John 3:12

12 If you people don't believe me when I tell you about the things of the world, how will you believe me when I tell you about the things of heaven?

John 3:12 Meaning and Commentary

John 3:12

If I have told you earthly things
Not that the doctrines he delivered were earthly ones; for he was not of the earth, but from heaven, and above all, and so spake not of the earth, but of heaven, ( John 3:31 ) ; and this doctrine of regeneration was an heavenly doctrine; and the thing itself required supernatural power, and grace from above: but either they were the more easy doctrines of the Gospel; or were delivered in a plain and easy style, and illustrated by similes taken from earthly things, as from human birth, from the water, and from the wind:

and ye believe not;
i.e. those things; ye do not receive them, nor give credit to them; or "me", as the Ethiopic Version adds, who relate them on the best evidence, having fully known, and clearly seen them:

how shall ye believe;
give credit to me, or receive my testimony:

if I tell you of heavenly things?
of the more sublime doctrines of the Gospel, such as the descent of the Messiah from heaven; the union of the two natures, human and divine, in him; his being the only begotten Son of God; his crucifixion and death, signified by the lifting up of the serpent on a pole in the wilderness; and the wonderful love of God to the Gentile world in giving Christ to, and for them; and the salvation, and eternal happiness of all that believe in him, whether they be Jews or Gentiles; and these delivered in language suitable to them, without figures, or natural similes, which help the understanding, and convey ideas of things more easily to it.

John 3:12 In-Context

10 Yeshua answered him, "You hold the office of teacher in Isra'el, and you don't know this?

11 Yes, indeed! I tell you that what we speak about, we know; and what we give evidence of, we have seen; but you people don't accept our evidence!

12 If you people don't believe me when I tell you about the things of the world, how will you believe me when I tell you about the things of heaven?

13 No one has gone up into heaven; there is only the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man.

14 Just as Moshe lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up;