Holy Tuesday
Posted on April 15, 2025 by under
Scripture: St. John 12:24-43 (NKJV)
12:24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.
27 “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify Your name.”
Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”
29 Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.”
30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” 33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die.
34 The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”
35 Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.
37 But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, 38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke:
“Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
39 Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:
40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.”
41 These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.
42 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
Devotion
A voice from heaven identifies the Lord Jesus as the Messiah three times during His earthly ministry. At His baptism in the Jordan River by St. John the Baptist, the voice from heaven declares Jesus to be His beloved, Only-begotten Son. The second time was on the mount of Transfiguration, when Moses and Elijah were speaking with our Lord Jesus about His upcoming crucifixion, death, and resurrection. Again, the voice from heaven declared the Lord Jesus to be His beloved, Only-begotten Son, sent to do His will of redeeming mankind from their sins.
Today, we hear the third time. Our Lord is telling His disciples, and those gathered around, about His upcoming crucifixion and death. By His death He defeats the devil, death, and sin, once and for all. His sacrifice atones for the sins of the whole world. This death on the tree of the cross will draw all men to the Christ, the One anointed by the heavenly Father to come and redeem mankind. The voice from heaven declares that His name would be glorified in the death of the Lord Jesus.
The heavenly Father is indeed glorified by the death of Jesus because He has fulfilled His will. By His death mankind will be drawn to repent of their sins, and believe on the Lord Jesus, so that they might have life everlasting with the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost and glorify His holy name.
Collect: Almighty and Everlasting God, grant us grace so to contemplate the Passion of our Lord, that we may find therein forgiveness for our sins; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Season of Lent
Almighty and Everlasting God, Who hatest nothing that Thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
