Born Again: Jesus Explains New Life to Nicodemus (John 3:1–21)
Have you ever wondered what it means to be “born again”? In John chapter 3, Jesus has a quiet conversation with a man named Nicodemus, and He explains something that has changed millions of lives ever since.
Let’s look at how it all happened and what it means for us today.
A Curious Visitor at Night
Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a religious teacher, and a leader among the Jewish people. He had studied the Scriptures his whole life. But something about Jesus made him curious. So one night, he came to speak with Jesus in private.
He said, “Rabbi, we know you’re a teacher who has come from God. No one could do the things you do unless God was with him.”
Nicodemus was respectful. He recognized there was something different about Jesus—but he didn’t fully understand who Jesus really was.
You Must Be Born Again
Right away, Jesus told Nicodemus something surprising:
“No one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
This confused Nicodemus. “How can someone be born when they are old?” he asked. “Can they go back into their mother’s womb?”
Jesus explained that He wasn’t talking about physical birth, but spiritual birth—being born of water and the Spirit. In other words, to truly follow God, we need more than just knowledge or good behavior. We need a new heart and a new life that only God can give.
Heavenly Things for a Seeking Heart
Nicodemus still didn’t fully understand, and Jesus gently reminded him that even teachers like him needed help seeing the bigger picture. Then Jesus talked about a story Nicodemus would have known well: when Moses lifted up a bronze snake in the desert so that people could be healed.
Jesus said something amazing:
“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in Him.”
He was talking about His future death on the cross.
God’s Great Love for the World
Then came one of the most well-known verses in the Bible:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Jesus made it clear that He didn’t come to judge the world, but to save it. Anyone who believes in Him receives eternal life. But those who reject Him choose to stay in the dark, away from God’s light and love.
The Light Has Come
Jesus explained that He is the light, and people often avoid the light because they don’t want to face the truth about their actions. But those who want to live in truth will come into the light, showing that they belong to God.
What This Means for Us
This conversation with Nicodemus shows us a few important things:
- Faith, not just knowledge, is what matters. Even smart, religious people need to be born again through trust in Jesus.
- Jesus came to save us. He offers new life, not because we earn it, but because He loves us.
- We’re invited into the light. God wants us to walk in truth and live lives that reflect His love.
Nicodemus came to Jesus with questions in the dark of night. Jesus gave him answers that shine with hope and life. The same offer is still open to us today—new life, a fresh start, and a love that never ends.
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.”