1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:06,320 Speaker 1: Let us pray. But Abraham said, son, remember that thou 2 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:11,480 Speaker 1: in thy lifetime receivest thy good things, and likewise Lazarus 3 00:00:11,520 --> 00:00:16,760 Speaker 1: evil things. But now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 4 00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:23,520 Speaker 1: Luke sixteen twenty five. When I look at everything You've 5 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:26,840 Speaker 1: blessed me with in my life, Lord, I stand in 6 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 1: awe and reverence at all the times You've come through 7 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:34,000 Speaker 1: for me, and for all the times you've lavished me 8 00:00:34,240 --> 00:00:38,640 Speaker 1: with provision. As I think about to day's story from Luke, 9 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 1: I'm reminded through the life of the rich Glutton that 10 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:47,600 Speaker 1: the purpose for blessing is to be a blessing to others. 11 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:51,519 Speaker 1: May my life be first known by my love for 12 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 1: you God, then second by the generosity I lived by. 13 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:00,319 Speaker 1: With every new year, I will not ask how much 14 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 1: I can make. I will ask instead how much I 15 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:09,760 Speaker 1: can give. With this paradigm shift, I acknowledge that blessing 16 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:13,120 Speaker 1: and abundance are a by product of my generous heart. 17 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 1: For the life of the stingy gets smaller and smaller, 18 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:21,520 Speaker 1: while the life of the generous gets larger and larger. 19 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 1: Because I am a change agent, I am always in 20 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:30,760 Speaker 1: tune with the needs of your children. Lord, whether time, talents, 21 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:35,520 Speaker 1: or treasures, I will give where I can because You've 22 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 1: blessed me so much. In Jesus' name, Amen, thank you 23 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 1: for praying with me today. Continue listening for an incredible 24 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 1: Bible story brought to you by Bible in a Year 25 00:01:52,360 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 1: dot com. 26 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 2: The Rich Glutton and Poor Lazarus. In our last story, 27 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:11,760 Speaker 2: we learned about Jesus's provision over Peter's taxes. Jesus also 28 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 2: gave a stiff warning to those who would threaten the 29 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 2: innocence of a child. Now we hear a story told 30 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:22,280 Speaker 2: by Jesus, a story that has an eternal lesson with 31 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 2: great consequences, as inspired by the Gospels. 32 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 3: Hello, this is Jack Graham with today's episode of the 33 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:34,800 Speaker 3: Bible in a Year. In our previous episode, we heard 34 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:37,520 Speaker 3: how Jesus taught Peter about the freedom we have as 35 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:41,080 Speaker 3: children of God, and we discovered the upside down nature 36 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:44,520 Speaker 3: of God's kingdom, where the way up is down, where 37 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:48,119 Speaker 3: humility and servanthood is a strength rather than a weakness. 38 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:51,480 Speaker 3: So today we'll hear as Jesus tells a story that 39 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:55,200 Speaker 3: reveals more of God's heart and speaks to the eternal 40 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:58,920 Speaker 3: implications of our faith in this life and in the 41 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:01,919 Speaker 3: life to come. Let's listen now to the Gospel. 42 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:07,359 Speaker 2: Jesus sat among his disciples by the fire. The coals 43 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:11,320 Speaker 2: glowed under the darkness above them. They ate beside the flames, 44 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 2: and Jesus told them parables and stories to illustrate heavenly meaning. 45 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:19,480 Speaker 2: There was once a wealthy man. He was clothed in 46 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:24,320 Speaker 2: fine linens, fat and content. He lavished in his chambers, 47 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 2: consuming fine meats and cheeses to fill his gullet. Crumbs 48 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:30,919 Speaker 2: littered the floor of his dining hall and were picked 49 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:34,520 Speaker 2: up by the dogs and rats. His wealth made him comfortable, 50 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 2: His comfort made him lazy, and his laziness made him selfish. 