The First Sunday after Trinity – Pr. Anderson sermon
St. Luke 16:19-31 “One Whom God Helps”
June 2, 2024 | Christ Lutheran Church
In Nomine Iesu
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Lord God, heavenly Father, we beseech You so to rule and govern our hearts by Your Holy Spirit, that we may not, like the rich man, hear Your Word in vain, and become so devoted to things temporal that we forget things eternal; but that we readily and according to our ability serve those who are in need, and not defile ourselves with carousing and pride; in trial and misfortune keep us from despair, and grant us to put our trust wholly in Your fatherly help and grace, so that in faith and Christian patience we may overcome all things; through Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever. Amen. (Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary, by Veit Dietrich, p. 158)
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. (Rom. 1:7, etc.)
The sermon text for today is taken from the 16th chapter of the Gospel according to St. Luke. We read selected verses in Jesus’ name:
[Jesus said to the Pharisees:] “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
“The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’
“But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.
These are Your words, heavenly Father. Sanctify us by Your truth, Your Word is truth. Amen. (Joh. 17:17)
In Christ Jesus, who is there in the blessings of this life and is there in your sufferings, who with the greatest love one could ever bestow, gave up His life so you don’t have to fear, dear fellow redeemed:
With parable after parable, Jesus lives up to His name of being called the “Teacher.” As the people listen to these parables, there is one that sticks out. It sticks out because we don’t know for sure if it is a parable or if it is a true story. This is our text today, the rich man and a poor man named Lazarus. [Jesus said to the Pharisees:] “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.” This is a vast contrast that we have heard since we were little in Sunday School. It is the clash of heaven and hell. Like everything Jesus teaches, there is a warning and there are the sweet words of the Gospel. In this text you find those words in the name of the poor man. You are one whom God helps.
Now Lazarus needed help. It looks like he isn’t going to get any. He has done all that he can. He lays at the gate of the rich man, just craving the crumbs. And he is noticed by the rich man. We see that this man is more than capable of helping. While the dogs come to have pity on the man, it again looks like he will just be left alone. Well as quick as time is, there is a change. “The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.” Here is the first warning in our text. Do you see what God thinks about man’s death? He doesn’t talk about all the things these two individuals did on earth. The rich man who was dressed like a king, who most likely had an extravagant funeral, died, and was buried. His riches did not come with him. And Lazarus, who looked like he was not loved in his earthly life, who looked like he was all alone, was carried to heaven because God was with him.
Now there are two fates in life, and the rich man was experiencing the fate of many. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ Burning and dying, seeing the joys of heaven, absent of God, and in pain and torture forever. The rich man had a great earthly life and all he wanted. He’s in a position that most would like to get to. Now Jesus is not saying that you can’t be rich. King David and King Solomon had riches beyond our wildest dreams. This rich man had put his riches first before God and, Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD” (Jeremiah 9:23-24). He could have helped Lazarus. He could have shown love and justice. He instead boasted for his brothers. He enjoyed the things of this world, and he didn’t believe God’s Word.
If there is a horror story portion of our text, it is when God’s Word reminds us of the things that we have done in our lives already. Abraham simply reminds the man about his life on earth, the horror! “But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ Like all Jews, the rich man knew he was a son of Abraham. He pleaded that his father would help him out, even if it was so small and a miniscule kind of relief. Abraham tells him to look at his life. He had such a good life. Lazarus did not and the rich man knew this. All he can do now is gaze across a chasm that none can cross over. The rich man chose his path, a path that could have been guided as the Psalmist states, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).
The rich man has a plan. A plan that resonates with us. It’s in our nature when we have done something wrong, we will try to think of a way to get out of the problem we have created. “And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house—for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ The rich man can’t change his predicament, but he understands that his brother’s fate will be like his. Most likely because they watched everything that he did as he was their example. Jesus speaks against being a bad and sinful influence for others. This is what the wide path brings to those who simply follow the ways of the world and are not guided by the light of the world. “They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might” (2 Thessalonians 1:9). In this post Christian society, there is a taste of what that absence looks like. What unbearable pain to only catch a glimpse of what could have been. This doesn’t mean that all is good if we are Lazarus. The devil works with the challenges of life to make it look like God is not there. There are times we can cry out, “How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” (Psalm 13:1)
In the hard days that can seem the most unbearable, like with Lazarus, God is still there. He simply did not forget about Lazarus. God gave him strength and help as he sat at that gate day after day. He continued to live on even though it looked like there was nothing to live for. Of course there was something to live for. Every day is a blessing on earth because no one knows who they can touch with their faith in God. Lazarus was witnessing to the rich man how his life was still worth living even in his condition. In the end the help that came to Lazarus was divine help. As God strengthened him on earth, in the end, for Christians there is only one way to find relief. Lazarus was poor on earth and suffering, but in his death, he inherited eternal life.
Lazarus means, “one whom God helps,” and that is exactly what happened. What a gracious helping hand to be brought out of this land of suffering to eternal glory with all the saints who have gone before us. Look who Lazarus was reclining with at the table. He sat next to Abraham! And it was not because of his poor status that brought Lazarus into this new and glorious home. As Jesus would state later, “Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad” (John 8:56). Lazarus was helped by God who made a promise to man. A promise that was fulfilled and with that fulfillment there are homes being prepared. When Lazarus’ home was completed, he was brought to it by the angels.
This home was made with love and Lazarus saw that love with the salvation of God. Love that God shows you as St. John writes, “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:16-19). You might be thinking, “but what if I did do something wrong? I want to cower in fear of the punishment!” As you confess that you deserve punishment for your sins at the beginning of worship, the punishment the rich man has no relief from, St. John is right, perfect love casts out fear. God has perfect love for you and in your confession, He forgives your sins.
Our text does not say that Lazarus was perfect. Lazarus needed his sins forgiven just like you. His forgiveness was found in the promised Messiah. The man telling the Pharisees about heaven and hell is the man who has the keys over death and Hades. Jesus dies on the cross, forgiving the sins of the world and taking all who believe in Him to the place of heavenly riches. Lazarus was not in pain. He was enjoying the feast of the lamb once slain! The feast that you will enjoy when it is your time for the angels to take you. As you wait for this to happen, for that divine help, Jesus is still with you now. He lights up your path, and when you have strayed, He pulls you back. On the days that you feel like there is no help, like you are all alone and suffering next to the rich man’s gate, Jesus is with you there as well. He reminds you His suffering was greater because it was your suffering and He suffered it for you. He strengthens you and preserves you with His death and resurrection.
As the cross brings life, those who despise it will die eternally. The rich man thinks that if Lazarus goes back, a miracle might change his brother’s hearts. “But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ “And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ “He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’” God has given the Word to all. The Word came down from heaven and was made flesh. If the heart is too stubborn to believe in Christ, then a miracle won’t save it. So, in our trials and problems, we look to who’s suffering was greater. Jesus’ death was your death, and, in His love, He helps you. You will die and be buried, and because Jesus is preparing your home, the angels will carry you there. Amen.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, forevermore. Amen.
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