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Following Jesus · Part 5 of 40 · 3 min

A Visit in the Night

A story about trust and honesty

Nicodemus was a teacher who knew many things about the Scriptures. He had heard about Jesus and wanted to understand more.

He came to visit Jesus at night.

Nicodemus left his house to look for Jesus.
Nicodemus left his house to look for Jesus.

The night was quiet around them.

Nicodemus said he knew Jesus had come from God. Jesus answered by speaking about a new beginning: being born from above (Truly, truly, I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God).

Nicodemus was puzzled. A grown person could not become a baby again!

Jesus explained that he meant the work of God's Spirit (What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit). God could change a person's heart and give a new kind of life.

Jesus helped Nicodemus understand a new beginning.
Jesus helped Nicodemus understand a new beginning.

Jesus spoke about the wind. We hear it and notice what it moves, even though we cannot see the wind itself.

Jesus explained that we notice what the wind moves.
Jesus explained that we notice what the wind moves.

He also told Nicodemus how deeply God loved the world. God had sent his Son so that people could trust him and receive life.

Nicodemus had come with questions. Jesus gave him truth to think about long after their conversation ended.

We do not need to pretend that we understand everything. We can ask, listen, and keep learning.

We can ask questions and keep learning.
We can ask questions and keep learning.

God's love can change the way we treat people, one honest and kind choice at a time.

Retelling of John 3:1–21.

Supporting reading: The Desire of Ages, chapter 17. Open the book

Talk about it together

  • Trust in God
  • Honesty

A verse to remember

“he who does the truth comes to the light,”

John 3:21 · excerptNKJV

  1. Why did Nicodemus come to visit Jesus during the night?
  2. How do you think he felt when he did not understand the new beginning?
  3. What would you like to ask when a Bible story puzzles you?

Activity · 2–5 minutes

Questions That Help Us

Each person shares a question about this story. Listen without interrupting and choose one to explore together in the story. If you cannot find the answer yet, you can say, “We will keep learning.”

Try it today: We can ask honest questions and listen patiently as we learn.

More stories with these values

Guess the sounds

Open the interactive activity or prepare a printable sheet for home, classroom, or family.

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