#1469 John 3 Part 4 Exposed

 

Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2 this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

4 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?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes and you hear its sound, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who has been born of the Spirit.”

9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and bear witness of what we have seen, and you do not accept our witness. 12 If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 And no one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light lest his deeds be exposed. 21 But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been done by God.” John 3: 1-21 LSB

John 3: 17-21

…21Speak up and present your case—yes, let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago? Who announced it from ancient times? Was it not I, the LORD? There is no other God but Me, a righteous God and Savior; there is none but Me. 22Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. 23By Myself I have sworn; truth has gone out from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will swear allegiance.… Isaiah 45: 21-23

…6He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.” 7Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel, to Him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the Servant of rulers: “Kings will see You and rise, and princes will bow down, because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen You.” 8This is what the LORD says: “In the time of favor I will answer You, and in the day of salvation I will help You; I will keep You and appoint You to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land, to apportion its desolate inheritances,… Isaiah 49: 6-8

For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world - Sin has already been judged, as evidenced by the Flood, God's punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah, His punishment of Israel, and His punishment of the nations that punished Israel. He has stated very clearly that the wages of sin is death, that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. God is Holy and Infinite, His holiness crowns all other attributes, including His love, so in order to save sinful man and yet be what He is eternally in His attributes, then someone must take my place. Since God is eternal and He alone exists independently of His creatures, from a place that does not fit within the box of human understanding, then the sacrifice must be of the same substance, yet also human, for we are the ones who have offended the eternal Being. He sends Christ, not to judge this time, not to end all things at His first advent, but to fulfill all that has been written about Him from God's redemptive history. In fact, one could easily argue that if God had not decreed this, the coming of His Son, the salvation of those who would believe, then He would have passed immediate and final judgement in the garden, and we would not be having this conversation. In Christ, even the promise of Christ, because it was so very certain in the Sovereignty of the Creator, we all live and breathe. History has only moved forward because God has provided a Lamb. 

God did not send (apostello) the Son into the world to judge the world - Note repetition of the world. Jesus came not just for Jews but for the world. (see Hendriksen's note below) Jesus came as God's Messenger with a mission and it was not to pronounce sentence on mankind. This truth shows the mercy filled heart of God, Who had every right to send His Son to judge the world which deserved condemnation. Paul writes "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." (1 Ti 1:15) Luke writes "the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Lk 19:10+) That was the purpose for which God sent Him the first time ,but in His Second Coming Jesus will come not as Savior but as Judge (Rev 19:11-16+ = "in righteousness He judges and wages war.", cf Acts 17:31+). John alludes to the future judgment by the Son when he writes "not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son." (Jn 5:22+)

So how do we explain John 9:39 "And Jesus said, “For judgment (MEANS SEPARATION) I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.” Bultmann calls this the “paradox of revelation.”As the light of the world, Jesus came that the blind might see and those who think they can see will be made blind. Those who profess a clear vision of the ways of God while at the same time denying by their lifestyle its transforming effect will ultimately find that they are blind. In other words there is a "separation," by virtue of His coming. One cannot be "neutral" toward Jesus. The fact that they saw Him (and today hear about Him) and still reject Him results in their own judicial blinding. In other words failure to receive Jesus leaves judgment as the only alternative. Cambridge Bible explains "Since there are sinners in the world, Christ’s coming involves a separation of them from the good (BELIEVERS), a judgment, a sentence." Morris adds "The resolution of the paradox demands that we understand salvation as necessarily implying judgment. These are the two sides to the one coin. Jesus came to bring salvation, but the very fact of salvation for all who believe implies judgment on all who do not. This is a solemn reality, and John does not want us to escape it." (Borrow The Gospel according to John) - Precept Austin

…33So the disciples asked one another, “Could someone have brought Him food?” 34 Jesus explained, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work. 35Do you not say, ‘There are still four months until the harvest’? I tell you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ripe for harvest.… John 4: 33-35

…36But I have testimony more substantial than that of John. For the works that the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works I am doing—testify about Me that the Father has sent Me. 37And the Father who sent Me has Himself testified about Me. You have never heard His voice nor seen His form, 38nor does His word abide in you, because you do not believe the One He sent.… John 5: 36-38

…2For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh, 4so that the righteous standard of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.… Romans 8: 2-4

V. 17B But that the world might be saved through Him - This broadens the scope beyond Israel. Israel is intended to be a light, and though they rebel, yet God has used the story of His relationship with them to bring light regardless. One day, a remnant that has been sprinkled with water and received a new heart, will be the type of light God has intended them to be for the world. 

…5For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave Himself as a ransom for all— the testimony that was given at just the right time. 7For this reason I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a faithful and true teacher of the Gentiles. I am telling the truth; I am not lying about anything.… 1 Timothy 2: 5-7

1My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 3By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments.… 1 John 2: 1-3

…4But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved! 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,… Ephesians 2: 4-6

V. 18A He who believes in Him is not judged - So when I stand at the Judgment seat, instead of seeing me, the sinner, the Father will see His Son who purchased me with His own life. I will have a clean ledger, paid in full by the only sacrifice pleasing to God, His Son. 

