illustrate MET: He is like a ◄ bridegroom/man who is being married►, and I am like his friend. The friend of the bridegroom stands there and waits for him to come. That friend is very happy when he hears the bridegroom's voice when he arrives. Similarly, I am very happy about what you have told me.