What does John 3:13 mean?
The term "Son of Man" is a name Jesus often used 'for Himself. He will refer to Himself using this title several times in the Gospels. Virtually all Jewish people of that era would have recognized the phrase. It connects Jesus to Old Testament prophecy (Daniel 7:13–14). Previously (John 1:51), Jesus used this term while describing angels ascending and descending.Here, He is saying that no person has ever gone to heaven and returned. The only person present on earth who was once in heaven is Christ Himself. Recently (John 3:11–12), Jesus explained that a person who won't believe earthly claims won't believe heavenly ones, either. If Nicodemus, or anyone else, rejects what Jesus says about heaven, there isn't any other source to which they can go. This is one of the places in John chapter 3 where Jesus makes a claim to "exclusivity." In short, this means Jesus is the one and only way to God; there are no other options (John 3:36).