Jesus Met Nicodemus
John 3:1-21
Jesus had traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. One night, a religious man came to see Jesus. The man’s name was Nicodemus (NIK uh DEE muhs). Nicodemus was a Pharisee. He studied and taught God’s law, and he tried very hard to obey the law. Nicodemus wanted to know more about Jesus. “Rabbi (RAB igh),” he said, “we know that You have come from God. You are a teacher, and no one could do the miracles You do unless God is with him.” Nicodemus had that right. Jesus said, “I tell you: Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Now Nicodemus was confused. He thought that keeping all God’s laws was how a person got into heaven. Besides, what Jesus said didn’t make any sense! “How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. Jesus said, “A man cannot enter God’s kingdom unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.” When a baby is born, he gets physical life from his parents. Physical life doesn’t last forever. But the Spirit gives people spiritual life so they can live with God forever. Jesus said, “Don’t be surprised I told you that you must be born again.” Nicodemus still didn’t understand. “How is this possible?” he asked. Jesus replied, “We talk about what we know, and we tell others about what we have seen. But you don’t believe what I’m telling you! When you don’t believe what I say about things I’ve seen on earth, how will you believe what I say about the things I’ve seen in heaven? “No one has ever gone up into heaven, except the Son of Man. He came down from heaven. Do you remember how Moses raised up the bronze snake in the wilderness? Everyone who looked at it was healed. Like that, the Son of Man will be raised up, so that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life.” Then Jesus told Nicodemus about God’s great plan. Jesus said, “God showed His love in this way: He sent His One and Only Son to save the world. Everyone who believes in Him will not perish but will have eternal life. “God didn’t send His Son to declare the world guilty, but to save the world. Anyone who believes in Him is found not guilty, but anyone who does not believe in Him is guilty already.”
Christ Connection: Nicodemus needed new life—eternal life—but he could not do anything to earn it. Eternal life is a gift that comes only from God. God showed His love in this way: He sent His One and Only Son to save the world. Everyone who believes in Him will not perish but will have eternal life.
**This is a Lifeway Lesson**
John 3:1-21
Jesus had traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. One night, a religious man came to see Jesus. The man’s name was Nicodemus (NIK uh DEE muhs). Nicodemus was a Pharisee. He studied and taught God’s law, and he tried very hard to obey the law. Nicodemus wanted to know more about Jesus. “Rabbi (RAB igh),” he said, “we know that You have come from God. You are a teacher, and no one could do the miracles You do unless God is with him.” Nicodemus had that right. Jesus said, “I tell you: Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Now Nicodemus was confused. He thought that keeping all God’s laws was how a person got into heaven. Besides, what Jesus said didn’t make any sense! “How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. Jesus said, “A man cannot enter God’s kingdom unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.” When a baby is born, he gets physical life from his parents. Physical life doesn’t last forever. But the Spirit gives people spiritual life so they can live with God forever. Jesus said, “Don’t be surprised I told you that you must be born again.” Nicodemus still didn’t understand. “How is this possible?” he asked. Jesus replied, “We talk about what we know, and we tell others about what we have seen. But you don’t believe what I’m telling you! When you don’t believe what I say about things I’ve seen on earth, how will you believe what I say about the things I’ve seen in heaven? “No one has ever gone up into heaven, except the Son of Man. He came down from heaven. Do you remember how Moses raised up the bronze snake in the wilderness? Everyone who looked at it was healed. Like that, the Son of Man will be raised up, so that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life.” Then Jesus told Nicodemus about God’s great plan. Jesus said, “God showed His love in this way: He sent His One and Only Son to save the world. Everyone who believes in Him will not perish but will have eternal life. “God didn’t send His Son to declare the world guilty, but to save the world. Anyone who believes in Him is found not guilty, but anyone who does not believe in Him is guilty already.”
Christ Connection: Nicodemus needed new life—eternal life—but he could not do anything to earn it. Eternal life is a gift that comes only from God. God showed His love in this way: He sent His One and Only Son to save the world. Everyone who believes in Him will not perish but will have eternal life.
**This is a Lifeway Lesson**