Jesus and Nicodemus

Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews, comes to Jesus by night: “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God.” Jesus gets right to the point: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus does not understand: how can a man be born when he is old? Jesus explains that one must be born of water and of the Spirit; like the wind, which you hear without knowing where it comes from or where it goes, the Spirit moves freely. He is surprised that the teacher of Israel does not know these things. Then he foretells his cross: as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, the Son of man must be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son…” Later, Nicodemus will defend Jesus before the Pharisees, then bring myrrh and aloes for his burial.