In the Night
Opening Prayer
Jesus, help me to relate today’s Bible passage to my own life. Let me be open to the opportunity to be with You.
Read John 3:1–21
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What would you ask Jesus if you could have an exclusive interview with him like Nicodemus did?While Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Passover he did more than cleanse the Temple (2:23). In the light of the many miracles, Nicodemus, a Pharisee, comes to meet Jesus for himself. Why do you suppose he comes at night (2)? Is it so that no other Pharisees will see him? Or is it because he hopes to have more one-on-one time with Jesus now that the crowds have gone home?
As is often the case in John’s Gospel, Jesus says one thing but Nicodemus hears something else (3,4). Perhaps John wants to remind us that Jesus often does the unexpected. We need to give careful thought to his words and not take them at face value.
Here we find the verse which is probably the best known and most quoted in Scripture. John 3:16 is often referred to as an “invitation,” and yet “God so loved the world that…” is not a question. John once again shows Jesus turning a question (4) into a teaching opportunity as he gives the Pharisee a summary of the Gospel message.
What happens to Nicodemus? He fades from the scene, perhaps to deliberate what he heard. Yet we know that he later became deeply committed to Jesus (19:38–40).
Apply
Say aloud: “God so loved me, that if I believe in Jesus I will have eternal life.” That’s a declaration—you need only believe.
Closing prayer
Thank you, God, for so loving me. Help me to understand how deep Your love is for me today.
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