A Message from the Grave
By
Mark
Jesus told the following story:
There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine
linen, and fared sumptuously every day: and there was a certain beggar named
Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed with
the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and
licked his sores.
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels
into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he
lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in
his bosom.
And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send
Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for
I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy
lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now
he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so
that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to
us that would come from thence.
Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him
to my father's house: for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them,
lest they also come into this place of torment.
Abraham saith unto him, they have Moses and the prophets; let them hear
them.
And he said, nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the
dead, they will repent.
And he said unto him, if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither
will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. Luke 16:19-31.
Notice the last verse!
Jesus rose from the dead 3 days after he was tortured and killed.
In 1Corinthians 15:3-8, the Apostle Paul
reported that the resurrected Jesus had appeared to Peter, then the twelve
disciples, then more than 500 people, many who were still alive when he was
writing to the Corinthians.
Jesus appeared to these people over 12 separate occasions, all except
for Paul, within a 40 day period following the crucifixion.
Three times Jesus offered himself to be touched. Twice he
showed the scars from his crucifixion.
Three times he ate a meal with his disciples.
Four times witnesses responded to their encounter with Jesus by
worshipping him.
The Apostle Paul encountered he risen Christ on the road to Damascus,
where the apostle was going to persecute the church there. SeeActs 9:1-19.
What further proof does a person need!
Once again look at the following two verses!
30 And he said, nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the
dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, if they hear not Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
He who has ears let him here!
