Nicodemus would’ve loved AI search.
That’s because he was a curious skeptic with big questions, but didn’t want anyone to know he was asking. So he waited until dark and met Jesus alone.
If you’re curious about who Jesus is, whether He can be trusted, or what believing in Him would mean for your life, this story is for you. We’ll walk through their strange conversation, explain what Jesus meant by “born again,” and put John 3:16 back in its original context.
Nicodemus’ question remains one that every curious person eventually has to answer: Who is Jesus, and what am I going to do with Him?
Where Is the Story of Jesus and Nicodemus in the Bible?
The conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus is found in John 3:1-21 in the Gospel of John, one of four New Testament accounts of Jesus Christ’s life.
Nicodemus appears twice more in John. He speaks up during an argument about Jesus in John 7:45-52, then helps prepare Jesus’ body for burial in John 19:38-42.
Who Was Nicodemus in the Bible?
Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a respected religious teacher, and a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council in Jerusalem. In other words, he knew Scripture, understood Jewish law, and was used to being the person with the answers.
John never directly calls Nicodemus a disciple. Instead, we watch him move from questioning Jesus privately to associating himself with Jesus when doing so could cost him.
What Happens When Nicodemus Visits Jesus?
- A man named Nicodemus, a Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling body in Jerusalem, visits Jesus at night.
- He calls Jesus a teacher from God because of the miracles Jesus has performed.
- Jesus tells Nicodemus that no one can see God’s kingdom unless they are “born again.”
- Nicodemus takes the phrase literally and asks how an adult could return to their mother’s womb and be born a second time.
- Jesus explains that this spiritual rebirth, or new birth, comes through God’s Spirit.
- Jesus points to the Old Testament story of Moses lifting up a bronze snake to save people bitten by venomous snakes.
- Jesus explains that God loves the world and gives eternal life to whoever believes in His Son.
What’s the Main Point of the Story of Jesus and Nicodemus?
Nicodemus comes to Jesus trying to figure out who He is. Jesus tells him that recognizing a great teacher isn’t enough. Nicodemus needs to be “born again,” receiving a new life that only God can give.
That invitation isn’t just for Nicodemus. God sent Jesus because He loves the world, and anyone can receive this life by believing in Him.
Why Did Nicodemus Visit Jesus at Night?
Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a respected religious teacher, and a leader of the Jews. His status makes the nighttime visit seem a little suspicious, like two spies sharing intel. But it’s wise to slow down before jumping to conclusions.
John never tells us why he came at night. Maybe Nicodemus was embarrassed—after all, it can be hard to ask questions when your job is to have all the answers. If he lived today, he might’ve searched for answers with AI to avoid telling others he was confused. Or maybe nighttime simply gave them time to talk after the workday was over.
What we do know is that the author, John, uses light and darkness throughout the book as a metaphor. Light represents awareness of who Jesus is, and a lifestyle oriented around His life and love. Darkness represents the opposite: an ignorance of who Jesus is.
So we don’t know for sure why Nicodemus showed up at night, but it’s quite possible that John recorded that detail to show that Nicodemus was living in spiritual darkness—and that this conversation was his opportunity to see the light.
Why Did Jesus Tell Nicodemus He Must Be Born Again?
Jesus tells Nicodemus he must be born again because knowing a lot about God isn’t the same as receiving new life from God. Even Nicodemus, a respected religious teacher, needs God’s Spirit to change him.
This part feels a bit awkward. Nicodemus has barely started the conversation when Jesus says, “No one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again” (John 3:3 NIV).
Nicodemus, probably feeling confusion and concern for Jesus’ sanity, responds the way you might expect: “How can someone be born when they are old?” (John 3:4).
Jesus explains that there’s a new kind of life that comes from God’s Spirit. You can’t see the Spirit or control Him, but you can see His impact everywhere. And when someone experiences the Holy Spirit, they begin to change into someone who lives and loves like Jesus.
Nicodemus can’t study, achieve, or religious-leader his way into new life. God has to do something new in him.
Here’s the point: Nicodemus can’t study, achieve, or religious-leader his way into this new life. God has to do something new in him. But Jesus makes it clear that He’s not teaching something new. Jesus is surprised that “Israel’s teacher” doesn’t understand (John 3:10).
What’s the Context of John 3:16?
As we get closer to John 3:16, the conversation keeps getting weirder. Jesus points to an obscure, odd Bible story in Numbers 21, in which people were dying from poisonous snakes. God’s solution was for a man named Moses to make a bronze snake statue and have it lifted it up high—then anyone who looked at it would be saved from the snakes.