Steven Cole on believes - Believing in Jesus requires understanding who He is (the unique Son of God) and what He came to do through His death and resurrection. Based on that knowledge (which we get from the Bible), believing in Jesus means to entrust your eternal destiny to all that He did in dying for your sins on the cross. It means that you cease trusting in your own goodness or good deeds as the way into heaven. Rather, you trust entirely in Jesus and His shed blood. A helpful illustration that I’ve used before is that of the famous tightrope walker, Blondin. Perhaps you can relate to this story in light of Nik Wallenda’s walking across the Grand Canyon on a cable last week. Blondin would walk across Niagara Falls on a tightrope. He did it blindfolded! He did it on stilts! Once he carried his manager across on his shoulders. After they got safely to the other side and the applause died down, he turned to a man in the crowd and said, “Sir, do you believe that I could do that with you?” The man was about the same build as the manager who had gone across on Blondin’s shoulders, so he shrugged, “Yes, I believe that you could do it.” Blondin said, “Fine, hop on!” The man quickly replied, “No way!” He “believed” intellectually, but he wasn’t willing to commit his life to Blondin. In the same way, many say that they believe in Jesus, but they have not committed their eternal destiny to what He did for them on the cross. Some want to try to help Him out by adding their good deeds to Jesus’ shed blood. But that’s like telling Blondin that you want to help him out by holding his hand as you walk behind him! It doesn’t work! Faith that brings eternal life responds to God’s shocking love by entrusting yourself totally to what Jesus did for you when He died on the cross. (God's Shocking Love)

The object of faith is the only begotten (unique) Son of God Who Alone is "the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through (Him) "(Jn 14:6) because “there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12), and there is only “one Mediator...between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Ti 2:5). - Precept Austin

…23so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. 24Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life. 25Truly, truly, I tell you, the hour is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.… John 5: 23-25

V. 18b He who does not believe has been judged already - They would not accept correction, will you? Like we discussed before, sin has already been judged, but God has sent His Son calling all men everywhere to repent through Him. This is the very spirit of unbelief, that God has spoken and we do all else, we reject what He says and therefore cling to our sin, to that which is being judged. Men who die in their sin never do so unfairly, they did not want God, did not want His Word, refused Him as Lord, trusted in their own fallen minds. When He says this is sin, this is the way of death, this is eternal separation, My way is better, far above yours, repent and be saved, yet some will say He does not exist and yet others will cling to their sin and invent another gospel that condones that which God has condemned. 

…28Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will earnestly seek me, but will not find me. 29 For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD. 30They accepted none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof.… Proverbs 1:28-30

V. 18c Because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God - Begotten not created. He has not acknowledged Jesus for Who He is, Lord and Savior, one cannot make God that, but that is the truth of Who He is, and so to not obey is a very strong case of delusion. This man has sought his own autonomy, to be his own God, to put much weight upon his own thoughts and evil desires.

…11He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.… John 1: 11-13

They are already under a sentence of condemnation to hell. They do not only justly deserve to be cast down thither, but the sentence of the law of God, that eternal and immutable rule of righteousness that God has fixed between him and mankind, is gone out against them, and stands against them; so that they are bound over already to hell. “He that believeth not is condemned already. ”(John 3:18) So that every unconverted man properly belongs to hell; that is his place; from thence he is, John 8:23. “Ye are from beneath,” and thither he is bound; it is the place that justice, and God’s word, and the sentence of his unchangeable law, assign to him.....

Your wickedness makes you as it were heavy as lead, and to tend downwards with great weight and pressure towards hell; and if God should let you go, you would immediately sink and swiftly descend and plunge into the bottomless gulf, and your healthy constitution, and your own care and prudence, and best contrivance, and all your righteousness, would have no more influence to uphold you and keep you out of hell, than a spider’s web would have to stop a falling rock. Were it not for the sovereign pleasure of God, the earth would not bear you one moment; for you are a burden to it; the creation groans with you; the creature is made subject to the bondage of your corruption, not willingly; the sun does not willingly shine upon you to give you light to serve sin and Satan; the earth does not willingly yield her increase to satisfy your lusts; nor is it willingly a stage for your wickedness to be acted upon; the air does not willingly serve you for breath to maintain the flame of life in your vitals, while you spend your life in the service of God’s enemies. God’s creatures are good, and were made for men to serve God with, and do not willingly subserve to any other purpose, and groan when they are abused to purposes so directly contrary to their nature and end. And the world would spew you out, were it not for the sovereign hand of him who hath subjected it in hope. There are the black clouds of God’s wrath now hanging directly over your heads, full of the dreadful storm, and big with thunder; and were it not for the restraining hand of God, it would immediately burst forth upon you. The sovereign pleasure of God, for the present, stays his rough wind; otherwise it would come with fury, and your destruction would come like a whirlwind, and you would be like the chaff of the summer threshing floor. (See Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God) - Precept Austin quoting Jonathan Edwards

V. 19 Men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil - People always tell me they love the Lord, know the Lord, have an understanding with the Lord, some strange sort of agreement, but this is the crux of the matter, He isn't your Lord, you are, your fallen passions are, you pick and choose what you want, and for the love of all that God has called sin men hide themselves from the light.

