Another academic year at the U of M has come to end. This past week has witnessed several commencement ceremonies. Others are being held today. The end of the school year and graduation put into focus dreams for the future and plans to bring those dreams to reality. We find ourselves thinking in terms of "the good life," the successful career, advancement, prestige, and prosperity. We imagine where we could be ten years from now. We prepare our resumes and set out to project a good image in the interview. We make sure that we have the right kind of suit, the right color of tie, the right type of shoes. We are conscientious about image and first impressions.
But as the old saying goes, "looks can be deceiving." They were certainly deceiving in case of the rich man and Lazarus in today's Holy Gospel. Now, to understand the full implications of these words of the Lord, we need to note the context in which Jesus spoke them. Verses 14-15 identify the context as Luke notes that "The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all this, and they scoffed at him (that is, Jesus). But he said to them, 'You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts; for what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God. '"
The world looks at the rich man and Lazarus in one way, but God has an altogether different perspective. From the world's point of view it is this nameless rich man who is the blessed man, the man with the good life. After all, he has wealth and power. He lives by the "golden rule," that is, "he who has the gold rules." And he does rule his own little world. Jesus describes his life like this, "There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day." He has the image. He is well-dressed and well-fed. This rich man lives in the security of his wealth. It appears that he doesn't need anything. In the eyes of the world he is the model of success.
Then there is Lazarus. Jesus identifies him as a "beggar" who was "full of sores." Now, Lazarus stands in stark contrast to the rich man. The rich man has his house while Lazarus is laid at his gate. The rich man dines from a full table while Lazarus is lucky to get the crumbs that fall from his table - the table scraps of half-eaten dishes. The rich man is clothed with expensive attire - "purple and fine linen," while Lazarus is clothed with sores. No doubt the rich man had friends to graced his parties with their presence. But Lazarus had only the dogs who licked his sores. In the eyes of the world, Lazarus is pitiful and sad. He is seen as a failure.
But the world does not see as God sees. And when God looks on the rich man and Lazarus, He sees something very different. He sees things as they are. What man exalts, God sees as an abomination. What man despises, God sees as blessed. This is the great reversal which Mary, the mother of our Lord, sang of in her Magnificat , when she said of our God and Savior:
"He has shown strength with his arm,This is what Jesus speaks of in the beatitudes when He says:
he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,
he has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent empty away." (Lk 1:51-53)
"Blessed are you that hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you that weep now, for you shall laugh....But woe to you that are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you that are full now, for you shall hunger" (Lk 6:21, 24-25).God's judgment on both the rich man and Lazarus reverses things. Both die. "So it was the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried." Death makes clear what was hidden from human sight in this life. Death makes clear how each of these men stood coram Deo - before God. Lazarus' death is a blessed death. He dies and is escorted by the holy angels into paradise. Lazarus is no longer laying outside the gate. The holy angels carry him through the gates of heaven and into presence of our God. He is given rest at "Abraham's bosom." This hungry man is now satisfied at the heavenly banquet. There are no more tormenting sores for him. Lazarus is revealed to be the blessed man. Indeed, in death the very truth of the name "Lazarus"- "the one whom God helps" - is made manifest. In his life human eyes could not see this divine help. It was hidden. But now it is revealed. The hymn-writer describes the destiny of Lazarus:
"Despised and scorned, they sojourned here;Death is also a revelation of how it is with the rich man. The end of His unbelief is hell. He is not condemned because he is rich, but because his riches were his god. He did not draw his life from the Word of God, but from his own wealth. The very "god" that he had "feared, loved, and trusted above all things" in this life was not able to save him from death and God's judgment. Now he is in torment while Lazarus enjoys the riches of heaven. Indeed, the hungry are filled with good things and the rich are sent away empty!
But now, how glorious they appear!
Those martyrs stand a priestly band,
God's throne forever near.
So oft, in troubled days gone by,
In anguish they would weep and sigh.
At home above the God of Love
For aye their tears shall dry.
They now enjoy their Sabbath rest,
The paschal banquet of the blest;
The Lamb, their Lord, at festal board Himself is Host and Guest."
(TLH 656:2)
The judgment of God is final. The boundaries between heaven and hell are completely closed. Once the day of grace has ended there are no second chances. In vain does the rich man plead for a visit from Lazarus to bring him so much as a cooling drop of water. It is too late.
The story then takes a turn in such a way as to get to the very heart of the parable making it clear that this teaching of our Lord is not so much about riches and poverty as it is about faith in the crucified and risen Lord Himself. We are not saved by our poverty and we are not condemned by our wealth.
The rich man now thinks of his five brothers who are still alive and so he makes the request that Lazarus be sent back to earth to testify to them, "lest they too also come into this place of torment." Remember Abraham's answer: "They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them." God does not use ghosts to bring people to repentance and faith, but His Word. If people will not hear the Scriptures, they will not be convinced, "though one should rise from the dead." Here the Lord speaks prophetically of His own death and resurrection. No sign, not even the sign of Jesus' own resurrection from the grave, will convince those who do not believe the Scriptures.
Jesus says, "Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it." Your blessedness does not lie in your wealth, your learning, your career, or in your prestige but in the faith which lays hold to the Lord Jesus Christ who suffered and died as the atoning sacrifice for your sins and was raised again to give life to all who look to Him. Apart from Him, all appearances to the contrary, there is only death. But in Him there is life. Lazarus came to know that life. God grant unto us the same blessing as we eat and drink at His altar here today. Amen.
The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus to life everlasting. Amen.