The Lazarus Who Wasn't Supposed to be Resurrected – Luke 16:19-31

by Brad Kibler

I think one of the universal philosophical questions asked throughout the ages and almost every recorded culture is: "What happens to us after we die?" How we answer this question leads us each to the root philosophy on which we base our lives. If there is no after-life, then why not live for the moment? If we knew we could 'get away with' something and no one would ever know in this life, then what would stop us? On the other hand, if there are eternal consequences for our actions, our lives should absolutely be lived with that fact constantly in mind.

Even if you agree there is an afterlife with reward and punishment, there are still unanswered questions: Do we immediately 'wake up' in either heaven or Hell? Do we have to go 'toward the light' to reach our final destination? Is it possible to get 'stuck' in Limbo or Purgatory or on this earth as a ghost? What happened to the Jewish believers who died prior to the coming of Christ? Well, Luke 16 seems to give us a glimpse into the answer to that question.

If you're not familiar with the Lazarus that Jesus did not raise from the dead, Luke 16:19-31 tells us his story. You can read the whole thing on-line at http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2016&version=31, but the basics are that Jesus told about a rich man who had a beggar named Lazarus that lived at his gate. Lazarus died and "the angels carried him to Abraham's side". The rich man also died, and was then in torment in Hades. The rich man "looked up and saw Abraham far away... so he called to him... '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...'" (23-24) Abraham says no, because that wouldn't be fair to Lazarus or the rich man (they were both getting what they deserved) but also because "between us and you a great chasm has been fixed" (26) that either side can't cross to get to the other.

Now there are theologians who will call this story a parable, but if it is, it is unique in that it would be the only parable in which Jesus gave a character a name. Luke, the doctor, also uses a specific medical term in describing Lazarus' condition that doesn't appear elsewhere in the New Testament. If this was a theoretical scene, then why use a specific name and a specific diagnosis? Now, if this isn't a parable, then that would infer that this actually occurred, which is amazing in so many ways to me, and raises so many more questions: Is part of the torment that he could see what he was missing? Was Abraham the only one who could communicate across the 'chasm'? Did this occur prior to Jesus' coming to earth when he was present to witness this exchange, or did he have regular insight into afterlife happenings while here on earth? But, I digress.

After getting his hopes for relief dissuaded, the rich man asks that this other Lazarus be raised from the dead to warn the rich man's family. Abraham's reply is "They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them." (29). The rich man persists that a resurrection would be better, and Abraham concludes the narrative with "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not listen be convinced even if someone rises from the dead." Wow. That's a reality check: The biggest obstacle between disbelief and faith is not a lack of evidence. There is more quantity of evidence of God's existence and His love story for us, and more availability to that evidence than ever before in history, yet the case could be made that there is more widespread ridicule of that evidence than at any other time in history.

Who in this country hasn't heard the name of Jesus? Yet organizations pay good money to put just his name on billboards. Is that really changing hearts? People seek God because they see how He changed the lives of those who follow Him. Share your life experiences with those who don't know Him. Make it your mission to be ever present light in the lives of those who are in the dark, and the Spirit will provide the opportunities and the words to say. Don't think that people need a miracle, they just need you.