…9These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to obey the LORD’s instruction. 10They say to the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us the truth! Speak to us pleasant words; prophesy illusions. 11Get out of the way; turn off the road. Rid us of the Holy One of Israel!”… Isaiah 30: 9-11

…9If anyone claims to be in the light but hates his brother, he is still in the darkness. 10Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no cause of stumbling in him. 11But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness. He does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.… 1 John 2: 9-11

John Phillips - This is a fine Christmas text. "Light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." At Bethlehem, light invaded this darkened world. A classic illustration of men loving darkness rather than light is seen in King Herod, whose deeds were evil indeed. Herod-who murdered his wife's brother, his favorite wife, and both his sons. Herod-who murdered the rank and file of the Hasmoneans, whose favorite sport was to watch while several hundred of his subjects were crucified before him as he was getting drunk, who had every leading citizen in his realm arrested just days before his death and gave instructions that, immediately upon news of his own death, every one of them was to be murdered. If ever a man's deeds were evil, it was Herod's. If ever a man loved darkness rather than light, it was Herod. And when the light came into the world and he heard about it, he sent and murdered the babes of Bethlehem in an effort to overcome light with the "power of darkness." (Exploring John)

Charles Spurgeon - The dislike of Christ is caused by a love of sin. If men did not hug their sins, they would embrace the Saviour. You see why men do not come to Christ; they do not want to give up their sin; they do not want to be made uneasy in it; they are afraid of being reproved. You see why saintly men do come to Christ, for they take a delight in beholding him, and in having their faith and their grace made manifest, both to themselves and to onlookers....Those who love their sins cannot at the same time love the Saviour; they must love the one, and hate the other; and it is a terrible choice when they deliberately reject the only Saviour; “the Light of the world,” and choose the darkness of sin, the darkness of woe, the outer darkness, where there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth. - Precept Austin

V. 20 And does not come to the light lest his deeds be exposed - I have watched people who intellectually ascent to there being a God, yet knowing this puts them quickly upon the path of trying to reconcile God to their way of thinking. I tried this when I was young and then decided it was just easier to be an atheist since reading the Scriptures only begged questions against what I wanted God to be like. But I watch these people still today, they tell pastors not to preach on certain subjects because it offends them. They pick churches that preach very little in the way of conviction, places that put them at ease in their sin. Any church that follows Scripture's teachings on confronting sin, accountability, examining the fruit of one's life, they call those places and people, legalistic. They hate the light, not because they truly fear God Who sees the very source of their sin, but only because of what people might think, and then the jig will be up, everyone will know. It's easy to fool men, but you will ultimately stand before God. 

…11Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that is illuminated becomes a light itself.… Ephesians 5: 11-13

V. 21 But he who practices the truth comes to the light, so that his deeds may be manifest as having been done by God - You will know them by their fruits. People who love the truth come to the light to be exposed, to be convicted of their sin, to see the long shadow it cast and plead to have it removed. 

…1Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers. 2But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. 3He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.… Psalm 1: 1-3

…11O LORD, Your hand is upraised, but they do not see it. They will see Your zeal for Your people and be put to shame. The fire set for Your enemies will consume them! 12O LORD, You will establish peace for us. For all that we have accomplished, You have done for us. 13O LORD our God, other lords besides You have had dominion, but Your name alone do we confess.… Isaiah 26: 11-13

…9For I am the least of the apostles and am unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them— yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 11Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.… 1 Corinthians 15: 9-11

11as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the favor shown us in answer to their prayers. 12And this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God— not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God. 13For we do not write you anything that is beyond your ability to read and understand. And I hope that you will understand us completely,… 2 Corinthians 1: 11-13

…10So if I come, I will call attention to his malicious slander against us. And unsatisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers and forbids those who want to do so, even putting them out of the church. 11Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God. 12Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true.… 3 John 10-12

#1468 John 3 Part 3 So Loved

 

Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2 this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 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?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes and you hear its sound, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who has been born of the Spirit.”

