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Exalting the Crucified Messiah
Jesus said to Nicodemus: “No one has gone up to heaven except the
one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as
Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man
be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal
life.” John 3:13–15
Today, as we celebrate the great Feast of the Exaltation of the
Holy Cross, we are invited to ponder Jesus’ conversation with
Nicodemus, “a ruler of the Jews” (John 3:1). Nicodemus was one of
the few Pharisees who believed in Jesus. In many Eastern Churches,
he is honored as a saint.
Nicodemus approached Jesus early in His public ministry. By that
time, Jesus had called some of His Apostles, performed His first
sign at the wedding in Cana, and traveled to Jerusalem for
Passover, where He cleansed the Temple, declaring, “Take these out
of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace” (John
2:16). This was the first major public confrontation between Jesus
and the religious leaders, many of whom were scandalized.
Nicodemus, however, was moved by grace and came to Jesus secretly
by night, saying, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has
come from God…” (John 3:2). Today’s Gospel is drawn from that quiet
exchange.
As their conversation unfolds, Jesus turns Nicodemus’ attention to
a mysterious episode from Israel’s history, one Nicodemus would
have known well. When the Israelites sinned by speaking against God
and Moses, the Lord sent serpents among them. Many of the people
died. But when the people repented, God instructed Moses to mount a
bronze serpent on a pole; those who looked upon it in faith were
healed. Jesus reveals that this ancient sign prefigured something
far greater: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so
must the Son of Man be lifted up.”
This “lifting up” lies at the heart of today’s feast. The
Exaltation of the Holy Cross is more than a remembrance of Christ’s
suffering, it is a celebration of His victory. The Cross, once an
instrument of Roman execution, has become the Tree of Life. Through
His self-offering, Jesus conquered sin and death, transforming a
curse into a blessing.
Return to Nicodemus. Having witnessed the miracle at Cana, the
cleansing of the Temple, and Jesus’ powerful teaching, he was
clearly stirred, yet still fearful, which is why he came at night.
Imagine him hearing Jesus refer to Moses and the bronze serpent,
and then saying, “So must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that
everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”
The title “Son of Man” comes from the Book of Daniel (7:13–14), in
which the prophet sees the “one like a son of man” coming on the
clouds of heaven to receive everlasting dominion. Jesus used this
title frequently to describe Himself, linking His earthly mission
with divine authority.
In His encounter with Nicodemus, Jesus veils the deeper meaning.
His being “lifted up” refers not to earthly power, but to His
Crucifixion. Nicodemus likely didn’t grasp this at the time. He may
have assumed Jesus was foretelling a messianic rise to political
rule, overthrowing Roman oppression. Only after the Crucifixion and
Resurrection would Nicodemus—and the other disciples—begin to
understand the true nature of this first revelation that the
lifting up of the Son of Man was the lifting of the Cross, the
source of healing, life, and eternal glory.
Today, we are invited to exalt Christ’s Cross in our own souls. The
paradox of the Cross—that such brutal torture and death brings
life—is our glory. Because of Jesus’ Cross and the saving power
that flowed from it, every suffering we endure, every cross we
carry, and every injustice we suffer has the potential to share in
the Exultation of the Holy Cross if we allow ourselves to be lifted
up with Him, in confidence and rejoicing.
Reflect today on the mystery Jesus first revealed in secret.
Through His exaltation on the Cross, He brings salvation to all who
believe, also enabling our crosses to share in His triumph. Gaze
upon the Cross with faith. What once symbolized death has become
our hope, our healing, and our path to eternal life.
Most highly exalted Lord, though You spoke in veiled language
when revealing Your “lifting up” to Nicodemus, You later spoke
clearly as You offered Your life on the Cross for the salvation of
the world. I pray that You and Your perfect Sacrifice may always be
exalted in my heart—first through gratitude and praise, and then
through imitation. Lift me up in every cross I carry, so that You
may continue to be exalted through my life for the world to
see.
Image: The Finding of the Holy Cross, by Nicola Maria
Rossi
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