51 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:42,080 Speaker 2: Only a few yards away, at the gates of the 52 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 2: rich man's property was a poor man named Lazarus. He 53 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 2: laid at the gate, nursing the sores on his feet. 54 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 2: Lazarus was hungry, thin, and sickly. Every night he would 55 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:56,120 Speaker 2: dream of feasting on the crumbs that fell from the 56 00:03:56,200 --> 00:03:59,560 Speaker 2: rich man's table. Every day, the rich man would pass 57 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 2: by him, belly full in eyes forward. Lazarus was invisible 58 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 2: to the wealthy man. The only companions he had were 59 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 2: the dogs that licked the sores on his feet. On 60 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:14,880 Speaker 2: one cold and dark evening, Lazarus was shivering outside the gate. 61 00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 2: He lay on his side, eyes fixed on the warm 62 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:21,360 Speaker 2: fire that could be seen from the window. Lazarus could 63 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 2: see the rich man gorging himself on fruits, meats, and bread. 64 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 2: His bones quivered from the frosty night. As Lazarus lay 65 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:32,320 Speaker 2: on the cold ground, his heart began to beat slower 66 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 2: and slower, until eventually he drifted off into a deep sleep. 67 00:04:36,839 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 2: That night, alone and hungry, Lazarus died and was carried 68 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 2: by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man died 69 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:48,640 Speaker 2: not too long after, no doubt, due to his gluttony. However, 70 00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:52,520 Speaker 2: he was not embraced by angels. Rather, he was cast 71 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:55,760 Speaker 2: out into the dark depths of Hades. There he was 72 00:04:55,839 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 2: tormented with hunger and thirst. In his discomfort, the rich 73 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 2: man cried out to Abraham, saying, Father, Abraham, have mercy 74 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:08,479 Speaker 2: on me. Then he peered into the light above. In 75 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 2: the windows of Abraham's house, he could see Lazarus drinking 76 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:16,479 Speaker 2: the cool water of heaven and feasting. Please, the rich 77 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:20,200 Speaker 2: man shouted, send Lazarus to dip his finger in the water, 78 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:24,279 Speaker 2: so I might have one drop. But Abraham shook his 79 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:28,560 Speaker 2: head and said, remember your life, my child. Remember that 80 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:31,560 Speaker 2: you received only good things and shared none of it, 81 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:36,480 Speaker 2: but Lazarus only received bad. Now he dwells in comfort, 82 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 2: and you are the one who suffers. The once rich 83 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:43,359 Speaker 2: man anguished in his hunger and pain, he looked up 84 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 2: to Abraham, gasping for every breath. Please, Father, send Lazarus 85 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:52,680 Speaker 2: to my family's home. One my father and brothers of 86 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:57,000 Speaker 2: this punishment. Abraham shook his head again and said, they 87 00:05:57,120 --> 00:05:59,600 Speaker 2: have the prophets in Moses to guide them in how 88 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:03,120 Speaker 2: to live and treat others, just as you did. But 89 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 2: if someone were to come from the dead and warn them, 90 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 2: perhaps they would listen. The man responded, Abraham began to 91 00:06:09,960 --> 00:06:12,720 Speaker 2: shut the gates between them and said, if they were 92 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:16,600 Speaker 2: unwilling to listen to the word of God himself, surely 93 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:19,440 Speaker 2: they would not be convinced if someone rose from the dead. 94 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 2: And with those words, the rich man was shut away forever. 95 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:31,239 Speaker 3: Today's scripture begins with Jesus telling the disciples a story. 