The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Lazarus

  • Is There a Portal to Another World?

    “And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.”

    Luke 16:26

    Many people search for a “portal” to either enter another dimension or at the very least to peer into one. Innumerable movies have incorporated this into the story-line. These thoughts of a “portal” into another dimension are classified as science-fiction. People dream of finding a way through one of those “portals”. Scientists perform experiments trying to open a “portal” into another dimension. Man wants to “see what is on the other side.” Humans are limited in the ability to cross that threshold and return. However, there is another “world” that each person should seriously consider. Another “world” that Jesus addressed many times.

    Read of a certain rich man and a beggar named Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31.

    We are introduced to two men. “19. There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores” (Luke 16:19-20). Notice that the rich man is not named. However the beggar was named Lazarus.

    We learn what happens immediately after death. “22. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23. And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame” (Luke 16:22-24). One was carried by angels to Abraham. The other was buried, yet he was in hell. The rich man who was in torment, could see Lazarus afar off who was not in torment. The rich man wanted mercy and relief from the torment in the flame. “25. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence” (Luke 16:25-26). We find no opportunity for relief from the torment for the rich man. Notice also that there is a great gulf fixed between the two places, and no one can cross it.

    Once the rich man realized he would not be freed from his torment in the flame, and Lazarus could not come even for a moment to bring him any relief, the rich man wanted to warn his family back on earth. “27. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: 28. For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment” (Luke 16:27-28). He did not want anyone else to be sent to the place of torment in flame where he was now bound. He wanted Lazarus to be enabled to return to his life on earth to go warn the rich man’s five brothers. The rich man did not want his brothers to end up in that place of torment. “29. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead” (Luke 16:29-31).

    This event speaks of very specific men: a certain rich man, Lazarus, and Abraham. One can understand it as a warning. There is another world to consider: an eternal one. The “portal” from one world to the other is death – either eternal death (in hell) or eternal life (in heaven).

    It is most interesting that after the rich man was in hell, in torment, he wanted to send someone back to warn his brothers about that awful place. Abraham reminded him of Moses and the prophets (referring to the Old Testament, which foretold Jesus would come). The rich man argued that if one went from the dead, his brothers would repent. Abraham reiterated; if they wouldn’t believe God’s Word, they wouldn’t believe one who rose from the dead. It was not long after Jesus told of this event that He suffered and died upon the cross – to pay that penalty of eternal death for any one who would believe upon Him. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Jesus was that One who would come back from the dead that the rich man was to be looking for. Only faith in Jesus for remission of sins will keep one out of that place the rich man spoke of where he was “tormented in this flame”, yet there are many today, who do not believe. It will be those of unbelief who will spend eternity in that place of torment called hell.

    There has been much debate throughout the centuries as to whether heaven and hell are real places. Jesus declared they were real. When one reads the Bible, the uncertainty should end.

    Do you now understand that hell is a real place?

    Are you one who has received the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord?

    Read how to find eternal life through Jesus.

  • The Resurrection and the Life

    “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”

    John 11:25

    Most remember reading about Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, who was sick and died. When Martha questioned Jesus about Lazarus’ death, Jesus told her that he would rise again. Martha believed in a resurrection, one day. “25. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 27. She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world” (John 11:25-27). Do you see where her faith fell short? She did not yet believe or understand that Jesus had power over life and death. Mary went to Jesus, and they all went to the tomb. “39. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone.Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. 40. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” (John 11:39-40).

    When Jesus called Lazarus from the grave, Lazarus rose from the dead. Jesus drew the people’s attention to God, His Father, “that they may believe that thou hast sent me” (see John 11:42). More importantly, we read “many of the Jews which … had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him” (see John 11:45).

    A short time later, Jesus went to Bethany where Lazarus lived. “There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him” (John 12:2). Mary took a costly ointment (one often used to anoint bodies for burial) and anointed the feet of Jesus. Judas Iscariot asked why the ointment wasn’t sold to give the money to the poor. “This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein” (John 12:6). Jesus understood why Mary had done this. “Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this” (John 12:7). Although it appeared no one understood, Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem for the final week of His life. But did someone understand?

