Distilling the Bible
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Today’s gospel is proclaimed by our preacher.
John 3:1-17
There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews.
He 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 apart
from the presence of God.” 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?
“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and
testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have
told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I
tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one
who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the
serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever
believes in him may have eternal life.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so
that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn
the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”