Lessons from the Gospel - Lazarus Vs. Lazarus

We have been discussing the unique place that the siblings Mary, Martha and Lazarus had in the life of Jesus during His earthly ministry. In the incident of Jesus resurrecting Lazarus four days after he’d been in the grave, Jesus reminded us all that HE IS the resurrection, connecting (at least in my mind) Lazarus’ resurrection to His own.

And that makes me curious about the story that Jesus told about Lazarus and the Rich man. Now, I know there is a debate about whether this is all parable or all true. I’m not getting into that. And I am not saying that this was about Lazarus, brother of Martha and Mary.

I do think that it is interesting that Jesus used the name Lazarus, only because it seems like an interesting thing and a curious coincidence if it was not on purpose.

What I want to focus on regarding Lazarus and the Rich Man is the one point of specific and important connection between that story and the narrative about Lazarus, brother of Martha and Mary.

So, let’s first talk a little about the resurrection of Lazarus. If you recall from my last blog, Jesus told His disciples that he was glad that He had not been there to heal Lazarus “that you may believe”. Then He reminded Martha (and the disciples standing with Him) of His role (as I said above) as the “resurrection and the life”. And finally, at the graveside, just before calling Lazarus back to life, He reminded Mary and Martha (plus the disciples or any of the mourners close enough to hear it) of this John 11:40 [NKJV] 40 Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?"

Jesus’ words seem to focus a lot on believing in who He is and what His role is for not only those who knew Him during His earthly ministry but also all of us now.

Incredibly, after Lazarus was resurrected, we find this in the next chapter of John.

John 12:1-2, 9-10, 17 [NLT] 1 Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus--the man he had raised from the dead. 2 A dinner was prepared in Jesus' honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him. ... 9 When all the people heard of Jesus' arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. 10 Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, ... 17 Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others about it.

I am astounded by this turn of events and the hardness of the hearts of those “leading priests”. Rather than believing and glorifying God for the resurrection of Lazarus, they decided that they should kill him too.  

And now the connection to Lazarus and the Rich Man, which we find in Luke 16:19-31. Jesus told this Parable before His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. According to John 12, the time of His triumphal entry was after the resurrection of Lazarus, brother of Mary and Martha, and also the point at which the priest decided they should kill Lazarus too.

I’m unclear on if the parable was told before Lazarus, brother of Mary and Martha, was resurrected or after it, because the Parable is only told in the Gospel of Luke and the resurrection of Lazarus is only told in the Gospel of John.

However, here is the very clear connection between the two: Luke 16:30-31 [NLT] 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 listen even if someone rises from the dead.'"

Jesus knew that even the testimony of one resurrected from the dead would not cause people to believe if their hearts were too hardened to listen to the scriptures. This understanding is prophetic about the people of the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry who did not believe and repent, either at the resurrection of Lazarus, brother of Mary and Martha, or at Jesus’ own resurrection.

It is also a cautionary tale for all of us, sweet sisters. None of us may be so hard hearted and self-serving as to seek to kill someone who we felt to be a threat to our own power and importance, as the religious leaders of Jesus’ day did.

However, we must be careful that there isn’t anything that would get in the way of us hearing and implementing the messages of the scripture. Even if it is something hard to hear because it goes against our traditions or requires a big change in behavior. We must be easily convicted by the Word of God.

'If they won't listen to Moses and the prophets, they won't listen even if someone rises from the dead.'"

The phrase “he who has ears to hear, let him hear” is recorded six times in the Gospels. A similar phrase – “he who has an ear, let him hear” – is used seven times in the first three chapters of the book of Revelation.  

Jesus knew that people would find His message difficult to hear and challenging to follow – not because it is hard, but because humans can be “hard of hearing” when a message is one of radical change in our culture or our own behavior.

Years after Jesus raised Lazarus to life; years after His own death and resurrection, James reminds us of our responsibility toward scripture.

James 1:19, 21-22 [NIV] 19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ... 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

We must be willing to read scripture and use it to change, unlike the leaders of Jesus’ day who would not let the dramatic miracle of the resurrection of Lazarus convince them to accept the message and person of Jesus.

I welcome your comments and questions. You can write me in the chat, or any time at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org