John 3:1-15 - A Meeting With Nicodemus

¹ Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, who was a leading man among the Jews. ² This man came to Jesus by night, and said to him: "Rabbi, we know that you are a Teacher come from God; for no one could give such signs as you are giving, unless God were with him."

³ "In truth I tell you," exclaimed Jesus, "unless a man is reborn, he cannot see the Kingdom of God."

⁴ "How can a man," asked Nicodemus, "be born when he is old? Can he be born a second time?"

⁵ "In truth I tell you," answered Jesus, "unless a man owes his birth to Water and Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. ⁶ All that owes its birth to human nature is human, and all that owes its birth to the Spirit is spiritual. ⁷ Do not wonder at my telling you that you all need to be reborn. ⁸ The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes, or where it goes; it is the same with every one that owes his birth to the Spirit."

⁹ "How can that be?" asked Nicodemus.

¹⁰ "What! You a teacher of Israel," exclaimed Jesus, "and yet do not understand this! ¹¹ In truth I tell you that we speak of what we know, and state what we have seen; and yet you do not accept our statements. ¹² If, when I tell you earthly things, you do not believe me, how will you believe me when I tell you of heavenly things? ¹³ No one has ascended to Heaven, except him who descended from Heaven--the Son of Man himself. ¹⁴ And, as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up; ¹⁵ That every one who believes in him may have Immortal Life."