Holy Tuesday
What is Holy Tuesday?
In Christianity, Holy
Tuesday is the last Tuesday prior to Easter
Sunday.
It is the third day of Holy Week after Palm Sunday and Holy Monday.
Depending on the
denomination, this day may or may not be celebrated at all.
Those that do observe
Holy Tuesday, such as Eastern Orthodox churches,
typically mark it with readings of particular passages of Scriptures and the
singing of relevant hymns.
According to common
interpretation of the Bible, Holy Tuesday is when Jesus was issued various
challenges by the Pharisees and Sadducees over subjects such as marriage in
heaven, paying taxes to Caesar, and the source of His authority (Matthew 21:23 - 23:39; Mark 11:27 – 12:44; Luke 20:1 – 21:4).
By this same
interpretation, this is the day Jesus commented on the widow’s donation (Mark 12; Luke 21).
Also, Jesus was
approached by a number of God-fearing Greeks (John 12:20-36).
Tuesday would also be
the day Jesus spoke His eight “woes” against the Pharisees (Matthew 23:13-36).
In the evening He
delivered the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24:-25; Mark 13; Luke 21:5-36).
Holy Tuesday is the day
following Holy Monday, and the next day in Holy Week is sometimes referred to
as Holy Wednesday or Spy
Wednesday.It should be noted that events in the Gospels were not necessarily recorded chronologically.
Also, Roman and Jewish days
started at different times, making the chronology even more difficult to sort
out.
For these reasons, it is
unwise to be dogmatic about precisely which events occurred on which days
leading up to Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion.
Holiness is a requirement for the Christian. “Without holiness
no one will see the Lord” (Hebrew 12:14).
The difference between God
and us is that He is inherently holy while we, on the other hand, only become
holy in relationship to Christ.
To be “holy” means that we are “set apart for honorable use.”
Whereas we were “once foolish, disobedient,
led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures . . . Jesus our Savior . .
. saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to
his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:3-5).
The Lord took the
initiative to pull us out of our former lifestyles. He saved us, cleansed us,
and set us apart for righteousness.
If we have believed in
Christ for salvation, we have been washed by the regeneration of the Holy
Spirit and set apart from the world for godliness (Romans 12:2).
However, the pursuit of
holiness does not end when we come to Christ.
In fact, it just begins!
This is a positional
holiness that we inherit after we are born again and a practical holiness which
we must actively pursue.
We only increase in
practical holiness as we mature spiritually.
The New Testament
emphasizes the pursuit of holiness in this world
and the final attainment of holiness in the world
to come.
God expects us to
cultivate a lifestyle of holiness (1 Peter 1:14-16).
He commands us to “cleanse ourselves of all
defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1).
Bringing holiness to “perfection” means that we should be
increasing in spiritual fruitfulness every day.
We are to consider
ourselves “dead to sin” (Romans 6:11).
We refuse to revert back
to our former lifestyles.
In this way we “cleanse [ourselves] from
what is dishonorable,” becoming vessels for “honorable use, set apart as holy,
useful to the master . . . for every good work” (2 Timothy 2:21).
Holiness is the mark of
every true Christian (1 John 3:9-10).
Cultivating a lifestyle of
holiness does not mean that we must draft a list of do’s and don’ts to live by.
We are free from the
letter of the law which kills (2
Corinthians 3:6).
And now live according to
the dictates of the Holy Spirit (Galatians
5:16-18).
God’s ultimate desire for
His people is that we be holy—conformed into the image of His Son, Jesus (Romans 8:29; 1 Thessanolians 4:3-4).
Holiness is the will of
God for our lives.
The flesh is weak (Mark 14:38).
None of us will reach sinless perfection in this world, but God has
made provision for our sin. “If we confess our sins, he
is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all
unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
Our pursuit of holiness in
this world includes daily confessing and forsaking sin.
God helps us in our
weakness by giving us His Holy Spirit who reveals the mind of Christ to us and
enables us to carry out His will (1 Corinthians 2:14-16; Philippians 2:13).
When we yield to the
Spirit, we become fruit-bearing Christians, yielding a harvest with which God
is well pleased (Galatians 5:22-23).
God was gracious enough to redeem us
from sin and death and give us new life in Christ.
You can accept God’s mercy and offer
of forgiveness now, start a holy life and be pleasing to Him.
Open your heart and say this
prayer:
“Father God, I confess I am a sinner and my sins have
separated me from You.
I am truly sorry. I now want to turn away from my past sinful life
and live a new life pleasing to You.
Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again.
I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was
resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer.
I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and
reign in my heart from this day forward. Thank You that according to Your Word,
I am now born again.
Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do
Your will for the rest of my life. I promise to study your Word - the Bible.
Use me for Your glory.
In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.”
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“Holy,
Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty”
Reginald Heber
John B. Dykes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMLpAv1SlroClydeMcLennanTraditionalHymns
1. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
2. Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore
thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.
3. Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide
thee,
though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
perfect in power, in love and purity.
though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
perfect in power, in love and purity.
4. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name, in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity.
All thy works shall praise thy name, in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity.
Holy Tuesday
Calendar:
2018 – March 27
2019 – April 16
2020 – April 7
2019 – April 16
2020 – April 7
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