9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and bear witness of what we have seen, and you do not accept our witness. 12 If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 And no one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light lest his deeds be exposed. 21 But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been done by God.” John 3: 14-21 LSB

John 3: 14-21 Everything in Between

…7Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you. Intercede with the LORD so He will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses interceded for the people. 8Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will live.” 9So Moses made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. If anyone who was bitten looked at the bronze snake, he would live.… Numbers 21: 7-9

Let's review a little, Jesus has been talking to a Pharisee, a religious ruler who sits on the Sanhedrin, a man named Nicodemus. Before the dialogue with Nicodemus it was said that many believed in the name of Jesus at the end of chapter 2, but He did not entrust Himself to them because He knew what was in men's hearts, and that these were superficial believers. They believed because of the miracles, because they wanted more miracles, because they wanted to be free of Rome. Then we have Jesus expose the heart of Nicodemus coming forward, Jesus looking into this man's mind and seeing that he wants to enter the kingdom, but their is some uncertainty. He probably wants to hear that he is on the right track, that his years of studying the Scribes, following rituals, presenting outward cleanliness, has all paid off, but Jesus removes this way, He negates it. He tells Nicodemus that salvation is not in traditions, not of works basically, but that it is born from above, outside of you, you must be born again. Nicodemus badly wants in the kingdom, wants to know how to get in there, and Jesus basically takes all earthly hopes and measures and rips them from the man's heart, revealing that it's like birth, you are born, you don't call yourself into being, "the wind blows where it wishes", we see the result, but we don't control the wind. Jesus also rebukes Nicodemus for not knowing these things. He has the Scriptures memorized probably, but has failed to understand them, has opted for a works system as taught by the Scribes. 

…24For I will take you from among the nations and gather you out of all the countries, and I will bring you back into your own land. 25I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. 26I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.… Ezekiel 36: 24-26

More on Ezekiel 36

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up - This takes Nicodemus and everyone else who is listening back to the OT, all the way to Numbers where the people had murmured and rebelled. Jesus is going to give the insight, the teaching of heaven on this matter. He has been giving Nicodemus a very logical sequence on salvation, using metaphors about birth and wind, about being born of water and of the Spirit, these pointed him back to verses like Ezekiel 36:25 above, and now He is going to give him a picture from Scripture. This also foretells Jesus' death, but as the plan of God from eternity past.

Note how Jesus goes back to the Scriptures, passages which Nicodemus likely even knew by heart and taught the teacher truths that he would have never discovered had Jesus not revealed them to him. He reveals to Nicodemus that the bronze serpent on the standard was a Biblical type. "A type in Scripture is a person or thing in the Old Testament that foreshadows a person or thing in the New Testament." (Typology)

As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness -The bronze serpent was merely a shadow of the substance to come in Christ (Col 2:17+). It is interesting that this was the last miracle of Moses, on the borders of the promised land. The bite of the fiery serpents was uniformly fatal (sounds a lot like the effect of sin - Ro 5:12+, Ro 3:23+). The Israelites were without hope and yet they humbled themselves, confessed and sought Moses' intercession.

Ryle - Christ “lifted up” and put to shame on Calvary is the ladder by which Christians “enter into the holiest,” and are at length landed in glory. It is true that we are sinners;—but Christ has suffered for us. It is true that we deserve death;—but Christ has died for us. It is true that we are guilty debtors;—but Christ has paid our debts with His own blood. This is the real Gospel! This is the good news! On this let us lean while we live. To this let us cling when we die. Christ has been “lifted up” on the cross, and has thrown open the gates of heaven to all believers. - Precept Austin

Merrill Tenney observes that "Although Jesus did not elaborate the details of this allusion, it has several applicable aspects:

1. The ancient Israelites were guilty of disobedience and a grumbling and unthankful spirit.

2. They were under the condemnation of God and were being punished for their sin.

3. The object elevated before them was the emblem of their judgment.

4. They were unable to rescue themselves.

5. The poison of the serpents was deadly, and there was no antidote for it.

6. They were urged to look at the serpent in order to receive life.

…20Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God. 21God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5: 20-21

V. 15 So that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life - What did you believe? Who did you believe in? We saw that there were already shallow professors in chapter 2: 23-25

23 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name.[d] 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. 25 He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.

But John has built up to this place, has warned against this, and look how He started this book. In John 1 we are immediately met with Who Jesus is, Who we need to believe in. 

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.… John 1: 1-3

This eliminates many false professions that use the name Jesus, but speak of another Jesus. John very clearly outlines Who He is, His deity, His preexistence. Jesus let's us know that it's also a work of the Spirit, that you have to be born again, and when one is born again this is their profession, that they believe in Jesus for their salvation, not in any works of their own. The Father calls from eternity past, through the work and atoning death of the Son Who is the Way, the bridge between God and man, and the Spirit gives life, brings the new birth that opens men's eyes to their sin, brings them to repentance and points them back to the Way, to Christ. 

30Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book. 31But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name. John 20: 30-31

…21Speak up and present your case—yes, let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago? Who announced it from ancient times? Was it not I, the LORD? There is no other God but Me, a righteous God and Savior; there is none but Me. 22Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. 23By Myself I have sworn; truth has gone out from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will swear allegiance.… Isaiah 45: 21-23

35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he proclaimed the good news about Jesus to him. 36 And as they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch *said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 37 [And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”] 38 And he ordered the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.  Acts 8: 35-38 LSB

Leon Morris - The life Christians possess is not in any sense independent of Christ. It is a life that is “hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3+)....In the Prologue he has informed us that life is “in” the Logos, and much the same thought is found here, with the addition that the lifting up of the Son of man is an integral part of the process whereby the life is mediated to believers. The word rendered “eternal” (always in this Gospel used of life) basically means “pertaining to an age.” The Jews divided time into the present age and the age to come, but the adjective was used of life in the coming age, not that of the present age. “Eternal life” thus means “the life proper to the age to come.” It is an eschatological concept (cf. Jn 6:40, 54). But as the age to come is thought of as never coming to an end the adjective came to mean “everlasting,” “eternal.” The notion of time is there. Eternal life will never cease. But there is something else there, too, and something more significant. The important thing about eternal life is not its quantity but its quality. In Westcott’s phrase, “It is not an endless duration of being in time, but being of which time is not a measure.” Eternal life is life in Christ, that life which removes a person from the merely earthly. As we see from the earlier part of this chapter, it originates in a divine action, the action wherein one is born anew. It is the gift of God, and not a human achievement. (Borrow The Gospel according to John) - Precept Austin

V. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son- This is big, this expands God's love past Israel, it embraces both Jew and Greek or Gentiles as the Bible only speaks to or divides the world into these two categories. 

So (houtos) emphasizes the intensity or greatness of His love. It means to the degree that, to the end that or in this way. And what is that end or degree? The Father gave His unique and beloved Son to die on behalf on sinful men (2Co 5:21+). Stated another way, the extent of God's love for the world was measured by the extent of His gift. The greatest demonstration of God's love was to give the One He loved most, His beloved one of a kind, unique Son! Paul says that "what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh." (Ro 8:3+)

Morris adds that "“The Greek construction puts some emphasis on the actuality of the gift: it is not ‘God loved enough to give,’ but ‘God loved so that he gave.’ His love is not a vague, sentimental feeling, but a love that costs. God gave what was most dear to him.” (Borrow The Gospel according to John) - Precept Austin

…8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. 10And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.… 1 John 4: 8-10

V. 16b That whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life - As a reformed believer, what some would call a Calvinist, I believe that regeneration precedes faith, meaning, I believe you have to be born again, as Christ said. The Bible is also clear that this belief is of faith, and that this faith is also a gift associated with the new heart given to those who are born of from above, born of the Spirit, born again unto life in Christ Jesus. The only acceptable works here are Christ's, yours, mine, those are all filthy rags even on our best day, we must be found in Christ. 

Sola Fide is the great word of the reformers. As Gotquestions says ""faith alone," is important because it is one of the distinguishing characteristics or key points that separate the true biblical Gospel from false gospels. At stake is the very Gospel itself and it is therefore a matter of eternal life or death. Getting the Gospel right is of such importance that the Apostle Paul would write in Galatians 1:9+, “As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!” Paul was addressing the same question that sola fide addresses—on what basis is man declared by God to be justified? Is it by faith alone or by faith combined with works? Paul makes it clear in Galatians and Romans that man is “justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law” (Galatians 2:16+), and the rest of the Bible concurs." (See Sola Fide)

Whoever - Note the pronoun whoever (cf whoever in Jn 3:15) which flings open the gates of paradise to for this pronoun means any person who or anyone that.

Believes in Him -This is the means of salvation. As the reformers said "Sola Fide" and "Sola Christos". The belief is in Him which is a shorthand way of saying believing everything about Him, that He was fully Man, fully God, that He was without sin, that He died on the Cross as our substitute for our sins, and that God showed He was satisfied with His Son's "sin offering" by raising Him from the dead. Stated succinctly the means of salvation is belief in the Gospel of His Son (Ro 1:9), the Gospel of Christ (Ro 15:19, 1 Cor 9:12, 2 Cor 2:12, 2 Cor 9:13, 2 Cor 10:14, Gal 1:7, Phil 1:27, 1 Th 3:2), the Gospel of our Lord Jesus (2 Th 1:8).

Phillips - The damning sin, the ultimate sin God will not forgive, is the sin of refusing to trust his Son. That is the greatest insult one can offer the Lord, to say to him verbally or otherwise, "I can't trust you." When someone came to D. L. Moody on one occasion with the excuse, "I can't believe," Mr. Moody asked, "Whom can't you believe?" (Ibid) - Precept Austin

…7in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not by works, so that no one can boast.… Ephesians 2: 7-9

GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD - Years ago a lady who prided herself on belonging to the intelligentsia said to me, “I have no use for the Bible, Christian superstition, and religious dogma. It is enough for me to know that God is love.” “Well,” I said, “do you know it?” “Why, of course I do,” she said; “we all know it, and that is religion enough for me. I do not need the dogmas of the Bible.” “How did you find out that God is love?” I asked. “Why,” she said, “everybody knows it.” “Do they know it in India?” I asked. “That poor mother in her distress throwing her little baby into the Ganges to be eaten by filthy and repulsive crocodiles as a sacrifice for her sins-does she know that God is love?” “Oh, well, she is ignorant and superstitious,” she replied. “Those poor natives in the jungles of Africa, bowing down to gods of wood and stone, and in constant fear of their fetishes, the poor heathen in other countries-do they know that God is love?” “Perhaps not,” she said, “but in a civilized country we all know it.” “But how is it that we know it? Who told us that God is love? Where did we discover it?” “I don’t understand what you mean,” she said. “I’ve always known it.” “Let me tell you this,” I answered. “No one in the world ever knew it until it was revealed from Heaven and recorded in the Word of God. It is here and nowhere else. It is not found in all the literature of the ancients.” (1 John 4 Commentary - Ironside's Notes) - Precept Austin

…16But not all of them welcomed the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. 18But I ask, did they not hear? Indeed they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”… Romans 10: 16-18

4 But when the kindness and affection of God our Savior appeared, 5 He saved us, not by works which we did in righteousness, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs [a]according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3: 4-7 

#1467 John 3 Part 2 Are You The Teacher Of Israel

 

Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2 this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

4 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?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes and you hear its sound, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who has been born of the Spirit.”

9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and bear witness of what we have seen, and you do not accept our witness. 12 If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 And no one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light lest his deeds be exposed. 21 But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been done by God.” John 3: 1-21 LSB

John 3: 4-13

V. 4 How can a man be born when he is old - He has already called Jesus, Rabbi (Teacher), and One from God because of the miracles associated with Jesus. He has seen Jesus do things that can't be done by normal people. Jesus has omnisciently looked inside this man's heart and seen that he lacks something, and then He tells him what that is in verse 3, Nicodemus needs to be born again. Nicodemus' response is a clarifier, "when he is old", I have already been born physically, and this is where many disagree with the motives behind his questions, but look at the first reality, Jesus revealed to Him his first question which was about seeing the kingdom of God. He uses the analogy about birth and doesn't back away from it, and He is using this with Nicodemus who is also a teacher. Nicodemus clarifies this even more, "Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" So what does it clarify, can a man do that? No, that's the simple answer, no, you can't physically do that, you both will die and he is old so his mom is probably already dead. "So, Jesus, let me get this straight, you are saying that in order for me to enter the kingdom of God something must happen that I can't do for myself? You are saying that I have to start all over, there has to be a reset?" Yes, just like when you were physically born you did not call yourself into being. Keep in mind, Nicodemus is a scholar, a teacher, a man use to debate so it is strange to take a position that leaves him in a totally materialist position when he ask these questions. I agree with MacArthur, Nicodemus is probably rolling with the analogy, seeing where Jesus is going with this, after all, these were not His first questions, Jesus already brought that to light. Jesus is talking to a man who has spent his whole life trying to get into the kingdom by his own works of "righteousness".

He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" - The grammar of this question calls for a negative response. Of course not! Lenski paraphrases Nicodemus as if he would say " “I know you cannot and do not mean that!” or, “That much I see.” He clearly perceives that Jesus has in mind some other, far higher kind of birth." Nicodemus knew that literal physical birth a second time was an impossibility. Jesus is in effect backing Nicodemus into a corner. He knew Nicodemus like all Jews wanted to enter the Kingdom of God, and here it looked to Nicodemus as if Jesus were making entrance into the Kingdom of God something that could not be achieved by human effort. MacArthur agrees commenting that Jesus "was making entrance into the kingdom contingent on something that could not be obtained through human effort." - Precept Austin

…16It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance; a form loomed before my eyes, and I heard a whispering voice: 17‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God, or a man more pure than his Maker? 18If God puts no trust in His servants, and He charges His angels with error,… Job 4: 16-18

…18For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 So then, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do likewise will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.… Matthew 5: 18-20

V. 5a Truly Truly, I say to you - This is important, really important, listen, this is not about perception, this is ultimate truth. 

V. 5b Unless one is born of water and  the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God - There are a host of, let's be kind and say, different interpretations as to the water here, and now let's debunk a few and then go where the text forces us:

Some have referred to this as being physically born, associating it with the breaking of water that happens prior to birth. As J Mac points out, this is a little more than difficult because it's like saying, "first you have to be physically born." Okay, well Nicodemus is covered that far at least, because otherwise they couldn't be having this conversation. Silly.

Others have seen in this, Christian baptism, some of whom try to make a case for baptismal regeneration. The text won't allow this because, as we will see, Jesus will point him back to the fact that he is "the teacher" in Israel, so the answer will be in the Scriptures that Nicodemus should already know. It is not a foreign concept, it is not a new concept that arose with Jesus first advent. The metaphors that Jesus uses all have Biblical, spiritual realities. Baptism was a sign of repentance, acknowledging the need to be cleansed.

