During the night, Nicodemus went to see Jesus. He told Jesus "We know that You are a teacher sent from God." Nicodemus asked Jesus "What do I have to do to see the kingdom of heaven?"
Jesus told him that one has to be born again to see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus asked how anyone could be born when they were old… Could he go back into his mother and be born again?
Vs. 5 {Today’s scripture} Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” Jesus told Nicodemus that the wind blows, and you can hear it, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it goes. You can't see it. Jesus said it is the same as being born of the Spirit. Nicodemus asked how can this be?
Jesus told Nicodemus that "You are a ‘teacher of Israel’, so why don't you know these things?" (vs. 10) Jesus said that He is telling people about God, but Nicodemus didn't believe it. Jesus told Nicodemus that in verse 12: “If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?”
Jesus told him that vs. 15 “Whoever believes in Me should not perish but have eternal life” because God loves the world and wants everyone to go to heaven. He sent Jesus so everyone could be saved. By believing in God and wanting to go to heaven, we need to study the Bible and see what God wants us to do, that includes being baptized and living faithfully.
Later, after Jesus’ trial, Nicodemus will stand up for Jesus. (John 19:39)
This is easy for the students to understand baptism by comparison. There is a completed teacher's visual (which can be used with the students if you prefer not to cut & glue) with directions to use. There is a discussion outline includes also.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982
by Thomas Nelson.
There are only four visuals available, and two have the option of the sky removed so they are a cleaner picture to print. The pictures to color are included in the same file. Click here to download.
Hey Debbie, what a wonderful web site! I am searching for the lyrics and music for a song I heard in Sunday School over 60 years ago! It's about Nicodemus...... "Nicodemus came at night ... to learn the way that's right.. He asked the Son of man what he must do.... These words were said to him, 'You must be born again.... by the Spirit of that Man of Gallilee... " the chorus continues ..."How I love that Man of Gallilee, He has done so very much for me...." Thanks for any assistance to my long-ago memory from Sunday School. Arleigh in AL, marmalade1@charter.net
ReplyDeleteLovely resources. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteDebbie, you're website has been so incredibly helpful for me in my first time teaching this quarter! I was hoping to download the pictures from this lesson but don't see the link. Is there a different place to locate the downloadable file? Thanks so much!!
ReplyDeleteHello, the visuals have been added. There are only four visuals available, and two have the option of the sky removed so they are a cleaner picture to print. The pictures to color are included. Download them @ https://drive.google.com/file/d/18SW9l-PJzjNrWlStHGYB9qpxg1ynja19/view?usp=sharing
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