Pentecost Season · Year C
Exaltation of the Holy Cross
September 14, 2028
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
John 3 Commentary: You Must Be Born Again Enduring Word · David Guzik
Verse by verse treatment of the Nicodemus discourse and the lifted-up saying.
Commentary on John 3:13-17 Working Preacher
Holy Cross Sunday specific reading of this exact pericope.
John 3 Commentary Precept Austin
Extensive compiled evangelical commentary excerpts on the chapter.
John 3:13 Commentaries BibleHub
Aggregated classic commentary entries verse by verse.
John 3 - Barnes' Notes StudyLight
Barnes' close philological notes on the chapter.
Feast of the Holy Cross Selected Sermon Sermons That Work · Episcopal Church
A full sermon on lifting high the cross drawn from this Gospel.
Background & Word Study
The Church Fathers
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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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