96 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:34,320 Speaker 3: It's a parable. It's interesting to note that of all 97 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:37,640 Speaker 3: the parables Jesus told, this one is unique in that 98 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:40,279 Speaker 3: he named one of the characters. It was a man 99 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:44,479 Speaker 3: named Lazarus. The meaning of this man's name is God 100 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:47,520 Speaker 3: Will Help, which may seem an odd choice given the 101 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:51,760 Speaker 3: man's condition. Lazarus, you see, had nothing and no one. 102 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 3: He lived in hunger, cold, and pain. Dogs would come 103 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:59,600 Speaker 3: to lick his swords, surely compounding his pain, his suffering, 104 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:04,279 Speaker 3: and his humiliation. Why would such a man be given 105 00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 3: a name like God Will Help? Lazarus lived outside the 106 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:12,640 Speaker 3: gates of a rich man's home. He isn't given a name, 107 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:14,600 Speaker 3: that is, the rich man is not given a name. 108 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:18,000 Speaker 3: But it seems he has everything that he needs, the 109 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:21,640 Speaker 3: best clothes made of fine linen, and delicious, sumptuous food 110 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:25,560 Speaker 3: to enjoy. But as we all know, death is no 111 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:29,200 Speaker 3: respect of wealth, or position or power. And so one 112 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:32,760 Speaker 3: day Jesus said, both of the men died, and just 113 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:35,520 Speaker 3: as in life, their condition could not have been more different. 114 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 3: Their condition and death was polar opposite of one another. 115 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:43,680 Speaker 3: Lazarus went to the bosom of Abraham, a place of 116 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:47,160 Speaker 3: rest for those who followed God and obeyed his commandments. 117 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:51,680 Speaker 3: In an instant, his life was changed. The hunger, the thirst, 118 00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 3: the pain was gone, and he entered a place of 119 00:07:55,320 --> 00:08:00,000 Speaker 3: peace and comfort. This is like heaven. The rich man, however, 120 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 3: went to Hades, where he lived in punishment and pain 121 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:08,400 Speaker 3: outside of Paradise. Jesus then said, the rich man called 122 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:12,200 Speaker 3: from his place of torment to Abraham, asking for just 123 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:15,960 Speaker 3: a bit of comfort. If Lazars could just dip his 124 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 3: finger in water and place just to drop on his tongue, 125 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:24,080 Speaker 3: to get one moment of respite from his anguish and torment, This, 126 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 3: my friends, is hell. Of course, it is impossible for 127 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:32,960 Speaker 3: him to be comforted in hell. Abraham reminded the man 128 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:35,240 Speaker 3: of the comfort and pleasures he enjoyed in life, and 129 00:08:35,280 --> 00:08:38,600 Speaker 3: the suffering that the other man, the poor man Lazarus, 130 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 3: had endured. Though Abraham did not say so specifically, we 131 00:08:43,320 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 3: can understand that in life this man was indifferent to 132 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 3: the pain of others. Surely he would have seen and 133 00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:53,720 Speaker 3: even heard Lazarus outside his gates, and yet he nor 134 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:56,800 Speaker 3: no one else provided for the poor man. The only 135 00:08:56,840 --> 00:09:01,679 Speaker 3: comfort Lazarus had was God's comfort. Indeed, as his name suggests, 136 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:06,760 Speaker 3: God will help. Abraham also pointed out that there was 137 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:11,120 Speaker 3: a great chasm separating the two places, reaching him would 138 00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:14,600 Speaker 3: simply be impossible. At this point, he was beyond hope. 139 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:17,920 Speaker 3: You see, we are all separated from God by this 140 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:20,920 Speaker 3: great divide in life. There is only one who can 141 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:24,480 Speaker 3: cross it, and that one is Jesus, who brings us 142 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:27,480 Speaker 3: to the Father. He died on a cross to bridge 143 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:31,880 Speaker 3: the chasm between heaven and Hell. He bridges the separation 144 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:35,560 Speaker 3: between us and God, just as it was true for 145 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:38,960 Speaker 3: the rich man in death. There is no hope for 146 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:42,040 Speaker 3: those who have rejected God, those who have turned their 147 00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:46,840 Speaker 3: back on Jesus. The choice is made and fate is final. 148 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:50,560 Speaker 3: This is why we must be so urgent and sharing 149 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:53,200 Speaker 3: the Gospel, the good news of Jesus with our friends 150 00:09:53,200 --> 00:09:56,920 Speaker 3: and family, and even strangers we meet who are separated 151 00:09:56,960 --> 00:10:00,920 Speaker 3: from God and need the hope that we know in Christ. 