Palm Sunday, or the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem as it may be called in Orthodox Churches, is one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the liturgical year. The day before Palm Sunday, Lazarus Saturday, believers often prepare palm fronds by knotting them into crosses in preparation for the procession on Sunday.
The Orthodox Church celebrates Lazarus Saturday and claim it is the day before Palm Sunday. Lazarus Saturday, celebrates the raising of Lazarus from the dead by the Lord Jesus.
BUT, John 12:1 “Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.” says it happened before that.
Matthew, Mark, Luke do not comment on Lazarus nor Palm Sunday.
John 11:1-57 records the raising Lazarus from the dead.
John 12:1-18 records what we call Palm Sunday.
Because all of Jerusalem had heard of the raising of Lazarus, and because of the Lord’s 3 years of proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, His teachings, healings, casting out demons and His other miracles, they wanted to proclaim Him king.
John 12:13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
John 12:17-18 The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record. For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.
But not the Jewish leaders, they plotted to kill Him.
John 12:10 But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
Whether one celebrates these days is of little matter. They have NOTHING to do with salvation.
Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 and Romans 10:9-13.
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