I warned you it was weird. But it wasn’t weird to Nicodemus. To him, it was a well-known story he’d likely taught many times before. So where we see an odd tangent, Nicodemus saw Jesus grounding the conversation in a shared story, kind of like a pastor using a movie reference to make a point in a sermon.
So what’s Jesus getting at? Jesus said the Son of Man would also be “lifted up,” pointing ahead to His death on the cross. Then comes the one verse Christians have printed, painted, tattooed, and posted more than any other:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 NIV
It’s always struck me as odd that this verse wasn’t preached to a crowd, but spoken to one skeptical person asking questions in the dark.
What does John 3:16 Mean?
John 3:16 means that God loves humanity and sent Jesus Christ as our Savior. Anyone who trusts Him can receive salvation and eternal life. And eternal life, as Jesus describes it, isn’t just living forever somewhere in the clouds. It’s a new kind of life with God that begins now and continues beyond death.
Eternal life isn’t just living forever somewhere in the clouds. It’s a new kind of life with God that begins now and continues beyond death.
This is where Jesus has been leading Nicodemus all along. Nicodemus came trying to figure out who Jesus was. Now Jesus gives him an answer: He is the Son sent by God the Father to save the world.
Nicodemus can’t study his way into this new life; believing means more than recognizing Jesus as a rabbi or teacher. He has to decide to trust Him as the Christ, the One who saves—the One he’s been waiting for all his life.
John doesn’t tell us how Nicodemus responds that night. The conversation simply ends, leaving Nicodemus and us with that choice.
What Did Jesus Say Next to Nicodemus?
Jesus goes on to explain why God sent Him: “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:17).
Then Jesus returns to the picture of light and darkness. Light has come into the world, but some people avoid it because they don’t want their lives exposed. Others step into the light and let the truth be seen (John 3:19-21).
This brings us back to when this conversation took place, at night. Nicodemus knew more than most about the Bible, and probably would’ve thought of himself as “living in the light.” But Jesus disrupted his worldview, and revealed that knowledge alone isn’t the path to new life.
That gave Nicodemus something to think about as their nighttime conversation ended. He came to Jesus in the dark. Now he had to decide whether he would step into the light.
Nicodemus’ Story Doesn’t End That Night
After this nighttime visit to ask questions, Nicodemus appears two more times in the Gospel of John. First he reminds the other religious leaders that Jewish law requires hearing someone before judging them. Then, after Jesus’ crucifixion, he joins Joseph of Arimathea in preparing Jesus’ body for burial, bringing about 75 pounds of spices.
John never gives us a dramatic conversion speech. He gives us a man who first came to Jesus in the dark and then gradually became willing to be seen as standing with Him.
Following your questions wherever they lead can take courage. If you need help taking your own next step, try one of these prayers for strength.
What Does the Story of Nicodemus Show Us About Jesus?
- Jesus is more than a teacher. Nicodemus calls Him a teacher from God. Jesus describes Himself as the Son whom God the Father sent to save the world.
- Jesus gives us new life. The eternal life Jesus offers begins now, comes from God’s Spirit, and continues beyond death.
- Jesus takes our questions seriously. He challenges Nicodemus, keeps explaining when he’s confused, and gives him the truth he came looking for.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jesus and Nicodemus
Why Did Nicodemus Visit Jesus at Night?
John never gives one clear reason. Nicodemus may have wanted privacy or feared how other religious leaders would respond. Night also fits John’s use of darkness as a picture of confusion. Nicodemus came, and Jesus talked with him.
What Did Jesus Mean by ‘Born Again’?
Jesus was describing new spiritual life that comes from God’s Spirit. Nicodemus’ religious knowledge could not produce that life for him. The phrase deserves a fuller explanation, but in this story Jesus is telling Nicodemus that he needs God to make him new.
Why Did Jesus Mention Moses and the Bronze Snake?
Jesus used a story Nicodemus knew from Numbers 21. Israelites who looked at the bronze snake Moses lifted up were saved from death. Jesus said He would also be lifted up, pointing to the cross and the eternal life available to those who trust Him.
Did Nicodemus Become a Follower of Jesus?
John never directly says that Nicodemus became a disciple. His later actions point toward growing faith. He defended Jesus’ right to be heard, then helped prepare His body for burial. John lets Nicodemus’ choices speak.
Nicodemus isn’t the only person in John’s gospel who has a surprising conversation with Jesus. Next, explore the story of Jesus and the woman at the well.