152 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:04,959 Speaker 3: The rich man then made another request, if Lazrath could 153 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:08,000 Speaker 3: just return to his family's home and warn them that 154 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:11,240 Speaker 3: they might not come to this terrible place of separation 155 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:14,600 Speaker 3: from God. He was desperate to save his loved ones 156 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:19,120 Speaker 3: from this eternal fate, but it was too late. Abraham 157 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:22,040 Speaker 3: then replied that they have Moses and the prophets, that 158 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:25,280 Speaker 3: they should listen to them. That wasn't enough for this man. 159 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 3: He protested, saying that if someone could just return from 160 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:32,960 Speaker 3: the dead, they would repent for you and me. With 161 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:36,120 Speaker 3: the benefit of hindsight, we can see the foreshadowing of 162 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:38,920 Speaker 3: this statement, and we can understand the hard truth in 163 00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:43,040 Speaker 3: Abraham's response. For in Luke sixteen thirty one we read 164 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:46,120 Speaker 3: he said to him, if they do not hear Moses 165 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:49,200 Speaker 3: and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone 166 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:53,560 Speaker 3: should rise from the dead. Jesus knew that he himself 167 00:10:53,640 --> 00:10:57,400 Speaker 3: would one day soon die and then rise from the dead, 168 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:01,240 Speaker 3: and many who had failed to see God's truth pointing 169 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:03,959 Speaker 3: them to the Law and the prophets would also fail 170 00:11:04,040 --> 00:11:09,160 Speaker 3: to believe in him, even though he rose from the grave. Ultimately, 171 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:14,040 Speaker 3: Lazarus name reminds us, Yes, God will help. He'll help 172 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:16,440 Speaker 3: us in this life to find comfort even in the 173 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:21,240 Speaker 3: most dire and deathly of circumstances. And He's provided the 174 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:24,520 Speaker 3: true help, the everlasting help. We need, the Savior who 175 00:11:24,559 --> 00:11:28,240 Speaker 3: can open Heaven's doors with nail scarred hands through his 176 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:32,199 Speaker 3: death and resurrection. But we must believe in him by 177 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:35,600 Speaker 3: repenting of our sin and putting our faith in Christ 178 00:11:35,679 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 3: and Christ's alone. He is the help we need. He 179 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:42,200 Speaker 3: is the hope that we have in this life and 180 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:44,920 Speaker 3: in the life to come. And if you want this 181 00:11:45,040 --> 00:11:48,920 Speaker 3: brand new life, why not where you are right now, 182 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:53,800 Speaker 3: bow your head and pray a prayer like this. Dear God, 183 00:11:54,040 --> 00:11:57,040 Speaker 3: I thank you for loving me, for sending your son 184 00:11:57,160 --> 00:12:01,840 Speaker 3: into the world to be my savior. I believe Jesus 185 00:12:02,160 --> 00:12:05,080 Speaker 3: that you died and rose again and that you're coming 186 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:08,480 Speaker 3: again for me. And I trust you as my Lord 187 00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:12,360 Speaker 3: and my savior. Lord. I give you my heart. I 188 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:15,400 Speaker 3: will follow you by the power of your spirit all 189 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:19,880 Speaker 3: the days of my life. Amen. Thank you for listening 190 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:23,320 Speaker 3: to today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm Jack Graham 191 00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:26,439 Speaker 3: from Dallas, Texas. You can download the Prey dot Com 192 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:29,320 Speaker 3: app and make prayer a priority in your life, just 193 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:32,680 Speaker 3: like over twenty million people have done to this date. 194 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:36,200 Speaker 3: If you enjoy this podcast, share it with someone you 195 00:12:36,320 --> 00:12:39,800 Speaker 3: know and love, because by sharing this message of the 196 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:42,600 Speaker 3: Word of God, you can make an eternal difference in 197 00:12:42,679 --> 00:12:46,080 Speaker 3: someone's life. God bless you, and we look forward to 198 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:54,840 Speaker 3: joining you again the next time. This episode is sponsored 199 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:58,800 Speaker 3: by Meta Share, an innovative healthcare solution for Christians to 200 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:01,360 Speaker 3: save money with usout sacrificing quality