es, named Nicodemus, ruler of the
Jews; the same came unto him by night, and said to him, "Rabbi, we
know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no one can do these
signs that thou doest, except God be with him."

Jesus answered and said unto him, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except one be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Nicodemus saith unto 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?"

Jesus answered, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born
of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That
which is born of the flesh is flesh: and that which is born of the
Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, 'Ye must be born
anew.' The wind bloweth where it will, and thou hearest the voice
thereof, but knowest not whence it cometh, and whither it goeth; so is
every one that is born of the Spirit."

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, "How can these things be?"

Jesus answered and said unto him, "Art thou the teacher of Israel, and
understandest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We
speak that which we know, and bear witness of that which we have seen;
and ye receive not our witness. If I told you earthly things and ye
believe not, how shall ye believe if I tell you heavenly things? And
no one hath ascended into heaven but he that descended out of heaven,
even the Son of man, who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the
serpent in the wilderness even so must the Son of man be lifted up;
that whosoever believeth may in him have eternal life.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.
For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that
the world should be saved through him. He that believeth on him is not
judged: he that believeth not hath been judged already, because he
hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God. And
this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men
loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil.
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, and cometh not to the
light, lest his works should be reproved. But he that doeth the truth
cometh to the light, that his works may be made manifest, that they
have been wrought in God."

PREPARATORY PREACHING

JESUS BAPTIZING AND PREACHING.