*John 3:1-21
Nicodemus, a Pharisee, visits Jesus at night to discuss spiritual rebirth and being born again.
- Nicodemus’ Visit:
- The passage begins with Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews, coming to Jesus at night.
- He acknowledges Jesus as a teacher who has come from God, recognizing His signs and wonders.
- New Birth Teaching:
- Jesus responds by telling Nicodemus, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
- Nicodemus is puzzled, asking how one can be born again when they are old, wondering if they can enter their mother’s womb a second time.
- Born of Water and Spirit:
- Jesus elaborates, explaining that being born again involves being born of water and the Spirit, emphasizing the need for spiritual regeneration.
- Spiritual Blindness:
- Jesus highlights Nicodemus’ failure to understand heavenly things, despite his position as a teacher of Israel.
- He contrasts earthly things with heavenly things, emphasizing the need for spiritual insight to comprehend the kingdom of God.
- The Son of Man’s Mission:
- Jesus speaks of Himself as the Son of Man, sent by God to bring salvation to the world.
- He draws a parallel with Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness, symbolizing His own impending crucifixion for the salvation of humanity.
- God’s Love and Salvation:
- Jesus declares, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
- He emphasizes that God’s purpose is not to condemn the world but to save it through faith in Jesus.
- Light and Darkness:
- Jesus explains that those who believe in Him are not condemned, but those who do not believe are condemned already because they prefer darkness over light.
- Response to the Light:
- Jesus concludes by stating that those who do what is true come to the light, so their deeds may be clearly seen as being done in God.
3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
3:9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 3:10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 3:11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
3:12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.