Has Anyone Ascended into Heaven?

Has Anyone Ascended into Heaven?

In John 3:13, it seems to say only Jesus ascended into Heaven; however, Genesis 5:24, 2 Kings 2:11, and Hebrews 11:5 seem to say it has happened. Is this a contradiction? Not at all.

To answer this question, we must examine what Jesus is actually saying: "Nicodemus responded and said to Him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered and said to him, “You are the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you people do not accept our testimony. If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven, except He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man," (John 3:9-13 NASB). 

Jesus is speaking to a Jewish leader named Nicodemus. Nicodemus becomes puzzled after a prior statement by Jesus, and asks for clarity. Jesus asks a rhetorical question to make Nicodemus think, how can you be a Jewish leader, yet not know this? He continues with why this is, we speak and know based on what is seen. How can I tell you of Heavenly matters if you do not understand Earthly ones? None can but Jesus, the Son of Man, for he descended from Heaven. 

As one commentary says: "No man, therefore, is qualified to speak of heavenly things, John 3:12. To speak of those things requires intimate acquaintance with them - demands that we have seen them; and as no one has ascended into heaven and returned, so no one is qualified to speak of them but He who came down from heaven. This does not mean that no one had gone to heaven or had been saved, for Enoch and Elijah had been borne there (Genesis 5:24; compare Hebrews 11:5; 2 Kings 2:11); and Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and others were there: but it means that no one had ascended and "returned," so as to be qualified to speak of the things there. But he that came down ... - The Lord Jesus. He is represented as coming down, because, being equal with God, he took upon himself our nature, John 1:14; Philippians 2:6-7. He is represented as "sent" by the Father, John 3:17, John 3:34; Galatians 4:4; 1 John 4:9-10," (Barnes).

Works Cited:
Barnes' Notes on the New Testament. United Kingdom, Kregel Publications, 1962.

NASB 1995 Bible. United States, American Bible Society, 1995.