Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're
taking this journey together to read the Bible
in a year. Today's reading is from the Gospel
of John, Chapter 3. There was a man of the Pharisees
named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man
came to Jesus by night and said to him, Rabbi,
we know that you are a teacher come from God,
for no one can do these signs that you do unless
God is with him. Jesus answered and said to him,
Most assuredly, I say to you, Unless one is born
again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus
said to 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, Most assuredly
I say to you, Unless one is born of water and
the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and
that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. Do
not marvel that I said to you, You must be born
again. The wind blows where it wishes, and you
hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it
comes from and where it goes. So is everyone
who is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered
and said to him, How can these things be? Jesus
answered and said to him, Are you the teacher
of Israel and do not know these things? Most
assuredly I say to you, we speak what we know
and testify what we have seen. and you do not
receive our witness. If I have told you earthly
things and you do not believe, how will you believe
if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended
to heaven but he who came down from heaven, that
is, 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 whoever
believes in him should not perish but have eternal
life. For God so loved the world that He gave
His only begotten Son, that whoever believes
in Him should not perish but have everlasting
life. For God did not send His Son into the world
to condemn the world, but that the world through
Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is
not condemned, but he who does not believe is
condemned already, because he has not believed
in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
And this is the condemnation, that the light
has come into the world, and men love darkness
rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
For everyone practicing evil hates the light,
and does not come to the light, lest his deeds
should be exposed. But he who does the truth
comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly
seen, that they have been done in God. After
these things, Jesus and his disciples came into
the land of Judea, and there he remained with
them and baptized. Now John also was baptizing
in Anon near Salim, because there was much water
there. And they came and were baptized, for John
had not yet been thrown into prison. Then there
arose a dispute between some of John's disciples
and the Jews about purification. And they came
to John and said to him, Rabbi, he who was with
you beyond the Jordan, To whom you have testified,
behold, he is baptizing, and all are coming to
him. John answered and said, A man can receive
nothing unless it has been given to him from
heaven. You yourselves bear me witness that I
said, I am not the Christ, but I have been sent
before him. He who has the bride is the bridegroom,
but the friend of the bridegroom who stands and
hears him rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's
voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.
He must increase, but I must decrease. He who
comes from above is above all. He who is of the
earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He
who comes from heaven is above all. And what
he has seen and heard, that he testifies. And
no one receives his testimony. He who has received
his testimony has certified that God is true.
For he whom God has sent speaks the words of
God. For God does not give the spirit by measure.
The Father loves the Son and has given all things
into his hand. He who believes in the Son has
everlasting life, and he who does not believe
the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of
God abides on him. I hope you enjoyed today's
reading as much as I did, and I look forward
to seeing you again tomorrow to continue on our
journey. God bless you and have a great day.