    This is the same Mary who chose to sit at the feet of Jesus a previous time Jesus came to eat with them, listening to Him teach. Remember that her sister, Martha, complained to Jesus because Mary wasn’t serving with her. “41. And Jesus answered and said unto her,Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42. But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42). Jesus declared that it was good that Mary had chosen to sit at the feet of Jesus, listening to Him teach. “And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word” (Luke 10:39). Take note that Mary “heard his word”. She understood when Jesus taught. No one could ever take away from Mary that which she learned at the feet of Jesus.

    Now, we have remembered that Mary was one who heard Jesus as He taught, and she witnessed Jesus raise her brother from the dead. Remember something that Jesus revealed to His disciples often, although they did not understand. “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day” (Matthew 16:21). Jesus had often declared that He would die and live again (see Matthew 17:22-23; Mark 8:31; 9:31; Luke 9:22; 18:31; etc.). After remembering these things, one can understand why Jesus said, “Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this” (John 12:7b). Jesus knew that Mary understood that He was going to die soon. Jesus knew, and we can understand that Mary knew. She may not have fully understood what all was about to transpire, but we can see she believed. Jesus acknowledged this. She had witnessed the death of her brother, Lazarus. Four days later, she witnessed Jesus raise him from the dead. It was only a short time later that she anointed Jesus’ feet with oil. Something in her heart had obviously clicked, and she understood. She must have remembered what Jesus had said to Martha, her sister: “25. … I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” (John 11:25-26).

    Do you know where Mary was obviously absent? “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene” (John 19:25). (See also Matthew 27:56.) Although there were women named Mary at the foot of the cross, it appears that Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, is absent. She understood that even when Jesus died, He would live again.

    Mary believed.

    Have you acknowledged that Jesus is the resurrection and the life, and whosoever believes in Jesus, shall live?

    What to do when you belive.

  • Secrets

    “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.”
    Matthew 13:35

    Have you ever been told a secret? Did you want to keep it a secret or tell someone else? Secrets are hard to keep, yet the most important “secret” ever is not shared nearly enough. God had secrets, and He told many of them to His people. We can know those secrets today if we will just read His Word.

    The prophets of God revealed secrets that had been “kept secret from the foundation of the world.” “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 13:35). It is important to know about the prophets from the Old Testament, and become familiar with what they had to say. The Old Testament prophets were important then, and they are still important today. If you have ever read any of the books of the prophets from the Old Testament, they are full of strange events and tellings that, to the common person, make no sense. They seem like mysteries or secrets.

    Although the Bible is full of mysteries, God wants us to understand the mysteries, or secrets, of the Old Testament. He wants us to realize that it all centered on the coming of Jesus, God’s Son. “25. Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26. But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith” (Romans 16:25-26). Once we have Jesus in our heart and read God’s Word daily, we can understand those mysteries. We do not need prophets today because we have the prophets’ words written in the Bible. Our job is to know God’s Word so we can share this “secret” that has been revealed to the world. The books of the Old Testament are very important.

    Jesus told of a Rich Man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31. The Rich Man died without trusting in Jesus. Lazarus, a very poor man on earth, died trusting in Jesus. When the Rich Man was in hell, being in torments, he could see Lazarus in the bosom of Abraham. The Rich Man cried out for some water to cool his tongue. However, he was told that there was a great gulf fixed between the two that could not be crossed. The Rich Man then asked for someone to be sent back to warn his five brothers, lest they too end up in hell. Read Abraham’s response to him: “30. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead” (Luke 16:30-31). Everything they needed to hear to be warned about that place had been recorded in the words of Moses and the Prophets. Remember, the mystery of the Gospel message of Jesus Christ was revealed in the Old Testament “by the scriptures of the prophets” and it was “made known to all nations” according to Romans 16:25-26.

    Just as Jesus told of the Rich Man and Lazarus, the Law and the Prophets had the words that could have saved the Rich Man’s soul for eternity if he had only believed them. It is very important to understand that without Jesus in our hearts, it is never enough. Many of the prophet’s words were warnings to the people.

    Are there any words of warning we need to share with our friends or family?

    Also published at Lighthouse Gospel Beacon.