Shayla:

How do we interpret John 3:13 in light of Elijah and Enoch who were “translated” before they died?

• John 3:13 HCSB No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven--the Son of Man.

Midrash:

Until the Messiah paid our way on the cross, every righteous person who died went to Paradise (aka Abraham’s Bosom). Even on the very day of crucifixion, the Lord told the thief on the cross, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” Many people make the mistake in their eschatology of confusing Paradise (which was in Sheol) with Heaven. At the point in time that this statement was made, no one (except the Son) had gone to heaven yet.