Today's Bible reading is the 3rd chapter of the Book of John. You can read it here at Bible Gateway: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3&version=NASB

In addition to containing "John 3:16", arguably the most well known Bible verse in the world, this third chapter of John's gospel includes the well known encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus and some last words spoken by John the Baptist about Jesus. The first 21 verses of the chapter deal with the interaction that is had between Nicodemus, described as "a man of the Pharisees", and "a ruler of the Jews". Their interaction is interesting to consider. It begins with Nicodemus addressing Jesus as "Rabbi" and acknowledging that they know He has come from God as a teacher because of the signs He has performed. Someone might say that Nicodemus didn't begin to really "know" why Jesus had came as he may have thought. That Jesus had "come from God" would have been an accurate assessment. To say that He had come "as a teacher" would have fallen well short of His reason for having come from God. I suppose it may have been a bit startling for Nicodemus to have heard Jesus' response to his acknowledgement of who He was. Jesus replied as if Nicodemus had posed a question to Him when He said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God". There is clearly no indication that Nicodemus had asked any question of Jesus at this point, including a question as to what might be necessary to see the kingdom of God. But as Jesus goes on to explain to him the necessity of being born again, Nicodemus expresses an interest in understanding what He is saying. So although we do not have a record of Nicodemus asking Jesus a question at the beginning of their interaction, is it possible that it was a question unasked? The all-knowing divine Son of God surely could have known the question that may have only been on Nicodemus' heart and in his mind but not on his lips. One last thought about today's chapter would be the attitude expressed by John the Baptist when John records him speaking of Jesus as the bridegroom and himself as the friend of the bridegroom and saying the friend stands and hears the bridegroom and rejoices because of the bridegroom's voice. John the Baptist then says, "So this joy of mine has been made full. He must increase, but I must decrease." What a great perspective John expresses on his relationship with Jesus and his part in God's plan and ministry.