28. The last testimony of St. John about the Lord.

In. 3, 22-36.

After this, the Lord Jesus came with His disciples to the land of Judea, and there He lived with them and baptized. And John also baptized in Aenon near Salem, because there was plenty of water there; And they came there and were baptized. For John had not yet been locked up in prison.

Then John's disciples had a dispute with the Jews about purification. And they came to him and said to him, "Rabbi! He who was with you at the Jordan, and of whom you testified, behold, he baptizes, and all come to him.

John answered and said, "A man cannot take anything upon himself unless it be given to him from heaven." You yourselves are my witnesses that I have said, I am not the Christ, but I am sent before him. He who has a bride is a bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, standing and listening to him, rejoices with joy when he hears the voice of the bridegroom. This is my joy fulfilled. He must grow, and I must decrease.

He who comes from above is above all; but he who is of the earth is and speaks, as he who is of the earth; He who comes from heaven is above all, and what He has seen and heard, He also bears witness to; and no one accepts His testimony. Whoever received His testimony thereby sealed that God is true. For He whom God sent speaks the Word of God; for God does not give the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not believe in the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.

29. Imprisonment of St. John.

Mf. 14, 3-5;

Mk. 6, 17-20;

Lux. 3, 19-20.

Herod the tetrarch, who was rebuked by John the Baptist for Herodias, his brother's wife, and for all that Herod had done evil, added to everything else that he had imprisoned John. For this Herod, having sent, took John, bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because he had married her; For John said to Herod, It is not lawful for you to have her, your brother's wife.

Herodias, being angry with him for this, wanted to kill him, but could not. And Herod wanted to kill him, but he was afraid of the people, because he was considered a prophet. Herod feared John himself, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man; and he took care of him, and obeying him, he did many things, and listened to him with pleasure.

30. The departure of the Lord to Galilee.

Mf. 4, 12;