The Holy Trinity, Year B
Trinity Sunday The Sunday after Pentecost Revised Common Lectionary, Year B, the year of Mark Green
Next read on .
The Gospel: John 3:1–17
Nicodemus visits Jesus by night, and Jesus tells him one must be born anew, adding that God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.
What is going on
Trinity Sunday is about who God is: one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Gospel is a conversation at night.
Nicodemus, a respected teacher, comes to Jesus in the dark. Jesus tells him that no one can see God’s kingdom without being born anew, of water and the Spirit, and Nicodemus asks how that can happen.
Jesus says the Spirit is like the wind: you hear it, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it goes. Then he says that God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, to save the world, not to condemn it.
John 3:1-17
Most churches stand for the Gospel, and sing or say a short response before and after it.
The passage
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 The same came to him by night, and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see God’s Kingdom.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can’t enter into God’s Kingdom. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Don’t marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’ 8 The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don’t know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus answered him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and don’t understand these things? 11 Most certainly I tell you, we speak that which we know, and testify of that which we have seen, and you don’t receive our witness. 12 If I told you earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven. 14 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
The other readings
In the order they are read on Sunday, before the Gospel.
Isaiah 6:1-8
In the temple Isaiah sees the Lord enthroned among seraphim, a live coal cleanses his lips, and when God asks whom to send, Isaiah offers to go.
Read it here
1 In the year that king Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each one had six wings. With two he covered his face. With two he covered his feet. With two he flew. 3 One called to another, and said, “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of Armies! The whole earth is full of his glory!” 4 The foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then I said, “Woe is me! For I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips: for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Armies!” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar. 7 He touched my mouth with it, and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away, and your sin forgiven.” 8 I heard the Lord’s voice, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am. Send me!”
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
Psalm 29
A song of praise to the LORD, whose mighty voice thunders over the waters and who gives strength and peace to his people.
Read it here
1 Ascribe to the LORD, you sons of the mighty, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to his name. Worship the LORD in holy array. 3 The LORD’s voice is on the waters. The God of glory thunders, even the LORD on many waters. 4 The LORD’s voice is powerful. The LORD’s voice is full of majesty. 5 The LORD’s voice breaks the cedars. Yes, the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young, wild ox. 7 The LORD’s voice strikes with flashes of lightning. 8 The LORD’s voice shakes the wilderness. The LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 9 The LORD’s voice makes the deer calve, and strips the forests bare. In his temple everything says, “Glory!” 10 The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood. Yes, the LORD sits as King forever. 11 The LORD will give strength to his people. The LORD will bless his people with peace.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
Romans 8:12-17
Paul tells the Romans that those led by God’s Spirit are God’s children and heirs with Christ, sharing in his suffering and his glory.
Read it here
12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God. 15 For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God; 17 and if children, then heirs: heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.
World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →
A question to carry into the week
Nicodemus brought his honest questions to Jesus at night. What question would you bring?
For your newsletter or sermon notes
These readings are told as stories on our sister site, Free Scripture, one scene at a time in plain words. The lines below are ready to paste. The next eight Sundays, and every story.
The Holy Trinity (Trinity Sunday) · Revised Common Lectionary, Year B · the same Sunday at the Vanderbilt Divinity Library. Scripture text: World English Bible, public domain.
Revised Common Lectionary copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org Used by permission.