A Handy Tool for Understanding the Events of Holy Week

CHRONOLOGY OF THE WEEK LEADING UP TO THE CRUCIFIXION & RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD JESUS

Note:  Jewish days began at sunset (6 pm) - thus, a Jewish Friday begins at 6 pm (our Thursday evening) and ends at 6 pm the following day, whereas our days are from midnight to midnight.

SATURDAY – Day before Palm Sunday

Anointed at Bethany - Mt. 26:6-13;  Mk. 14:3-9;  Jn. 12:1-11

PALM SUNDAY

Enters Jerusalem triumphantly - Mt. 21:1-11;  Mk. 11:1-11;  Lk. 19:28-40;  Jn. 12:12-19

Weeps over the city - Lk. 19:41-44

Healing of the blind & lame - Mt. 21:14-17

MONDAY

Curses the fig tree - Mt. 21:18-22;  Mk. 11:12-14, 20-26

Cleanses the temple - Mt. 21:12, 13;  Mk. 11:15-19;  Lk. 19:45-48

Son of Man must be lifted up / Unbelief of the multitude - Jn. 12:20-50

TUESDAY

Teaches by parables in the temple - Mt. 21:23 - 22:14;  Mk. 11:27 - 12:12;  Lk. 20:1-19

Confounds the religious leaders -  Mt. 22:15 - 23:39;  Mk. 12:13-40;  Lk. 20:20-47

The Widow's Gift - Mk. 12:41-44; Lk. 21:1-4

Delivers the Olivet Discourse -  Mt. 24:1 - 25:46;  Mk. 13:1-37;  Lk. 21:5-38

WEDNESDAY

Judas plots with Sanhedrin - Mt. 26:1-5, 14-16;  Mk. 14:1,2,10,11;  Lk. 22:1-6

THURSDAY - Our Thursday evening - beginning of Jewish Friday

Washes the disciple’s feet and eats Passover meal (Last Supper) - Jn. 13:1-38;  Mt. 26:17-30;  

Mk. 14:12-26; Lk. 22:7-38

Delivers last words to disciples -  Jn. 14 - 17

Prays in the garden and is betrayed - Mt. 26:31-56;  Mk. 14:32-52;  Lk. 22:39-53;  Jn. 18:1-12

FRIDAY - Beginning very late on our Thursday eve and going through Fri. afternoon – Preparation Day)

Brought before Annas.  Peter’s first denial of Jesus - Jn. 18:12-23

Brought before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin.  Peter’s second & third denial of Jesus.  The rooster  crows.  Jesus mocked, blindfolded & beaten. -  Mt. 26:57-75, 27: 1; Mk. 14:53-72, 15:1; Lk. 22:54-71; Jn. 18:24-27

Brought before Pilate the first time.  Judas hangs himself. - Mt. 27:2-14;  Mk. 15:1-5;  Lk. 23:1-5; Jn. 18:28-40

Sent to Herod Antipas. - Lk. 23:6-12

Before Pilate a second time.  Condemned, mocked, and beaten. - Mt. 27:15-31;  Mk. 15:6-20;  Lk. 23:13-25;  
Jn. 19:1-16

Crucified at Golgotha (the third hour - 9 am) - Mt. 27:31-44;  Mk. 15:20-33;  Lk. 23:26-43; Jn. 19:16-30

Darkness throughout the land - 6th through 9th hour / noon to 3 p.m.). Jesus dies 9th hour / 3 p.m. - Mt. 27:45-56; Mk. 15:33-41; Lk. 23:44-49; Jn. 19:30-37

Buried in Joseph’s tomb. -  Mt. 27:57-61;  Mk. 15:42-47;  Lk. 23:50-56a;  Jn. 19:31-42

SATURDAY

Pilate seals the tomb and appoints a guard.  Sabbath rest. -  Mt. 27:62-66;  Lk. 23:56b

SUNDAY

Rises from the dead and appears to Mary Magdalene (still dark). - Mt. 28:1-10; Mk. 16:1-8;  Jn. 20:1-18

