John 3:1-16

Bible Text

[1] Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. [2] The same came to him by night, and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him." [3] Jesus answered him, "Most assuredly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can't see the Kingdom of God." [4] Nicodemus 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?" [5] Jesus answered, "Most assuredly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can't enter into the Kingdom of God! [6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. [7] Don't marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born anew.' [8] The 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." [9] Nicodemus answered him, "How can these things be?" [10] Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and don't understand these things? [11] Most assuredly I tell you, we speak that which we know, and testify of that which we have seen, and you don't receive our witness. [12] If I told you earthly things and you don't believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? [13] No one has ascended into heaven, but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven. [14] As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, [15] that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. [16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Jerusalem was the center of Jewish worship and leadership, where Nicodemus, a Pharisee, encountered Jesus. Judea and the Jordan region frame Jesus’ early ministry of baptism and discipleship, highlighting the public setting in which God’s saving work was being revealed.

Places in this passage

John 3:1-16 mentions Jerusalem, Jordan and Judea.

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