I've attempted this blog twice now, and lost everything that I had written when the computer crashed. So, I am just going to concentrate on the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.
Interestingly, Lazarus is the only character ever given a name in any of Jesus' parables...and it is the same as Jesus' friend whom He wept over and raised from the dead.
"Note there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day. And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man's table, besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores. Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom; and the rich man also died and was and was buried. In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom." vv 19-24
Note: Abraham's bosom was an expression used in the Talmud as a figure for Heaven.
The Talmud (Hebrew: תַּלְמוּד talmūd "instruction, learning", from a root lmd "teach, study") is a central text of mainstream Judaism, in the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history.
There is much to take from this parable. But there is a verse in this same text that says it all, "...but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God." v. 15
Oh, to be, in Abraham's bosom.
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