John 3 NIV

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Jesus Teaches Nicodemus

1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 

2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.

6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.

7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’

8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

10 “You are Israel’s teacher,”said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things?

11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.

12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?

13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 

14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 

15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

16 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. 

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 

18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 

19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 

20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 

21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

John Testifies Again About Jesus

22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 

23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 

24 (This was before John was put in prison.) 

25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 

26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”

27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 

28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ 

29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 

30 He must become greater; I must become less.”

31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 

32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 

33 Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 

34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 

35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 

36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

In John 3, a Pharisee named Nicodemus visits Jesus Christ at night to ask about His teachings. Jesus explains that no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are “born again.” Nicodemus struggles to understand this, but Jesus teaches that this new birth is spiritual, coming through the Spirit of God rather than physical birth. Jesus reveals God’s love for the world and explains that He was sent to bring salvation, not condemnation. One of the most well-known verses in the Bible appears here: John 3:16, which declares that God gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.

The chapter also compares Jesus to the bronze serpent lifted up by Moses in the wilderness, showing that Jesus would be lifted up to save those who believe in Him. Later in the chapter, John the Baptist speaks about Jesus again. When people notice that many are now following Jesus, John humbly responds that Jesus must increase while he himself must decrease. John testifies that Jesus comes from heaven and speaks the words of God, and that eternal life is found through believing in the Son.

Jesus answered,

🌿 “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

In this verse, Jesus speaks to Nicodemus about a spiritual birth.
He explains that entering the kingdom of God is not only about physical life, knowledge, or religious tradition. A person must be spiritually renewed by God.

To be “born again” means receiving new life through faith in Jesus Christ.
It is a change of the heart and spirit that comes from God.

Just as physical birth begins earthly life, spiritual birth begins a new relationship with God. Through faith, a person is forgiven, renewed, and guided into a life that grows in truth, grace, and faith.

Jesus teaches that the kingdom of God is not reached by human effort alone, but through the work of God within us.

John 3:3 reminds us that faith in Jesus is not only learning about God—it is becoming spiritually renewed and walking in a new life with Him.

Jesus said,
🌿 “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

In this verse, Jesus compares the Holy Spirit to the wind.
We cannot see the wind directly, yet we can feel its presence and see its effects. In the same way, the work of the Holy Spirit is often unseen, but it changes the heart, mind, and life of a person.

The Spirit of God moves beyond human control and understanding.
God works in ways people cannot fully see or predict.

Jesus teaches that spiritual life comes from God, not merely from human effort. A person born of the Spirit begins to grow in faith, truth, and relationship with God through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

This verse also reminds us that God is living and active even when we cannot physically see Him. Just as the wind is real though invisible, the presence of God is real and powerful.

John 3:8 teaches us to trust the work of God even when we do not fully understand how He moves in our lives.

Jesus said,
🌿 “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.”

Jesus was referring to an event in the Old Testament when Moses lifted up a bronze serpent in the wilderness. Those who looked upon it in faith were saved from death. Jesus used this as a picture of His own crucifixion.

“Lifted up” points to Jesus being raised on the cross.
Through His sacrifice, salvation would be offered to the world.

Jesus teaches that eternal life comes through believing in Him. Just as people in the wilderness looked in faith and received life, people today are called to look to Jesus with faith and trust.

This passage reveals God’s grace and love for humanity. Salvation is not earned by human effort alone, but given through faith in Jesus Christ.

John 3:14–15 reminds us that Jesus came to bring life, hope, and salvation to all who believe in Him.