His Story: A journey through the greatest story of all time
The Bible isn’t just an old book—it’s God’s story, and it’s still alive today. His Story takes you chapter by chapter through Scripture, combining simple readings of God’s Word with prayer for every listener and occasional reflections on what the passage means for our lives right now.
Whether you’re brand new to the Bible or have been reading it for years, this podcast is a space to slow down, hear God’s Word spoken, and be reminded that His story is also our story.
His Story: A journey through the greatest story of all time
Jesus Leads A Scholar From Credentials To Conversion
A teacher of Israel meets the Teacher from heaven, and the ground shifts beneath his feet. We open with Nicodemus arriving under cover of night, only to hear words that cut through status and stamina: you must be born from above. This isn’t about turning over a new leaf or polishing virtue; it’s a new creation by the Spirit, as unpredictable and undeniable as the wind.
From there, we trace a surprising thread back to the wilderness. Jesus ties new birth to an old story—Israel’s healing by looking at the bronze serpent—showing that the cure for sin is not effort but faith. Then comes the heartbeat of the gospel: God loved the world like this, by giving His Son. Light enters the world, and while many hide, those who step into the light find that their good works were fueled by God all along. We also highlight Nicodemus’ slow-bloom courage, from secret questions to public honor at the burial, a hopeful picture for anyone who is seeking in the shadows.
The focus turns to John the Baptist, where success could sour into envy. Instead, John rejoices: the friend of the groom steps aside when joy is complete. “He must increase, but I must decrease” becomes a blueprint for ministry without ego, a freedom to serve without clutching credit. Along the way we reflect on the Son who came from above, speaks the words of God, and gives the Spirit without measure. Belief yields life, not as an abstract idea but as present reality that reorders desires, ambitions, and daily obedience.
If you’re wrestling with performance, identity, or what it means to truly change, this conversation invites you to look and live. Subscribe, share with a friend who’s seeking, and leave a review to help others find their way to the light.
The Bible isn’t just an old book—it’s God’s story, and it’s still alive today. His Story takes you chapter by chapter through Scripture, combining simple readings of God’s Word with prayer for every listener and occasional reflections on what the passage means for our lives right now.
Whether you’re brand new to the Bible or have been reading it for years, this podcast is a space to slow down, hear God’s Word spoken, and be reminded that His story is also our story.
Welcome back to his story, a journey through the greatest story of all time. Today we stand in the shadows of Jerusalem, Nicodemus, a Pharisee speaking truth as Jesus speaks of the new birth. John is one of the most beloved chapters in Scripture. Some call it the gospel in miniature form. It highlights the radical nature of being born again, which in the original language literally means born from above. D.A. Carson notes that Nicodemus represents religion at its best, yet still short of redemption. He wants to know, but he struggles. It reminds us that new birth isn't moral reform, but resurrection. Jesus moves Nicodemus from credentials to conversion, from flesh to spirit. Let's get started. God, we thank you so much for this day that you've given us. Gotta pray that John 3, this message that we see of somebody who is religious but still missing the point, who is a seeker. He seeks Jesus out to ask him more. But that would be our heart, especially if we don't know Jesus. It would also be what we hope and pray that others would come to, which is moving beyond their knowledge to experience Jesus firsthand. Help us to gain a lot out of this passage, both for ourselves and how we see the world. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him. Jesus answered him, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born? Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus said to him, How can these things be? Jesus answered him, Are you the teacher of Israel? And yet you do not understand these things. Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment. The light has come into the world, and people love the darkness rather than the light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God. After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. John also was baptizing at Anon near Selim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized, for John had not yet been put in prison. Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification. And they came to John and said to him, Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness, look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him. John answered, A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness that I said, I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him. The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. The word of God. Right away he says, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. That Greek word means both again and from above. The point, salvation is not self-help, it's new creation. I find it interesting that Nicodemus chooses to come in secret, even though he is called the ruler of the Jews. He clearly knows Scripture, he knows the law, but he's intrigued. He wants to know more. I think we can honor Nicodemus with that, that he was curious enough to actually ask the questions and to not make a spectacle of the situation. And in that Jesus truly challenges him. And I can almost see the wheels spinning with Nicodemus when Jesus says, You must be born again to enter the kingdom of heaven. And he just can't can't figure it out. He he says something totally absurd that we could we would re-enter our mother and be born again, which no one would ever believe that could happen. He's trying to figure out. He just can't. This story shows us that flesh can produce flesh, but only the spirit gives life. In that conversation, Jesus points back to Numbers 21. As Moses lifted up the serpent, so must the Son of Man be lifted up. The cure is not effort, but faith. Look and live. And then the verse that changed history, the one that we all have known probably most of our lives. For God so loved the world. The Greek there means in this way, and how God loved the world. He loved the world like this, by giving his son. That love isn't abstract. It it bleeds, it's real. And as we see the chapter continue, Nicodemus fades from the story. Until after the crucifixion, of course, when he brings burial spices for Jesus. The man who came at night finally steps into the light, which we'll see in future chapters. You know, in this chapter, it really is amazing to see how Jesus had the right thing to say to whomever came before him, whoever was in front of him. And I think it's noteworthy to finish by talking about how John truly knew his role. He knew exactly what God wanted him to do, and he did it. And there was no pride in that. There was so much humility when he said, I've done my job, and now it's time for everybody to look at Jesus. I'm standing by the groom, and when he rejoices because the bride has come to him, I celebrate, and my job is done. Man, how how incredible is that to have that perspective of his ministry. And you know, we all have a ministry that God has given us. And it's on us to do it as servants, and to do it without pride, without seeking honor, but just to do it because that's what God has asked us to do. John gives us such a great example of how to serve, how to give everything that we have, but to do it in total humility. It's amazing to see him do that. May that be what we take from this today is that our service to God should truly be service. Not something that we are owed anything for from people or from God, but that we would just be faithful in what God has called us to do. God, thank you so much for this chapter. Thank you for these words that have become iconic across the world, that you love the world so much that you gave your only son, and that if we just believe in you, you will give us everlasting life. God, I pray that not only for anybody who's listening to this, but but those that come in contact with your people, with your church, that they would be drawn to you as Nicodemus was, and you would open their eyes, that you would allow them to see that they need to be spiritually reborn and become a part of the family of God. Thank you again for providing for all of our needs. Thank you for being a God that loves us and cares about even the smallest details in our lives. We truly don't deserve that. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Next time we'll travel with Israel into Numbers 13, where faith and fear collide at the edge of the promised land. Until next time, remember, Jesus wrote the greatest story ever told, and that includes loving you and me completely. See you next time.
