Published: 23 July 2014
http://harmonypb.org/grace-plus-nothing/2014/jul/23/descending-god/
“And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.” (John 3:13)
Nicodemus is already amazed by the doctrine that Jesus has been teaching. But Jesus called the things He already said “earthly.” Those were doctrines more easily understood. Now, Jesus will begin teaching more advanced principles of the Messiah.
One of the most important things to understand about who the Messiah is that he is no ordinary man. He is God in the flesh.
In this verse, Jesus is explaining that the doctrine He is teaching came from heaven. With that declaration, Jesus is saying that no regular man went up to heaven, learned this doctrine from God, and then brought it down to earth. He is saying that what He is teaching He learned from the Father in heaven. And if He learned it from the Father in heaven and did not ascend up to heaven to get it, He was already there.
Jesus is declaring, “I am God!”