John 3:11

For the third time in this conversation Jesus affirmed a solemn truth (cf. John 3:3; John 3:5). Nicodemus had begun the conversation by humbly referring to himself as one of many authoritative figures who believed that Jesus had come from God (John 3:2): "we know." Now Jesus described Himself as one of several authoritative figures who was speaking the truth: "we know." Evidently He was referring to the Godhead. Another possibility is that both men were speaking editorially. Nicodemus probably thought He was referring to Himself humbly or possibly to Himself as one of several teachers.

Jesus claimed to be speaking the truth as an eyewitness, but Nicodemus was rejecting that witness. The Apostle John later made a similar claim. He said he wrote his first epistle that his readers might enter into the joy of fellowship with God that the apostles, who were eyewitnesses of Jesus’ ministry, enjoyed (1 John 1:1-4). John’s purpose in this Gospel was also that readers would accept his witness that Jesus was the Christ (John 20:30-31). Nicodemus had rejected the witness, and Jesus saw him as representing many others who also did (plural "you"). Nicodemus had failed to understand (John 3:9), but his more serious error was his failure to believe Jesus’ testimony about the new birth. It reflected failure to acknowledge who Jesus really was, which His signs and insight into Scripture indicated.