Appears to the women. - Mk. 16:9-11; Lk. 24:1-12

Appears to Peter. - Lk. 24:34;  I Cor. 15:5

Soldiers bribed to lie. - Mt. 28:11-15

Appears to the Emmaus disciples. -  Mk. 16:12,13;  Lk. 24:13-32

Appears to the disciples w/o Thomas. - Mk. 16:14-18;  Lk. 24:33-49;  Jn. 20:19-25; I Cor. 15:5

Appears to the disciples with Thomas. - Jn. 20:26-29



Worship

On Tuesday and Thursday of every week the members of the Christian Life Program gather in the Multipurpose room of the CLC and spend time in worship to our Lord and God.  It is a very simple meeting with some singing and praying, yet it has become a highlight of the men’s activities.  At 7 a.m. after some coffee and breakfast they simply gather throughout the 50 x 80 foot room, some at tables, some standing, some sitting, and we worship God in songs of praise and thanksgiving.  With the words projected on a screen with an overhead projector and a CD of the song, we bless God and we pray.  We pray for each other and for this world which desperately needs Him.  It is a blessed event.

As a Mission staff member I am blown away with the hunger to worship the men have.  They leave the room singing the songs.  They come to me asking for copies of the words.  Today a new man on the program, Derek, at the end asked to say something and turned to the group of 60 or so men and said how he has been in many churches with sometimes hundreds of people and has never heard men sing with such heart and soul. 

This has been our dream for some time, to begin days looking at and to God as a hungry people.  Honoring God as our God with thanksgivings for His willing suffering, death, burial, resurrection and then sending us His Spirit.  What a privilege and joy to be with these men worshipping God. 

(Submitted by Gary Mountz, Men’s Ministries Director at City Union Mission.)

A Special Thank You for Mission: Christmas 2012

As another Christmas Distribution Day wound down on Monday December 24th, I was reflecting on all the work that went into making that day so successful.  It took months of careful planning, diligent scheduling, daily execution of the plans, and of course all of the volunteers who gave their time to help qualify each of the families, those who helped them shop in our store, and those who wrapped the many gifts that more donors were now delivering. 

As I looked over a mountain of paperwork sitting on one of our tables, I saw a nicely decorated envelope with a bow on top. I asked if anyone knew what it was, and a volunteer told me one of our volunteer deliverers had brought it back from a family they delivered to. I was somewhat surprised to find that envelope addressed to us. So I just had to open it and see what this might be about.   Inside was a beautiful Christmas card, which read, "Thanks so much for all you do each year for me and my family. We really love you guys!   We wish you all the best." 

I began to share the note with those that were here helping wrap things up.  A longtime volunteer remarked he couldn't ever remember a family sending such a card.  What an encouragement to know the impact that the Mission has made on that family! I couldn't resist the opportunity to share this with others and especially those who have had a hand in helping this Christmas.

So to all those who donated this Christmas - thank you for your support of the Mission and efforts to minister to those in the community; And to all those who volunteered their time and efforts - thank you for your part in helping make a successful ‘Mission: Christmas 2012’ and being a blessing to so many families like this one this Christmas.   

(From Scott Wilson, Seasonal Projects Administrator at City Union Mission)

A Little Girl's Christmas Gift Wish Answered

Today, at the Mission's Christmas Store I was blessed to witness God answering a young girl's specific Christmas gift wish.  Peggy Ramsey, Family Center Administrative Assistant, was on a quest at our Christmas Store to find the donated gifts that would best fit the wish list of our VYC kids (Vanderberg Youth Center). 

One little girl had asked for a ‘Baby Alive’ doll. We had several dolls that Peggy had looked at, unsure if this little girl would be happy with just any baby doll.  We both had the same thought -- that this little girl was so specific about the type of doll she was hoping for, and that was what she should get.  So, Peggy continued searching through the gifts. 

