The Last Week: The Power of the Cross
Thom Redmond
Luke 16:19-31
19Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. 20At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. 21As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores. 22“Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet. The rich man also died and was buried, 23and he went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side. 24“The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’ 25“But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. 26And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’ 27“Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. 28For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’ 29“But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’ 30“The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’ 31“But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”
Could people go to heaven before Jesus died on the cross?
Romans 4:1-8 1Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? 2If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. 3For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” 4When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. 5But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. 6David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it: 7“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. 8Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.”
Luke 16:19 Jesus is telegraphing a message here. Your financial status provides exactly zero identity in God’s eyes.
Luke 16:20-21 With the poor man, we get the name “Lazarus.” Why a name?
What do you notice about Lazarus here?
John 16:33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Mark 10:21 Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Lazarus comes from the Hebrew name Eleazar, which means “God is my helper.”
The fact that God provides the
Luke 16:22
Mark 8:36 “But what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but forfeit your soul?”
Luke 19:24-25 24“Then, turning to the others standing nearby, the king ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one who has ten pounds.’ 25“‘But, master,’ they said, ‘he already has ten pounds!’
Did you ever think a person in heaven and hell could converse here?
Even going to hell failed to stop the rich man’s
Luke 19:26 I heard it said that a loving God would not send somebody to hell. I think that is true…You make the decision.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.
Luke 19:27-28
Luke 19:29 Abraham reminds the rich man that the Old Testament provided enough information to trust Jesus.
BTW, there is no such thing as
Luke 19:31
Someone did rise from the dead
I Corinthians 15:6 After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.
In the Old Testament, God was already thinking about you before he sent his son.
Psalm 116:15 The Lord cares deeply when his loved ones die.