John

Focuses on the divinity of Jesus, presenting Him as the Word made flesh and emphasizing His miraculous signs.

Chapter 3

1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

*A Pharisee named Nicodemus, who was a Jewish leader, came to Jesus at night.

2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

*A man approached Jesus at night and said, "Teacher, we know you're from God because only someone with God's help could perform the amazing things you do."

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

*Jesus replied, "Absolutely, absolutely, I tell you this: No one can enter God's kingdom unless they are reborn."

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

*Nicodemus asks, "How can someone become new when they're already grown up? Can they go back inside their mom's belly and be born again?"

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

*Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of heaven unless they are born from water and by the Spirit."

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

*What comes from physical life is physical, and what comes from spiritual life is spiritual.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

*Don't be surprised when I tell you that you need to be born again.

8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

*The wind blows wherever it wants, and you hear its sound, but you don't know where it comes from or where it goes. This is like someone who is born from the Spirit.

9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

*Nicodemus asked, "How can this happen?"

10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

*Jesus replied, "If you're a leader in Israel, why don't you know about these things?"

11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.

*Truly, truly, I tell you, we know what we're saying and have seen it ourselves; but you don't accept our testimony.

12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

*If I've shared ordinary matters with you, and you don't believe them, how can you believe me when I talk about spiritual things?

13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

*No one has gone to heaven except the person who came from heaven, which is the Son of Man already there.

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

*Just like Moses raised the snake in the desert, the Son of Man must also be raised up.

15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

*So that anyone who trusts in him won't be lost, but will have everlasting life.

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

*Because God cares about the world, he sent his unique son. If people trust in him, they won't be lost but will have endless life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

*God didn't send his Son to punish the world, but to save it through him.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

*Believing in him means you won't be judged negatively, but if you don't believe, you're already being judged - this is because you haven't trusted in the unique Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

*This means that when light came to the world, people preferred darkness since their actions were wrong.

20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

*People who do bad things don't like light because it shows their actions are wrong. They avoid being in the light so their actions aren't criticized.

21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

*But whoever does what is right comes to the light so people can see his actions are done with God's help.

22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.

*After this, Jesus and his followers went to the region of Judaea. There, he stayed with them and performed baptisms.

23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.

*John baptized people near Aenon by Salim where there was plenty of water. Many people came and got baptized.

24 For John was not yet cast into prison.

*John had not been put in jail yet.

25 Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying.

*Then, there was a disagreement between some of John's followers and the Jewish people about how to become clean.

26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.

*People went to John and asked, "Teacher, the man who was with you by the river and whom you confirmed, is now baptizing others, and everyone is going to him."

27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

*John replied, "A person cannot get anything unless it's given from above."

28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.

*Witness that I stated I'm not the Messiah, but I'm sent ahead of Him.

29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

*The person with the bride is the bridegroom; the friend who stands near and listens to him is very happy because of the bridegroom's voice; so my happiness is now complete.

30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

*He needs to grow more, but I need to shrink.

31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

*Someone coming from above is greater than everyone else; they are not just like those who are only from the Earth, who talk about Earthly things. Someone who comes from Heaven surpasses everyone.

32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.

*And what he saw and heard, he tells; but nobody accepts his testimony.

33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.

*Someone who believes the truth has proven that God is real by showing their trust in it.

34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

*God's messenger speaks God's words because God doesn't give the Spirit in limited amounts to them.

35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

*The Father really loves the Son and has given everything to him to take care of.

36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

*Believing in the Son leads to eternal life, while not believing in the Son results in no life and God's anger remains on that person.

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