After a prayer breathed to God, Peggy looked in a bag just delivered that morning by Maranatha Academy's 6th grade students.  She reach in and pulled out a ‘Baby Alive’ doll!   There certainly was a "hallelujah" lifted up to the Lord for answering this little girl's specific wish, not only for that particular doll, but also that the skin color matched that of the little girl!  The student and his family that donated this particular doll I am sure had no idea how they were going to be a part of God's plan to answer this specific Christmas wish.   Their gift was right on time - God's time!

(Submitted by Sandy Baldwin, Donor Connection Specialist at City Union Mission)

A Card Game Opens Door for Discussion

A few days ago the Men’s Shelter staff approached 'Carl', a man in the day room who was playing a card game that had strong demonic emphasis. The gentleman became very upset that he couldn't play his game and demanded to speak with me, the Shelter Administrator.

The next day he came into my office and vented his frustrations on how we were unfair to him for not letting him play his card game that was associated with black magic and other occult type activity. I informed him that it wasn't card playing that we were against, but rather the type of game it was and what it stood for, and that we, as a Christian organization, stand upon Jesus Christ and the Word of God. Carl still didn't seem to understand, even though I tried to minister to him as clearly and lovingly as I could.

Staff members knew that this gentleman was a professing atheist and had been specifically praying for him. Three days later Carl came into my office, looking quite different (like he was beaming). He told me that on this particular day that something told him to go to our Meeting Jesus Ministry class (in which he had not a part of). He began to listen to Anthony, the class facilitator and daytime Shelter Manager, as he was ministering the Word.  Carl told me that "something hit him". He shared with me that he received Jesus as his Savior before everyone!

As we sat in my office today and I listened to him describe his conversion experience, I could tell it was genuine. Please join with us to lift up our new family member in prayer and also that the Father would give us the tools and the wisdom to continue to assist Carl in his walk with Christ.

(Submitted by Greg Miller, Men’s Shelter Administrator at City Union Mission)

One Who Came Back To Say “Gracias”

Though staff and volunteers who work in Community Assistance love to assist the women and families we serve, during the busy holiday season the numbers of clients we see can be very draining. Among those we serve are Latino families and women who often speak very little English. We are thankful for bilingual volunteers and also Google Translate that allows us to communicate with these clients. Often there is someone in these households who is working, but the income is simply not enough to meet their needs.

Hilda came for Christmas assistance. Hilda works as a maid at a local motel making $3.75 an hour.  We are aware that they sometimes earn tips in addition, but how many of us remember to leave a tip for the maid who cleans up after us? With the aid of Google Translate, I was able to have a conversation with Hilda and offer her more than simply the Christmas gifts she was seeking. After completing intake, Hilda left my office to wait for the spiritual conversation with our volunteer. Then Hilda remembered and turned around, coming back to my office to express her thanks. It nearly brings tears to my eyes as I think about her.

(Submitted by Lydia Allen – Community Assistance Administrator at City Union Mission)

Christian Life Program – Fall Retreat 2012

This last Wednesday evening through Saturday afternoon, approximately 25 clients from the City and Farm Christian Life Programs participated in a retreat at the Mission’s camp facilities in Warsaw, Missouri. The topic for the retreat was “How to biblically handle our emotions”, covering topics such as guilt and shame, sufferings and trials, depression, fear and worry, and anger. Many comments from both participating staff and clients indicated the teaching and discussions were very helpful and valuable for their encouragement and development.

One meaningful discussion involved a couple of the men expressing that they were afraid of the reaction of some of their family members, as their families were not supportive of their Christian faith and their attempt to recovery toward sobriety. They were afraid of judgment, criticism and possible rejection by these family members if they continued to move toward Jesus Christ. They were in fear of failing in their commitment to Jesus and commitment to their personal life change and recovery.

It was encouraging to hear other men acknowledge the same fears and offer words of support and prayer. A focus was made to remember that when Jesus calls us to follow him, he will not leave us without his support . . . “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”. Nothing is more meaningful than to be with other men who know their weaknesses, but also experience fellowship together as they trust their lives and transformation into the care of the Father God who promises His care for them!

(Submitted by Bret Kroh, Assistant Administrator of the Christian Life Program at City Union Mission)