![]() ![]() He who believes in me will live, even though he dies and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Jesus assures Martha that her brother will rise again and states: "I am the resurrection and the life. Before they enter the town, Martha, Lazarus' sister, comes to meet Jesus and tells him: "if you had been here, my brother would not have died". When they arrive in Bethany, Lazarus has been dead and buried for four days. The disciples are afraid of returning to Judea, but Jesus says: "Our friend Lazarus is asleep, but I am going to awaken him." when the apostles misunderstand, he clarifies, "Lazarus is dead, and for your sake, I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe." Jesus then delays his departure for two days. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." Jesus tells his followers: "This sickness will not end in death. Bible Story of Lazarus Raised from the DeadĪccording to John, Jesus receives a message that Lazarus is ill, and his two sisters seek his help. Martha, Mary’s sister, complained to Jesus that her sister needed to help her in the kitchen ( Luke 10:38-42). His sister, Mary, would sit at the Master’s feet and listen to his words. The message here connects with previous parables and is a challenge about how our faith, our humanity, and our wealth all give us responsibilities towards others and opportunities to make a difference in people’s lives.Jesus had previously visited the three siblings and had enjoyed the family’s hospitality. The amount of money we have is not nearly as important as the way we use it. I have often observed that wealthy people tend to be on average the least generous, while poorer people are generally more giving. The problem is his selfishness and hardheartedness, despite his riches. The rich man is not suffering in Hades because of his wealth, but because of how he used it – or how he failed to use it. The Pharisees would have considered wealth to be proof of a person’s righteousness, so a story in which a rich man is punished and a diseased beggar is rewarded would have been very startling. The wealthy man lived in luxury and passed the beggar at his gate constantly, yet he never helped him or even acknowledged him. The issue is the great chasm in this life – and that in the afterlife is its result. When we read this story in the context of previous stories about what was lost being found and about the right use of wealth and resources, the real meaning of this story becomes clearer. We will leave it to others to explore the eschatological implications of this story and what it may be teaching about the afterlife: that isn’t Jesus’ primary point. This story of the rich man and Lazarus the beggar has put fear into the hearts of many a hearer – there is a terrible finality to the chasm between the rich man in the torment of Hades and Lazarus in Abraham’s bosom. Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’Ģ9 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets let them listen to them.’ģ0 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ģ1 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’Ģ7 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. ![]() 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’Ģ5 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.Ģ2 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. ![]() 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. 19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.
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