"“A man can receive nothing,” he said, “except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before Him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him; rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.” [ John 3:27-30 .] GW 56.1"
"John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease."
Ellen White directly references John 3:27-30 in this passage.
"Looking in faith to the Redeemer, John had risen to the height of self-abnegation. He sought not to attract men to himself, but to lift their thoughts higher and still higher, until they should rest upon the Lamb of God. He himself had been only a voice, a cry in the wilderness. Now with joy he accepted silence and obscurity, that the eyes of all might be turned to the Light of life. GW 56.2"
"He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias."
The phrase "a voice, a cry in the wilderness" directly alludes to John the Baptist's self-description in the Gospel of John.
"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
The EGW passage directly references John pointing people to the Lamb of God, echoing the sentiment and purpose of John 1:29.
"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."
The EGW passage speaks of John's self-abnegation, which aligns with the principle of self-denial taught in Matthew 16:24. John's actions exemplify this principle.
"Those who are true to their calling as messengers of God, will not seek honor for themselves. Love for self will be swallowed up in love for Christ. They will recognize that it is their work to proclaim, as did John the Baptist, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” [ John 1:29 .] GW 56.3"
"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
Ellen White directly references John 1:29 in this passage.
"The soul of the prophet, emptied of self, was filled with the light of the Divine. In words that were almost a counterpart of the words of Christ Himself, he bore witness to the Saviour's glory. “He that cometh from above,” he said, “is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: He that cometh from heaven is above all.” “For He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God.” [ John 3:31, 34 .] GW 56.4"
"He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all."
The EGW passage directly quotes John 3:31, making it an explicit allusion.
"For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him."
The EGW passage directly quotes John 3:34, making it an explicit allusion.