He Must Increase

John 3:22–36 (NKJV)

22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. 24 For John had not yet been thrown into prison.
25 Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!”

John 3:22-26

Jesus’ public ministry has begun, and He goes about the work for which the Father sent Him. This alarms the disciples of John, who saw him as their spiritual leader, and the beginnings of a turf war appear in their emotional response…