Carson has an excellent argument against this interpretation writing that "If water = baptism is so important for entering the kingdom, it is surprising that the rest of the discussion never mentions it again: the entire focus is on the work of the Spirit (v. 8), the work of the Son (vv. 14–15), the work of God himself (vv. 16–17), and the place of faith (vv. 15–16)....The Spirit plays a powerful role in John 14–16; 20:22, but there is no hint of baptism.....The entire view seems to rest on an unarticulated prejudice that every mention of water evoked instant recognition, in the minds of first-century readers, that the real reference was to baptism, but it is very doubtful that this prejudice can be sustained by the sources. Even so, this conclusion does not preclude the possibility of a secondary allusion to baptism" Borrow The Gospel according to John)

Constable - According to this view spiritual birth happens only when a person undergoes water baptism and experiences regeneration by the Holy Spirit. Some advocates of this view see support for it in the previous reference to water baptism (1:26 and 33). However, Scripture is very clear that water baptism is a testimony to salvation, not a prerequisite for it (cf. 3:16, 36; Eph. 2:8–9; Titus 3:5). In addition, this meaning would have had no significance for Nicodemus. He knew nothing of Christian baptism. Furthermore Jesus never mentioned water baptism again in clarifying the new birth to Nicodemus. - Precept Austin

So look at this, you have to be born again to enter the kingdom, and Jesus amplifies it even more, this is the requirement for entering the kingdom, something you can't do for yourself, you have to be born of water and of the Spirit, now where would one get such an idea? Here is your water and the Spirit. 

…24For I will take you from among the nations and gather you out of all the countries, and I will bring you back into your own land. 25I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. 26I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.… Ezekiel 36: 24-26

37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39This promise belongs to you and your children and to all who are far off—to all whom the Lord our God will call to Himself.”… Acts 2: 37-39

V. 6 That which has been born of the flesh is flesh - The flesh is dying, men are spiritual stillborns, dead in their trespasses and sins. The flesh has nothing saving in it, even the best works of the flesh are all tainted. This condemns all hopes of justification by one's works and begs for a righteousness that can only be found outside of us, born from above. Men are not saved by rituals or rites of passage, not by physical birth into a particular familial bloodline, but in Christ alone. 

…62Then what will happen if you see the Son of Man ascend to where He was before? 63The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. 64However, there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray Him.)… John 6: 62-64

…17For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit, 19in whom He also went and preached to the spirits in prison… 1 Peter 3: 17-19

…5But they will have to give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 That is why the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged as men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. 7The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray.… 1 Peter 4: 5-7

V. 6b And that which is born of the Spirit is spirit - Different than the works of the flesh, this is the regenerating, cleansing and sanctifying work of the Spirit, being born from above. The metaphor of rebirth is also shown in the resurrection. It is God's saving work to bring the dead to life. 

And that which is born of the Spirit is spirit - This refers to the spiritual nature which the Spirit produces. The spirit that is born (comes into existence at time of regeneration) from God’s Spirit has an OT parallel (with which Nicodemus should have been familiar!) which gives a prophetic promise of God's gift of a “new spirit” (able to discern spiritual truths, etc) and the gift of His Spirit (Who enables life in this new realm) which says "Moreover, I (GOD) will give you (SPEAKING TO NATION OF ISRAEL BUT THIS TRUTH IS APPLICABLE TO GENTILES WHO BELIEVE IN THE MESSIAH) a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances." (Ezekiel 36:26, 27+)  - Precept Austin

…26I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances. 28Then you will live in the land that I gave your forefathers; you will be My people, and I will be your God.… Ezekiel 36: 26-28

…10So I prophesied as He had commanded me, and the breath entered them, and they came to life and stood on their feet—a vast army. 11Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Look, they are saying, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope has perished; we are cut off.’ 12Therefore prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘O My people, I will open your graves and bring you up from them, and I will bring you back to the land of Israel.…

…13Then you, My people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14I will put My Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD.’” Ezekiel 37: 10-14

…4so that the righteous standard of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace,… 

…7because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God. 9You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.… Romans 8: 4-9

V.8 The wind blows where it wishes - So much for putting those "Revival this Sunday" signs on your churches. This further takes salvation out of the hands of men, it destroys books that people write on how to be born again, it affirms that salvation is of the Lord, it is His own work. 

When Jesus used this symbol, Nicodemus should have recalled the famous prophetic passage in Ezekiel 37:1-14+. In that passage the prophet Ezekiel saw a valley full of dead bones, but when he prophesied to the wind, the Spirit came and gave the bones life. Notice it was the combination of the Spirit of God and the Word of God that gave life. The nation of Israel (including Nicodemus and his fellow council members) was dead and hopeless. They needed the new birth from above.

Alan Carr on the wind as an illustration of the Spirit - Jesus uses the image of the wind to describe the action of the Spirit. His movements, like those of the wind, cannot be predicted or anticipated. Like the wind, the movement of the Spirit is invisible, but powerful! When He passes by, He touches whom He will and His presence is easily seen!

