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John 3

John 3 presents life as God’s gift through his Son and insists that entry into his Kingdom requires new birth.

Nicodemus, a Pharisee and Jewish ruler, comes to Jesus at night to speak about the signs Jesus has done. Jesus tells him that entry into God’s Kingdom requires birth by the Spirit. The conversation turns to the Son of Man being lifted up, faith, and judgment. Later, in Judea, John’s disciples raise concerns that people are going to Jesus for baptism. John responds with joy at Jesus’ growing prominence. The chapter closes by declaring the Son’s authority and the stakes of believing in him.

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1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
2He 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, unless God is with him.”
3Jesus answered him, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see God’s Kingdom.”
4Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
5Jesus answered, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and Spirit, he can’t enter into God’s Kingdom.
6That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7Don’t marvel that I said to you, ‘You must all be born anew.’
8The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don’t know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9Nicodemus answered him, “How can these things be?”
10Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and don’t understand these things?
11Most certainly I tell you, we speak that which we know and testify of that which we have seen, and you don’t receive our witness.
12If I told you earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
13No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven.
14As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
15that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
17For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.
18He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only born Son of God.
19This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light, for their works were evil.
20For everyone who does evil hates the light and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed.
21But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.”
22After these things, Jesus came with his disciples into the land of Judea. He stayed there with them and baptized.
23John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came and were baptized;
24for John was not yet thrown into prison.
25Therefore a dispute arose on the part of John’s disciples with some Jews about purification.
26They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, he baptizes, and everyone is coming to him.”
27John answered, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.
28You yourselves testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before him.’
29He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore my joy is made full.
30He must increase, but I must decrease.
31“He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.
32What he has seen and heard, of that he testifies; and no one receives his witness.
33He who has received his witness has set his seal to this, that God is true.
34For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure.
35The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.
36One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
World English BibleRead in NIV in Psalmlog →Highlighted verses are the most connected.
Key verses
John 3:15This verse connects the Son of Man’s being lifted up with the promise of eternal life for whoever believes.
John 3:16God’s love for the world takes concrete form in giving his Son, through whom believers receive eternal life.
John 3:36The closing verse places eternal life and God’s wrath alongside each other, making the response to the Son decisive.
Where this chapter reaches

Romans and 1 John share John 3’s link between God’s love, the sending or giving of his Son, and life through him. Acts shares John’s distinction between his own preparatory role and Jesus’ greater authority, as well as the call to believe in Jesus.

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Notice

After reading the whole chapter

What stands out to you in Jesus’ comparison between the wind and birth by the Spirit?

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How does John’s joy at Jesus’ growing prominence challenge or clarify your view of success?

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Questions people ask about John 3

What does being born again mean in John 3?

Jesus describes a birth brought about by the Spirit, necessary for seeing and entering God’s Kingdom. Nicodemus thinks in terms of another physical birth, so Jesus distinguishes flesh from Spirit. The wind comparison emphasizes that the Spirit’s work is real even though its source and course escape human control.

What does “born of water and Spirit” mean in John 3:5?

Christians differ over whether water refers to baptism, cleansing, or physical birth. The passage does not explain the water image on its own. Its clearest emphasis is that the Spirit brings the birth required for entry into God’s Kingdom; human birth and religious standing cannot supply it.

Why did Nicodemus come to Jesus at night?

John states that Nicodemus came at night but does not give his reason. Fear of being seen is possible, though the text does not confirm it. His opening words recognize Jesus as a teacher sent by God, while his questions show difficulty understanding Jesus’ teaching about new birth.

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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).