Pentecost Season · Year A
Holy Cross
September 14, 2026
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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Take it further: John 3:13-17
Commentary
Working Preacher: John 3:13-17 (Holy Cross)Working Preacher: Jn 3:13-17 (Holy Cross) Working Preacher
Luther Seminary's per-Sunday exegesis reading the lifted-up serpent as John's window on the cross.
CEP: John 3:1-17CEP: Jn 3:1-17 Center for Excellence in Preaching
Reformed preaching commentary on being born from above and God's initiative in salvation.
Enduring Word: John 3Enduring Word: Jn 3 Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik's verse-by-verse evangelical notes on the whole chapter.
Precept Austin: John 3 CommentaryPrecept Austin: Jn 3 Commentary Precept Austin
Deep verse-level study links, Greek word notes, and gathered quotations.
BibleHub: John 3:13 CommentariesBibleHub: Jn 3:13 Commentaries BibleHub
Aggregated classic commentaries (Barnes, Gill, Pulpit, Meyer) on the verse.
Haydock's Catholic Commentary: John 3Haydock's Catholic Commentary: Jn 3 StudyLight
A Catholic classic commentary voice for an ecumenical read of the passage.
Background & Word Study
The Church Fathers
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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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