1. The Life Of Christ Lesson Four – The Beginning Of Christ’s Ministry
Jesus’ First Disciples – John 1:35-51
Jesus’ First Miracle – John 2:1-11
Jesus Cleanses the Temple – John 2:13-25
Jesus and Nicodemus – John 3:1-21
John’s Second Testimony – John 3:22-36

2. Jesus and Nicodemus John 3:1-21
How did Jesus respond?
No need for a question, Jesus knows his heart.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
If this was “Jeopardy” and we know the answer, what might the question have been?
Possibly something similar to Luke 18:18 (Luke 18:22)
Evidently Nicodemus thought that because he was a Jew, and more than a Jew, a Pharisee of high public office, there was little left for him to do to associate himself with the coming kingdom. And though he would never have used exactly those words, Jesus saw his vanity and immediately stripped him of his reason for pride by grouping him with all the rest of mankind. What they must do, he must do also. His noble Jewish birth, though no cause for shame, was no advantage for him whatever. A new birth was required. That birth which gave him so much consolation in his
present relationship with God was not to be automatically equated with induction into the heavenly kingdom. This was a “birth from below,” i.e., an earthly and physical birth, whereas Jesus puts forth the requirement of a “birth from above,” totally distinct from his physical beginning. Commentators have often pointed out the extremely close parallel to this saying in Matthew 18:3: “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

3. Jesus and Nicodemus John 3:1-21
“Truly, truly” – the same as saying “amen, amen”. Meaning firm, faithful, assuredly.
“Born again” – from above, anew.
Again, what did his physical birth mean to Nicodemus? What is Jesus saying about his physical birth?

4. Jesus and Nicodemus John 3:1-21
“Born again” –
Jesus’ response must have struck quite a chord with them - it’s not just adding or subtracting something, it’s starting over.
2 Corinthians 5:17 – a new creature.
1 Peter 1:3, 23 – born again by the word.
cf. Matthew 18:3
Matt 18:2-4
And He called a child to Himself and set him 1before them, 3 and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you 1are converted and abecome like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.