19 “There was a certain rich man who clothed himself in purple and fine linen, and who feasted luxuriously every day. 20 At his gate lay a certain poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. 21 Lazarus longed to eat the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Instead, dogs would come and lick his sores. 22 “The poor man died and was carried by angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 While being tormented in the place of the dead, he looked up and saw Abraham at a distance with Lazarus at his side. 24 He shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I’m suffering in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received good things, whereas Lazarus received terrible things. Now Lazarus is being comforted and you are in great pain. 26 Moreover, a great crevasse has been fixed between us and you. Those who wish to cross over from here to you cannot. Neither can anyone cross from there to us.’ 27 “The rich man said, ‘Then I beg you, Father, send Lazarus to my father’s house. 28 I have five brothers. He needs to warn them so that they don’t come to this place of agony.’ 29 Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets. They must listen to them.’ 30 The rich man said, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will change their hearts and lives.’ 31 Abraham said, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the Prophets, then neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’” (Luke 16:19-31, CEB)
I am always taken aback by this story.
The rich man has no name and the poor man is named Lazarus. Usually it is the other way around, those with money are given names and the rest of us are out of luck. Here the lowly is lifted up and those who treat others as low are not lifted.
Also the rich man tries to get Lazarus, whose name the rich man knows, to help him and do things for him in the afterlife.
And then the rich man tries to persuade Abraham to send Lazarus to inform his brothers. And Abraham says if they don’t listen to what Moses and the prophets told them they won’t believe if someone rises from the dead! Is this not the foreshadows of foreshadows!
There are people who still don’t believe with Jesus rising from the dead. Sometimes we see it right in front of us and don’t believe! What does it take for us to believe?
Loving People. Loving God.
aSacredRebel 