John 3:1-10

1There was a Pharisee called Nicodemus. He was one of the Jewish leaders.

2He came to speak with Jesus at night. He said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, we know that God has sent you to us. We have seen the miracles that you are doing. Nobody could do these things unless God was with him.’

3Jesus replied, ‘I tell you this: Unless a person is born from above, they cannot understand the kingdom of God.’

4Nicodemus asked, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot return into his mother's body. He cannot be born a second time.’

5Jesus explained, ‘I tell you this: Unless a person is born by water and by God's Spirit, he cannot come into the kingdom of God.

6People give birth to what is human. But God's Spirit gives birth to spirit.

7I said to you, “You must be born from above.” What I said should not surprise you.

8When someone is born by God's Spirit, it is like the wind that blows. The wind blows wherever it chooses to blow. You can hear it. But you do not know where it came from or where it is going.’

9Nicodemus asked, ‘How can this happen?’

10Jesus replied, ‘You are an important teacher of people in Israel. You ought to understand these things!