3:9-12 Why did Jesus expect Nicodemus to know "these things"?
3:9-12 Why did Jesus expect Nicodemus to know "these things"?
Nicodemus' response in V4 to what Jesus said in V3 indicated that he had no idea what Jesus meant about having to be born again to see the kingdom of Heaven (CP V1-4).
Neither did he know what Jesus meant about having to be born of water and of the Spirit to enter into into the kingdom in V9, yet Nicodemus should have known because he was recognized throughout Israel as an authority on the Old Testament - Jesus called Him "a master of Israel" (KJV) - and the Old Testament teaches the new birth (CP Jer 31:33; Eze 11:19; 36:25-27; Joel 2:28-29).
Nicodemus' failure to understand what Jesus said underlined His failure to believe Jesus' witness. This was typical of the nation as a whole and Jesus rebuked him for it (see also comments on Jn 3:3; Jn 3:5 and Jn 3:8).