*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.
John 3:1-21 teaches us that having a relationship with God isn’t about rules—it’s about being born again through faith in Jesus. Nicodemus, a religious leader, came to Jesus with questions, and Jesus explained that true life comes from believing in Him. This reminds us that no matter who we are, we all need Jesus. God loves us so much that He sent His Son to save us, and when we trust in Him, we receive eternal life. Our faith should not just be about knowing facts but about truly following Jesus with our hearts.
John 3:1-21 (WEB)
3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.”3 Jesus answered him, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see God’s Kingdom.”4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”5 Jesus answered, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and Spirit, he can’t enter into God’s Kingdom. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Don’t marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’ 8 The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don’t know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”9 Nicodemus answered him, “How can these things be?”10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and don’t understand these things? 11 Most certainly I tell you, we speak that which we know and testify of that which we have seen, and you don’t receive our witness. 12 If I told you earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven. 14 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. 18 He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only born Son of God. 19 This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light, for their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the light and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.”