(John 3:1-17) Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of
the Jews.
{2} He came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that
you are a
teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that
you do apart
from the presence of God." {3} Jesus answered him, "Very truly, I
tell you, no
one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above." {4}
Nicodemus
said to him, "How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can
one enter a
second time into the mother's womb and be born?" {5} Jesus
answered, "Very
truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without
being born of
water and Spirit. {6} What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what
is born of
the Spirit is spirit. {7} Do not be astonished that I said to you,
'You must
be born from above.' {8} The wind blows where it chooses, and you
hear the
sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it
goes. So it
is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." {9} Nicodemus said to
him, "How
can these things be?" {10} Jesus answered him, "Are you a teacher
of Israel,
and yet you do not understand these things? {11} "Very truly, I
tell you, we
speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do
not receive
our testimony. {12} If I have told you about earthly things and you
do not
believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?
{13} No one
has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven,
the Son of
Man. {14} And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the
wilderness, so must
the Son of Man be lifted up, {15} that whoever believes in him may
have
eternal life. {16} "For God so loved the world that he gave his
only Son, so
that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have
eternal life.
{17} "Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn
the world,
but in order that the world might be saved through him.