Note 7 at Joh 3:12: The "earthly things" spoken of here could be referring to being born of the flesh (Joh 3:6) or to the parable of the wind (Joh 3:8), but if so, both of these things should have been readily understood by Nicodemus. It is more likely that these "earthly things" Jesus referred to were the truths of the new birth. Although the new birth is from heaven, it can only take place during this life and is therefore an "earthly thing."