Esotropiart

There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame." But Abraham said, "Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us." And he said, "Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house - for I have five brothers - so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment." But Abraham said, "They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them." And he said, "No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent." He said to him, "If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead."

Luke 16:19-31 ESL

I find this scripture fascinating on a number of levels. To me it differs from most of Jesus' other parables. The majority of the parables relate a fairly commonplace example that the average person in the original Jewish culture (and even now) could associate with (whether they understand the deeper meaning is a different story).

This parable about Lazarus and the rich man parts with the standard parable pattern, giving us a glimpse into what more resembles a prophetic vision. I mean, this is fairly bizarre stuff. Lazarus inside "Abraham's bosom" is practically screaming for a silly drawing! :) I have no way to verify if Jesus shared this parable solely to illustrate a point. The story may reveal otherwise undisclosed factual details about what Hades or hell is like (not necessarily one and the same).

Whether symbolic for illustrative purposes or a clear picture of eternal things, it may not be possible to ascertain until we arrive to experience it all ourselves. My basic, underdeveloped stance is that I can't imagine Jesus, who is God, would fabricate a parable that has no basis in truth or reality just to make a point. I think it's safe to assume everything Jesus says is truth and has significance down to the very choice of individual words. If any words are inspired, it would be His!

Who knows if the parable accurately describes hell, Hades, or some intermediate "holding place" (hypothetical post-death, pre-judgment). Does Abraham have special access privileges, and does he hang out around the border lands regularly? Is there a chasm separating, but not so great that audible communication can occur (would seem odd, considering the depravity of one side against the perfection of the other)? These and many more curiosities are created by this mysterious vision.

The facts and figures of this narrative are not hugely important to me right now - though they are potentially very thought provoking and certainly not void or unworthy of study. I didn't receive a huge revelation concerning heaven and hell from listening to this passage today (save that for another time). I feel any conclusions I come up with would be speculation on my part anyway, and not very profitable.

Impressed upon me during this latest review of Luke 16:19-31 are the passage's obvious prophetic qualities. I can't make all the synaptic connections in one post, nor have they all emerged for me. Nevertheless, I have been observing interesting things regarding the resurrection here and in other passages.

There is no question this passage has allusions to Jesus' victory over death. Keep in mind, this parable is told by Jesus, prior to His death and resurrection. He is sometimes a little cryptic in prophesying of such things, but this is by no means the only prophecy of His future, yes His very purpose for coming to earth in human form was to die. In other passages Jesus outright says He will be handed over to man, killed, and on the third day will rise again. It can't get any more blatant than that!

I call this parable an allusion because it is not an obvious statement that Jesus will rise from the dead. Rather, it is an outline of the entirety of God's plan, packed neatly into a few sentences. These sort of concise overviews appear dotted all throughout the Bible, this being one of many. This is why Jesus says those who came before Him were speaking of Him.

One of the most common and shortest summaries of the Bible is "Moses, the prophets, and Jesus". I've seen this quite a few times recently. "Moses and the prophets" refers to the historic time period of the Old Testament. It can also refer to the tangible written books themselves (The Torah, or "Pentateuch", and the rest of the Tanakh - mostly "prophets").

I can understand the rich man's desperation. After his death he is sent to a place of torment and separation. He now realizes the wages for his life of excess, sin and lack of mercy. He worries greatly about those he left behind and wants to spare them a similar fate to his own. Can you imagine the agony? I'm not sure where people go when they die, since we are now caught in a period of time before Jesus' return and the judgment. If indeed deceased human souls are collected to a conscious plane of existence (they may just be "sleeping" unaware - who can know?), surely there must be immeasurable loads of regret and cries of woe from those who did not believe and accept Jesus while on earth.

The thought of such a situation should be enough to cause us all to take God and His ways very seriously - to seek out the answers only His Word can offer about life, death, and salvation (and much more). Don't wait until it's too late! No one knows the number of their days, my friends.

The rich man is convinced that there is something Abraham can do to save his unbelieving friends. "If only I can go tell them myself or have someone sent miraculously - then they will believe and turn from their ways!" Abraham (and Jesus, as the Narrator) knows better and informs the rich man (now poor) that God has already sent Moses and the prophets. Not only did those recorded historic events actually occur - a testament to the existence, love and power of God - but a book is also written about it, one that is freely available and widely distributed: the Bible. To take it further, in Romans we read that ultimately no one has an excuse, for...

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools...

Romans 1:18-22 NKJV

Jesus prophesies by telling this parable that even if these friends of the rich man see someone who rises from the dead, they will persist in their tragic unbelief. It is my consideration from reading Scripture that Jesus is greatly sorrowful over this inevitable loss of souls who are darkened in disbelief (a developing topic for more posts). It is a sad reality to choose a deception. The deception offers us riches, power, and other promises of opportunity afforded by this dark and cursed world. Such things are fading mirages and meaningless. They provide pleasure for a time, but their increase corrupts the soul of man... until it is utterly lost.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works."

Matthew 16:24-27 NKJV

Though, take heart, friends! Though I'd not encourage anyone to wait, all are offered the same gift. This dark world corrupts us, and not one of us can earn our way to heaven by good works. Nevertheless, there is one man, Jesus Christ, who paid the price for our sins. And yes, the price for all our sins is paid. Don't underestimate the power and love of God by assuming your sins are more than His great sacrifice could cover or that He will flinch when exposed to your darkness. God said, "Let there be light, and there was light". The same God who created all things can surely also restore them.

God requires one thing of us: to believe that His Son Jesus came to the earth in the flesh and died for our sins and rose again from the grave, victorious over death for our sake! Confess this and accept His will for you, and the fate of the rich man will not be yours. With Christ, not only do we have a rich reward awaiting us in the next life, but each and every day of this life is transformed with meaning and purpose beyond our understanding! No, it's not an easy road to travel. Following Christ is no walk in the park. Yet hear my witness that I wouldn't trade it for any route or any other reward. There's no shortcut. Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Will you believe, even though a man rise from the dead to warn you of the rich man's demise? I tell you One has come already... and He was preceded by Moses and His prophets. Will you listen to His words, or will you cling to those things you hold dear? I pray you let Him in. The man who was once dead is alive and knocking at your door even now.

For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Romans 5:6-10 NKJV

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23 NKJV

The glorified One who has power over death itself declares boldly and with Love (whom He is) from His holy heaven, while sitting beside the very throne of God Almighty Himself:

"Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' - and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked - I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

Revelation 3:17-21 NKJV