Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

Here is the rewritten chapter:

Nicodemus, a Pharisee leader among the Jews, came to Jesus one night. "Rabbi," Nicodemus said, "we know you're a teacher sent from God because no one can perform miracles like yours unless God is with them." Jesus replied, "I'm telling you the truth: unless a person is born again, they cannot see the kingdom of God."

Nicodemus asked, "How can an old man be reborn? Can he go back into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of both water and the Spirit." He explained that what is born from human nature is fleshly, but what is born of the Spirit is spiritual.

Jesus emphasized, "<span class="jesus-words">You must be reborn</span>." The wind blows wherever it pleases, and we hear its sound, but we can't pinpoint where it's coming from or going to. It's the same with people born of the Spirit. Nicodemus was perplexed, asking, "How can these things be?"

Jesus asked him, "You're a teacher in Israel, yet you don't understand these basic truths?" He added, "We speak what we know and testify about what we've seen, but you refuse to accept our witness." Jesus pressed on, saying, "If I tell you earthly things and you don't believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?"

Jesus stated, "No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, namely the Son of Man, who is in heaven now." He compared himself to Moses, who lifted up a serpent in the desert for people to look at and live. Jesus said, "The Son of Man must be lifted up" in the same way.

Jesus promised that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God's love for the world is so great that he gave his one and only Son. This Son was sent into the world not to condemn it, but to save it.

Those who believe in Jesus are not condemned; however, those who do not believe already stand condemned because they reject the name of the one and only Son of God. The reason for this condemnation is that light has come into the world, but people preferred darkness over light because their deeds were evil.

Everyone who practices evil hates the light and avoids it so their wrongdoings won't be exposed. On the other hand, those who do good come to the light so their actions may be seen as done in God's presence. After this conversation, Jesus and his disciples went into Judea, where Jesus stayed with them and baptized.

John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim because there was plenty of water available. People were coming from everywhere to be baptized by John while he was still free. Some of John's followers got into a dispute with the Jews over purification rituals.

They approached John and said, "Rabbi, the man who was with you beyond the Jordan River, to whom you testified, is now baptizing everyone." Jesus' ministry was so powerful that people were leaving John's baptism for it. A person can receive only what God gives them from heaven.

John himself confirmed this by saying he was not the Christ but rather a messenger sent before him. He said, "The one who has the bride is the groom, and I am merely the friend of the groom who stands by his side, rejoicing in his voice." John continued, "My joy is complete because I must decrease, while he increases."

John explained that whoever comes from above, like Jesus, is superior to anyone else. The one who originates from the earth speaks about earthly matters, but the one who comes from heaven speaks about heavenly things. Yet, no one receives his testimony.

However, those who have received John's witness have acknowledged God as true by giving their seal of approval. For the one whom God sends speaks the words of God; God does not give the Spirit to him by measure.

The Father deeply loves the Son and has given all authority to him. Those who believe in the Son will experience eternal life, while those who do not believe in the Son will face God's wrath.