John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message.

约翰是点着的明灯，你们情愿暂时喜欢他的光。

约翰是点亮的明灯，你们情愿因他的光欢欣一时。

约翰是点亮的明灯，你们情愿因他的光欢欣一时。

约翰是一盏点亮的明灯，你们情愿暂时享受他的光。

约翰是一盏点亮的灯，你们情愿暂时在他的光中欢乐。

约翰是一盏燃烧发光的灯，你们情愿在他的光里快乐一时。

約翰是點着的明燈，你們情願暫時喜歡他的光。

約翰是點亮的明燈，你們情願因他的光歡欣一時。

約翰是點亮的明燈，你們情願因他的光歡欣一時。

約翰是一盞點亮的明燈，你們情願暫時享受他的光。

約翰是一盞點亮的燈，你們情願暫時在他的光中歡樂。

那個人是點𤏲而發亮的燈，你們情願暫時以他的光為歡樂。

約翰是一盞燃燒發光的燈，你們情願在他的光裡快樂一時。

彼乃燈、燃且明也、爾暫喜其光、

約翰乃燃明之燈、爾暫喜其光、○

約翰為燃明之燈、爾暫喜其光、

如望乃輝煌之明燈、爾等亦曾瞻仰其光、而極一時之樂矣。

John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.

John was like a lamp that burned and gave light. For a while you chose to enjoy his light.

He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.

John was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.

He was the lamp that was burning and shining, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.

He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.

He was the lamp that burneth and shineth; and ye were willing to rejoice for a season in his light.

John was a burning and shining lamp, and for a time you were willing to enjoy his light.

He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.

He was a lamp that was burning and shining, and you wanted to rejoice greatly for a short time in his light.

He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.

Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place— until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts.

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.

Where is that joyful and grateful spirit you felt then? I am sure you would have taken out your own eyes and given them to me if it had been possible.Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth?

“ And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord.You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins.

But if we say it was merely human, we’ll be mobbed because the people believe John was a prophet.”

At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him.

People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John.And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them.“ You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed.“ Who warned you to flee the coming wrath?

The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.

to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony.John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light.

for Herod respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected him. Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him.

for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God.He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”

So my people come pretending to be sincere and sit before you. They listen to your words, but they have no intention of doing what you say. Their mouths are full of lustful words, and their hearts seek only after money.

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!”

“ 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!