Reading for Febraury 8th

 Read John 3.22-30. In 3.22-30: The witness of John reintroduced. (compare 1.6-8, 15, 19-34, 36). In verse 22: Jesus travels with his disciples. Here (and in 3.26; 4.1) Jesus baptizes; this is qualified in 4.2. In verse 23: Aenon near Salim is an uncertain location in the Judean countryside. In verse 24: That John was not yet in prison contradicts Mk 1.14. In verse 25: Baptism introduces a dispute about purification between the disciples of John (see 1.35, 37) and a Jew, or perhaps the Jews. In verse 26: Testified: See 1.19-34, 3536. The report suggest that the crowds have turned from John to Jesus. The dispute about purification apparently causes Jesus to leave the area (v.1-3). In verse 27: John's word resemble Jesus' response to Pilate (19.11). In verses 29-30: Bride and bridegroom imagery is common in the Hebrew Scriptures and elsewhere in the New Testament (Isa 62.5; Jer 2.2; Hos 2.16-20; Mk 2.19-20; Rev 19.6-8; 21.9-10). The friend is the best man whose joy is fulfilled (see 15.11; 16.24; 17.13; 1 Jn 1.4; 2 Jn 12) by seeing the bridegroom hold central place. Comments or Questions..