The Messiah’s Secret – The Rich Man and Lazarus

  (Children’s spot)

Placed on the table a blanket cereals and tinned foods.
Being a Christian is about helping people like Lazarus and also friends and family.

Several children brought to out a word and read it out: 'giving tins of food and chocolate', 'pray to Jesus', 'help mum', 'help dad', 'help grandparents', 'give some of our pocket money to help others', 'feed the birds and be kind to animals'. 

On the screen: Some of the voluntary work that members of our Church Fellowship are involved in: Hospital, Charity Shops, Civic Pride, Aid Agencies and the Voluntary work within the frame work of St Mary’s.

Jesus  was drawing to the attention of the Pharisees Scribes and Lawyers in the parable, to show by example God’s justice and love to their own people.  

 A parable  – is comparable with a real life situation.   

The Jewish rich man had paid little or no attention to the plight of Lazarus, he thought only of himself. He may have considered that he was doing his bit by throwing the bread that was used to wipe his hands with after his meal to the beggars at his gate. However, he was guilty of treating the poor man, Lazarus a son of Abraham, like a Gentile. 

Jesus uses the common term used in those days as reference to a Gentile ‘a dog’ here in the passage the dogs are described as licking Lazarus’ sores. Jesus introduced a Gentile who was attending to a Jewish man’s well-being; a person who cared enough to show compassion and practical help. 

Under the Law of Moses Lazarus as a son of Abraham should have expected to be helped, “If there is among you a poor man, one of your brethren, in any of your towns within your land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not harden your hearts or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him, . . . . . . You shall give him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him; because for this the Lord you God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.” Deuteronomy 15: 7 – 11   

This was Jesus’ point these leaders were neglecting justice and the love of God. It was unjust of the rich man to ignore Lazarus’ need of help under law and he denied him the love of God in God wanting his people to love and care for one another. Luke 11: 42. 

Jesus’ ministry was to the sons of Abraham mainly who were outcasts: the tax collectors, the prodigal sons and people like Lazarus He was showing God’s love in reaching out to gather the nation, all the people in readiness for his return bringing in the kingdom.

Practice what you preach.
 “Jesus said on one occasion “ The Scribes and  the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice.” Matthew 23 v 1.   

Paul in his letter to Timothy reminded him to put into practice what he had taught him that the love of money is a snare it makes people selfish. He said not to desire things that are temporal but to seek those things that will last for ever.                          

                                                                                                                           

 “But seek first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.” Matthew 6: 33
Our search to find God is not straight forward, there are many ways; we can find God in creation while looking at a sunset, holding a new born baby, reading or hearing a verse of scripture from the Bible or singing a hymn etc

After we enter into our relationship with the Lord Jesus our God, we have started on a journey of faith and we discover how real God’s love is, the peace and joy in times of stress, resting in the knowledge that whatever our circumstances are, the Lord Jesus is in it, with us. These things stem from knowing who we are in Christ, we are children of God. 

Taking Care of one another
The churches ministry today is to the people who need a helping hand, relief from suffering whatever their background or circumstances might be. We can help in practical ways and when asked, 'why you are doing this for me?' we are able to tell them about Jesus and God’s love for them.  

After death, the rich man became aware that he had neglected his responsibility to love and support his brother Lazarus.

Out of the abundance of our lives, our scripture readings remind us that we have a commitment to our church and its needs, the Diocese and the wider church. Our brothers and sisters in Christ who need our help.  Our Harvest Project this year is helping Christians in Cambodia. (Our Tear Fund rep presented the project.) 

In the parable Jesus upheld Lazarus by saying when he died he was with Abraham in Paradise, whereas, the rich man was in a place of torment Gehnna or hell.

The rich man wanted Abraham to send Lazarus from Paradise to him in Gehnna, but it was not possible there was a gulf between the two places. Abraham could not warn his brothers either. There was no opportunity for him to make amends.

John Bacon the once famous sculptor left an inscription to be placed on his tomb after his death in Westminster Abbey: “What I was as an artist, seemed of some importance to me while I lived; but what I was as a believer in Jesus Christ is the only thing of importance to me now.”

Jesus ends this parable saying, if the rich men of Israel who read the scriptures were not convinced through his teaching, the signs and miracles neither would they believe in his resurrection from the dead. His words were realised when John the disciple wrote.

 “He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God.” John 1: 10 – 12.

*On another occasion, an incident that happened when the Gentile Syrophoenician lady approached Jesus for him to heal her daughter, but Jesus in his reply pointed out to her “Let the children first be fed, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”                                   

The Messiah’s ministry was first and foremost to the Israelites, the children of God. Jesus was feeding them with his word and signs. For Jesus to consider changing direction to take his message to the Gentiles at this point, ‘to throw away the children’s bread’ his message was directed to the nation of Israel.

The woman answered him “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”, this Gentile lady was looking to eat the crumbs, the words that were falling from the mouth of Jesus, she believed that he was the Jewish Messiah and wanted to partake of the blessings. Jesus commended her for her answer and her daughter was healed. Mark 7 v 24-30

In this encounter we can envisage the new covenant embracing the Gentiles. As Gentiles we have entered into the blessings from our Father God to all his children in every nation.