Jesus and Nicodemus

1There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2The same came to Jesus by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3Jesus answered and said to him, Verily, verily, I say to thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4Nicodemus saith to him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say to thee, Except a man be born of water, and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh, is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit, is spirit. 7Marvel not that I said to thee, Ye must be born again. 8The wind bloweth where it will, and thou hearest the sound of it, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

9Nicodemus answered and said to him, How can these things be? 10Jesus answered and said to him, Art thou a teacher of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11Verily, verily, I say to thee, We speak what we know, and testify what we have seen; and ye receive not our testimony. 12If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how will ye believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13And no man hath ascended to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man who is in heaven. 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15That whoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

For God So Loved

(Genesis 22:1-10; Romans 5:6-11)

16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him may be saved. 18He that believeth on him, is not condemned: but he that believeth not, is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. 19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men have loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21But he that doeth truth, cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

John's Testimony Concerning Jesus

22After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. 23And John also was baptizing in Enon, near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. 24For John was not yet cast into prison.

25Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews, about purifying. 26And they came to John, and said to him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou didst bear testimony, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. 27John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. 28Ye yourselves bear me testimony, that I said I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. 29He that hath the bride, is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, who standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly, because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. 30He must increase, but I must decrease.

31He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. 32And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. 33He that hath received his testimony, hath set to his seal that God is true. 34For he whom God hath sent, speaketh the words of God: for to him God giveth not the Spirit by measure. 35The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. 36He that believeth on the Son, hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.