Jesus answered him, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above." 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?" Jesus answered, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ 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." Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?"

John 3:1-17

Nicodemus was a religious person but he did not get the idea of a second birth. Jesus explained the difference between being born of the flesh and being born of the Spirit. Our Christian lives begin when we invite Jesus to live within us. It is a miracle. We are born again!

Natural life came by God’s breath;

eternal life comes by Christ’s death.

Our Daily Bread - November 4, 2004