JESUS BRIDGES THE CHASM BETWEEN GOD AND MANKIND

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Jesus is sharing parables with His disciples one day. The Pharisees stand nearby, overhearing His teachings. Our Lord always desires for His stories, His parables, to inspire and convict His hearers. He hopes His words will impact their beliefs and their actions.

“There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.” – Luke 16:19-21

This parable tells of a man named Lazarus. This Lazarus is not the brother of Mary and Martha whom Jesus raised from the dead. Yet the name means “God helps”… so it is perhaps significant that Jesus uses this name for the main character in His story.

Lazarus is impoverished, beset with illness. In contrast, the rich man in the story enjoys all the luxuries his wealth can buy. Lazarus is at his gate each day, hoping for help and compassion… yet receives little if any. The rich man is consumed with himself and his wealth.

Jesus highlights the reversal of fortunes for the two men when both reach the end of their lives. Angels carry Lazarus up to heaven to Abraham’s side where he finds comfort at last. The rich man faces agony and torment in Hades.

Seeing Father Abraham in the distance, the rich man begs him to send Lazarus with a bit of cool water to ease his suffering from the fire’s heat. Abraham answers 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. And 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.” – Luke 16:25-26

The rich man pleads with Abraham. Could he send Lazarus to his five brothers to warn them, so they do not end up in this place of torment? Abraham reminds him that they need only listen to Moses and the Prophets to be warned.

The rich man gives one last, desperate plea. Surely, if someone visits his brothers from the dead, they will repent and believe. Yet Abraham spells out the truth for him…

“If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.” – Luke 16:31

Who is the truly poor one in this story? Is it Lazarus who has little monetary means to ease his daily hunger and affliction… yet lives in the favor of God? Or is it the man of monetary wealth, daily satisfying all his needs and wants… yet giving no thought to God?

Lazarus may be impoverished, yet he has hope. For he trusts in his God… and is rewarded with eternal life. In contrast, the rich man is empowered by his wealth. He trusts in himself and his riches… yet he is heartless and without hope. He chooses to ignore God… and faces eternity in torment.

Jesus shares this story in the hearing of the Pharisees for a reason, as He travels to Jerusalem. There, He will pay the ransom for all mankind on the cross. All the prophecies of Moses and the Prophets will be fulfilled. Yet even His rising from the dead will not convince the Jewish leaders of His messiahship.

“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and mankind, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all people.” – 1 Timothy 2:5-6

Jesus targets this story toward the Pharisees. For He is highlighting the importance of choosing to follow Him in this life. He tells of a chasm that exists separating sinful man from a holy God. There is only one way across this chasm… the way of Jesus. For He is the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Him (John 14:6).

Jesus is the bridge over the vast chasm… the bridge to reconciliation and eternal life. It is a bridge manifesting His love that spans eternity… the love that led Him to the cross to unite God and man. All who come to believe in Jesus cross over this great crevasse, passing from death to life, with the promise of eternity in heaven. Yet this crevasse is only passable in this life. The choice must be made before our time on earth ends.

Jesus is calling us to cross the chasm. This choice, the most important we will make in this lifetime, has eternal consequences. Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer…. the atoning sacrifice for sin paid once for all. He is the Mediator between us and the Father. He offers the one bridge across the chasm… the only bridge that leads to salvation and eternal life. Yet the saving grace of Jesus will only come into effect for those who place their faith in Him.

†   Eternal Takeaway – When we place our faith in Christ, we cross the chasm from death to life eternal   †