There was this highly educated, respected, older man who was what was called a Pharisee during Jesus’ time named Nicodemus. He was also part of the Jewish ruling council called the Sanhedrin.

Do those words sound a bit familiar – Pharisee and Sanhedrin?

We hear them a lot during Holy Week.

Most of these men had a big role in Jesus begin condemned to die.

Nicodemus secretly went to Jesus to learn from Him.

He asked Jesus sincere questions, wanting to understand more about what Jesus was teaching about God’s love.

After Jesus died on the cross, Nicodemus helped with caring for His body for burial, which took courage and showed his belief in Jesus.

Back when I was a Youth Minister, I got to know a boy named Jason who is now a married man enjoying his first child, a son he named Nicodemus after this brave man of faith.

Jason and his little baby boy came to mind as I read this coming Sunday’s Gospel reading.

Jesus said to Nicodemus…
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him. John 3:13a,16-17

We will hear the famous John 3:16 at Mass this weekend – part of Jesus’ answer to one of Nicodemus’ questions.

Jesus will reveal God’s ultimate, unconditional, eternal love for us through being raised up on a cross, giving His life for you, me, and every human being on Earth.

For us Catholics, the horrific tool of a tortuous death, the cross has become a sacred sacramental.

It is a sacred reminder of the sacrifice God made of His Son Jesus for us.

As we prepare to honor the cross this weekend, let’s make a point to look at a cross each day this week.

Let’s see what pondering for a minute each day the sacrifice Jesus made for us by looking at a cross does…maybe, like Nicodemus, we will seek to know Jesus more.

Blessings of the Cross!