If I Tell You Earthly Things

In this particular case that we are studying, we find that Nicodemus did not really want so much to know the reason why he must be born again; he wanted to know the how, of the New Birth. He said, “How can these things be?” He was thinking to himself, “How could I have gotten so far in the religion of the nation of Israel without this?” “How could I have missed out on something like this, which Jesus says is absolutely necessary to my knowing God and my being able to instruct others? Jesus is going to give Nicodemus the answers that needs. He is going to do this by showing him the relationship between the New Birth and his coming to have true and saving faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. He will explain this all-important relationship in these 3 ways. 1st – He tells Nicodemus that everyone who truly knows about the New Birth speaks what they know, as a witness. (verse 11) 2nd – He tells him that without faith in the knowledge of these earthly things, that he cannot progress to the knowledge of heavenly things. (verse 12) And 3rd – Jesus tells Nicodemus that He Himself is the only One who can reveal to him, and give to him, these heavenly things. (verse 13)