“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ (Luke 16:22-26)
We started this week watching Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary. Lazarus had died four days earlier and been buried. Jesus tells the sisters, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Jesus goes to the tomb and cries, “Lazarus, come forth.” Lazarus lives. Resurrection is a transition to a new reality we face at death, not a transformation into another type of being. Somehow similarly to the phoenix of Harry Potter, at death our ashes resurrect to eternal life – not over and over having to grow from an ugly chick to a bird but to eternal life as a child of Christ. We don’t exactly know what that means but there is no indication that it is a repeated life cycle but a transition to a new reality.
We don’t have Biblical stories telling us much about eternity but we do have the story Jesus told about another Lazarus who was a poor man begging at the gate of a rich man. Both died. The rich man went to hades for whatever reason is not disclosed. Lazarus is envisioned standing at Abraham’s side. Jesus had not died for sin yet so the gates of heaven were not open but the righteous dead are understood to be standing with Abraham in Paradise. The rich man is pictured suffering and asking Abraham to send Lazarus to his assistance. Both men are alive and recognizable as themselves. Jesus was recognizable after his resurrection. They are resurrected or alive, not living in a higher or lower life form as a reward for their deeds.
Abraham speaks. Lazarus is no longer a begger to be sent to help the rich man. His eternal life, his resurrected existence is one without pain, with respect, standing with the heroes of the faith. I find that encouraging as we think about resurrection. Resurrection is not cyclical like a phoenix nor reincarnation in some eternal cycle of life but it is God bringing us into a rewarding life in community. Thank you for that glimpse, Lord. Blessings as you stand with loved ones dying, knowing that there will be a resurrection and reunion in the future. A wonderful promise and something to look forward to as we grieve the separation.
On the Way to Wonder 