Pentecost Season · Year B
Exaltation of the Holy Cross
September 14, 2027
Overview & Insights
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
Nicodemus is introduced as a particular example of the “believers” mentioned in 2:23–25. As a “ member of the Jewish ruling council ” and “ Israel’s teacher ” (vv. 1, 10), he is perhaps not wholly typical of the group, though later indications are that leaders of the people were indeed conspicuous among these so-called believers (12:42). It is probably out of fear that Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night. Speaking perhaps for the larger group, he makes a confession that puts the narrator’s summary (2:23) into his own words: Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him (v. 2).
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Commentary
Commentary on John 3:13-17 Working Preacher
Luther Seminary exegesis for Holy Cross Day linking the lifted-up Son of Man to the bronze serpent.
John 3:14-21 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
Reformed preaching commentary on the serpent lifted up and God's unexpected way of saving the world.
John 3 Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik's verse-by-verse evangelical notes on the new birth and God's love for the world.
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Catholic Productions · Brant Pitre
Dr. Brant Pitre walks through the feast's readings and shows how an instrument of death becomes the source of life.
John 3:13 Commentaries BibleHub
Aggregated classic commentaries on the verse, gathered in one place.
The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Agape Bible Study
Catholic study of all the feast's readings under the theme of glorying in the Cross of Christ.
Background & Word Study
Gospel of John (Enter the Bible course) Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary introduction to the authorship, structure and theology of John's Gospel.
Overview: Gospel of John BibleProject
Animated walk-through of how John's Gospel is designed and where the lifting-up motif fits.
John 3:13 Greek Interlinear BibleHub
Word-by-word Greek text with parsing for close study of the passage's key verbs.
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
Why is this read on Holy Cross Day?
Jesus tells Nicodemus that “as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up” (John 3:14). The bronze serpent of Numbers 21 becomes a sign of the cross: all who look in faith to the crucified and risen Christ are healed and given eternal life. The reading holds John 3:16, the gospel in miniature.
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