Bob Utley - The point is that the wind has freedom, as does the Spirit. One cannot see the wind, but rather its effects; so, too the Spirit. Man’s salvation is not in his control, but is in the Spirit’s control (John 3)

Constable - There are three similarities. First, both the Spirit and the wind operate sovereignly. Man does not and cannot control either one. Second, we perceive the presence of both by their effects. Third, we cannot explain their actions since they arise from unseen and unknowable factors. - Precept Austin

…29And now, Lord, consider their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness, 30as You stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” 31After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.… Acts 4: 29-31

…15For He says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”… Romans 9: 15-17

V. 10 Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things - Again, Jesus affirms that this is no new or rogue teaching. Nicodemus is high up, revered as a teacher, a Pharisee and yet he doesn't understand these things, which Jesus finds inexcusable. He gave him the clues, the water, the wind, the spirit. Look, it goes even further back than Ezekiel. The Psalmist spoke of these things. Like J Mac points out, Jesus doesn't let Nicodemus off the hook, no, "you of all people should know better than this. You are a teacher." This could be and should be said to those who teach in the evangelical church today, who like the Roman Catholics try to put forth another gospel, how are you the teachers, when you don't call for reform back to what Jesus taught as the gospel, when you pretend that rituals, feelings, emotional ploys are the call to men's hearts, that walking forward and repeating a prayer is the same as being born from above. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God so that is your job, to teach the Word of God and let the Spirit regenerate and convict. Faith itself is even a gift from God. 

…6Surely You desire truth in the inmost being; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place. 7Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice.…

…9Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. 10Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11Cast me not away from Your presence; take not Your Holy Spirit from me.… Psalm 51: 6-11

…5And the LORD your God will bring you into the land your fathers possessed, and you will take possession of it. He will cause you to prosper and multiply more than your fathers. 6The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, and you will love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live. 7Then the LORD your God will put all these curses upon your enemies who hate you and persecute you.… Deuteronomy 30: 5-7

7“Before she was in labor, she gave birth; before she was in pain, she delivered a boy. 8Who has heard of such as this? Who has seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be delivered in an instant? Yet as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her children. 9Shall I bring a baby to the point of birth and not deliver it?” says the LORD. “Or will I who deliver close the womb?” says your God.… Isaiah 66: 7-9

…32It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant they broke, though I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. 33“But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people. 34No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.”… Jeremiah 31: 32-34

MacArthur comments that "Jesus’ reply emphasized the spiritual bankruptcy of the nation at that time, since even one of the greatest of Jewish teachers did not recognize this teaching on spiritual cleansing and transformation based clearly in the OT (cf. v. 5). The net effect is to show that externals of religion may have a deadening effect on one’s spiritual perception." (Borrow The MacArthur Study Bible)

In another note MacArthur wrote "Jesus found it inexcusable that this prominent scholar was not familiar with the foundational new covenant teaching from the Old Testament regarding the only way of salvation (cf. 2 Ti 3:15). Sadly, Nicodemus serves as a clear example of the numbing effect that external, legalistic religion has on a person’s spiritual perception—even to the point of obscuring the revelation of God. His ignorance also exemplified Israel’s spiritual bankruptcy (cf. Rom. 10:2–3). In Paul’s words the Jews, failing to recognize “God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own … did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God” (Rom. 10:3). Therefore, their “zeal for God [was] not in accordance with knowledge” (Rom. 10:2), meaning that it was all for naught. (See John 1-11 MacArthur New Testament Commentary) - Precept Austin

V. 12 If I told you earthly things - This goes back to His usage of birth. If you can't understand an analogy from your own realm, how will you understand the heavenly things?

MacArthur - Because of his refusal to believe, he could not even fathom the earthly truth of the new birth, not to mention profound heavenly realities such as the relationship of the Father to the Son (John 1:1; 17:5), God’s kingdom (Matt. 25:34), or His eternal plan of redemption (Eph. 1:4; 2 Thess. 2:13; 2 Tim. 1:9). (See John 1-11 MacArthur New Testament Commentary) - Precept

V. 13 And no one has ascended into heaven - Keep in mind that He isn't talking to just anyone, but a very learned Jew. Jesus is referring to His origin from heaven, that is His basis for speaking on such things, that's where His knowledge comes from, first hand. He created perception so He is above man's perception. 

…61Aware that His disciples were grumbling about this teaching, Jesus asked them, “Does this offend you? 62Then what will happen if you see the Son of Man ascend to where He was before? 63The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.… John 6: 61-63

…3I have not learned wisdom, and I have no knowledge of the Holy One. 4Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in His hands? Who has bound up the waters in His cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is the name of His Son— surely you know! 5Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.… Proverbs 30: 3-5

…46The spiritual, however, was not first, but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. 48As was the earthly man, so also are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven.… 1 Corinthians 15: 46-48