John 3:1-16

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!

11I tell you this: We speak about things that we know. We tell you about what we have seen. But even then, you people do not believe our message.

12I have told you about things that happen in this world. And you do not believe me. But now I am telling you about things that happen in heaven. So I do not think that you will ever believe me about those things.

13The Son of Man came down from heaven. Nobody else has gone up to heaven except him.

14Long ago Moses lifted up the metal snake in the wilderness to save his people. In the same way, people must lift up the Son of Man on a cross.

15As a result, everyone who believes him will be able to live for ever with God.

16God loved the people in the world so much that he gave his one and only Son to save them. As a result, everyone who believes in the Son will not die. Instead, they will live for ever with God.’