Sermon: The Wisdom of the Cross (Exaltation of the Holy Cross)
Gospel Reading (John 3:13-17)
Jesus said, “No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
A story is told about a young soldier serving under Napoleon who was put in charge of keeping watch at night. It was a vital task, for if it wasn’t fulfilled properly, an enemy could quietly launch a surprise attack. Unfortunately, the young soldier fell asleep on duty. The penalty for sleeping on watch was death, and Napoleon, wanting to make an example of him, ordered his execution.
The soldier’s mother came before Napoleon, pleading for her son’s life. “Please have mercy on my son,” she begged. Napoleon responded, “Your son does not deserve mercy.” To which the mother replied, “If he deserved it, it wouldn’t be mercy.” Supposedly, Napoleon was so moved by her answer that he pardoned the young soldier.
I wonder how much of our Christian walk goes off course simply because we fail to define essential terms properly. We misunderstand what is meant by the foundational truths and gifts given to us to live by—mercy, love, worship, devotion. It is so easy to adopt worldly definitions rather than allowing the Word of God to define our reality.
Worldly Expectations vs. Divine Wisdom
St. Paul alludes to this struggle in his second letter to the Corinthians. He speaks of how the Jews look for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, yet God reveals Himself in what appears to be sheer foolishness to both.
Why does God enter our reality in the most unexpected ways? Why was Jesus unrecognized by so many when He came? Primarily because people held worldly expectations of how God ought to act and how the Messiah ought to appear. They had defined love, mercy, and discipleship through human eyes rather than divine truth.
Jesus accomplished His saving work precisely because the world failed to grasp what He was doing. Even His enemies did not realize that the moment they crucified Him, the victory was already won. They believed that in the weakness and death of the Messiah they had triumphed, yet it was precisely through that weakness and death that God achieved ultimate victory.
Looking Upon the Bronze Serpent
In the third chapter of St. John’s Gospel, Jesus connects His mission to an unusual event in the Old Testament: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up.”
In the wilderness, those who were bitten by venomous serpents had to look upon a bronze serpent erected on a pole by Moses in order to be healed. To human reason, it made no sense. They were asked to act out of faith rather than mere human logic. Yet, once taken in faith, God’s directive revealed its deeper meaning.
Modern psychology recognizes a similar principle when helping people heal from trauma or fear: healing comes not by running away or looking away, but by learning to look directly at the source of pain. By looking in faith upon the bronze serpent—the symbol of their suffering—the Israelites received healing.
This strange event was a prophetic revelation of how God would save humanity. Just as the serpent was raised in the wilderness, the Son of Man had to be lifted up so that whoever looks upon Him in faith may be saved.
Boasting in Our Weakness
When we look upon the Cross, what do we see? We do not see a triumphant victory in worldly terms. We see shame, suffering, and death—all the burdens of human existence, our sins, fears, and failures, taken up by Jesus.
Scripture speaks of the stone which the builders rejected becoming the cornerstone. Jesus, rejected by the world and bearing its sin, becomes the foundation of our salvation. This is why the Cross of Christ is our wisdom; it confounds worldly logic, but through faith, it reveals the power of God.
Reflecting on our own lives, it is tempting to ignore our past mistakes and pain, dwelling only on our successes. Yet the people we are today have been shaped by our trials and sufferings. St. Paul wrote, “I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses,” not because weakness itself is good, but because humility before God allows His grace to work within us.
We are not saved by our own greatness, but by humbly acknowledging our reliance on God. We do not have all the answers, and admitting our brokenness is nothing to be embarrassed about. Looking upon the Cross displays our weaknesses, not so that God may shame us, but so that He may redeem, renew, and embrace us.
From Condemnation to Redemption
Jesus reminds us that God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
We live in a culture often characterized by judgment and cancellation. While worldly cancellation seeks to cast off and condemn, God’s way cancels our debt of sin through mercy. We are called not to bring condemnation into the world, but to share the redeeming love of Christ that offers everyone a chance to begin anew.
Let us pray:
Lord Jesus Christ, who for our salvation was lifted up upon the Cross:
Grant us grace to look upon your suffering with eyes of faith,
that acknowledging our weakness and brokenness,
we may receive your healing mercy, reject the standards of this world,
and become instruments of your saving love.
Through your holy name we pray. Amen.