Born Again
He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with him.” John 3:2 · Berean Standard Bible
He came to Jesus at night and said, 'Rabbi, we know You're a teacher sent from God. No one could do the miracles You do unless God were with them.'
He came at night — maybe afraid, maybe curious, maybe both. But he came. And that's what matters. Sometimes the bravest step is the first one.
Nicodemus approaches Jesus with a compliment that reveals both respect and limited understanding.
Under cover of darkness, a powerful man sought out an itinerant teacher. He couldn't explain the pull he felt, but something told him Jesus had answers he desperately needed.
Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night and acknowledges Him as a teacher from God, citing the signs as evidence that God is with Him.
Coming 'at night' (nyktos) carries symbolic weight in John, where darkness represents spiritual blindness or hiddenness (cf. 13:30, 19:39). Nicodemus approaches in darkness — physically and spiritually.
Nicodemus approaches Jesus at night and makes a respectful opening statement.
The nighttime visit may reflect fear of peer disapproval or simply John's symbolic use of darkness. Nicodemus recognizes Jesus' divine authorization through signs but has not yet grasped His true identity.
1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews.
2He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with him.”
3Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
4“How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time to be born?”
Read all of John 3 — A religious leader comes at night with questions he can't ask in daylight. The conversation contains the most quoted verse in history.
This page covers one. BibleKey does all 31,102 — tap any verse for its meaning, any word for its Hebrew or Greek root, and keep reading without leaving the chapter.
Not just the famous ones. BibleKey is free on iPhone and iPad.
Download on the App StoreFree on iPhone & iPad