“ Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?”

约翰的洗礼是从天上来的？是从人间来的呢？”

约翰的洗礼是从天上来的，还是从人间来的呢？”

约翰的洗礼是从天上来的，还是从人间来的呢？”

约翰的洗礼是从天上来的还是从人来的？”

约翰的洗礼是从天上来的，还是从人来的呢？”

约翰的洗礼是来自天上，还是来自人间呢？”

約翰的洗禮是從天上來的？是從人間來的呢？」

約翰的洗禮是從天上來的，還是從人間來的呢？」

約翰的洗禮是從天上來的，還是從人間來的呢？」

約翰的洗禮是從天上來的還是從人來的？」

約翰的洗禮是從天上來的，還是從人來的呢？”

約翰的洗禮是由於天呢？還是由於人？』

約翰的洗禮是來自天上，還是來自人間呢？」

約翰之洗、自天乎、自人乎、

約翰施洗、由天乎、由人乎、

約翰之施洗、自天乎、抑自人乎、

如望之洗禮、自天乎？抑自人乎？』

John’s baptism— was it from heaven, or of human origin?”

was John’s baptism from heaven? Or did it come from people?”

was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?”

was the baptism of John from heaven or of human origin?”

Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?”

The baptism of John— was it from heaven or from men?”

The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men?

was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?”

The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?

John’s baptism– was it from heaven or from people?”

the baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men?”

As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds.“ What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind?Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people with expensive clothes live in palaces.Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet.John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say,‘ Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way before you.’“ I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is!And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it.For before John came, all the prophets and the law of Moses looked forward to this present time.And if you are willing to accept what I say, he is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come.Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!“ To what can I compare this generation? It is like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends,‘ We played wedding songs, and you didn’t dance, so we played funeral songs, and you didn’t mourn.’For John didn’t spend his time eating and drinking, and you say,‘ He’s possessed by a demon.’The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say,‘ He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.”

I will go home to my father and say,“ Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you,

God sent a man, John the Baptist,

Jesus replied,“ Elijah is indeed coming first to get everything ready.But I tell you, Elijah has already come, but he wasn’t recognized, and they chose to abuse him. And in the same way they will also make the Son of Man suffer.”

“ Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?” They talked it over among themselves.“ If we say it was from heaven, he will ask us why we didn’t believe John.But if we say it was merely human, we’ll be mobbed because the people believe John was a prophet.”So they finally replied,“ We don’t know.” And Jesus responded,“ Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things.“ But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy,‘ Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’The son answered,‘ No, I won’t go,’ but later he changed his mind and went anyway.Then the father told the other son,‘ You go,’ and he said,‘ Yes, sir, I will.’ But he didn’t go.“ Which of the two obeyed his father?” They replied,“ The first.” Then Jesus explained his meaning:“ I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do.For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins.

You will be driven from human society, and you will live in the fields with the wild animals. You will eat grass like a cow, and you will be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.But the stump and roots of the tree were left in the ground. This means that you will receive your kingdom back again when you have learned that heaven rules.

I tell you, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of God is greater than he is!”When they heard this, all the people— even the tax collectors— agreed that God’s way was right, for they had been baptized by John.But the Pharisees and experts in religious law rejected God’s plan for them, for they had refused John’s baptism.“ To what can I compare the people of this generation?” Jesus asked.“ How can I describe them?They are like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends,‘ We played wedding songs, and you didn’t dance, so we played funeral songs, and you didn’t weep.’For John the Baptist didn’t spend his time eating bread or drinking wine, and you say,‘ He’s possessed by a demon.’The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say,‘ He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.”

This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John,“ Who are you?”He came right out and said,“ I am not the Messiah.”“ Well then, who are you?” they asked.“ Are you Elijah?”“ No,” he replied.“ Are you the Prophet we are expecting?”“ No.”“ Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?”John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah:“ I am a voice shouting in the wilderness,‘ Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’”Then the Pharisees who had been sentasked him,“ If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?”John told them,“ I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize.Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.”This encounter took place in Bethany, an area east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.