johnmarkharris.net

“Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’

“But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’

“The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’

“But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Sometimes we think if we could jump in the Way Back, we might be able to convince ourselves to act differently, or perhaps if we could jump in the T.A.R.D.I.S. and plead with those who’ve passed away without a relationship with Jesus, we might could make a difference… I don’t think we could. When Jesus is telling his disciples the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, the Rich Man is suffering in torment awaiting his eternal judgment. He wants to go back and tell his brothers the truth so that they would turn to Jesus. Abraham tells him (basically) that won’t do any good, if they won’t believe the Bible, they wouldn’t believe you either… besides, Jesus WILL come back from the dead!”

All we need to do is point to Jesus. He is the way. No DeLorean required.

“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

Christianity is not a competition, we’re a family. We don’t compare and we don’t want what’s “fair.” If we got what was “Fair” none of us would be saved. The “Older Brother” in the parable was mad because he was faithful for so long, and the father just wanted his first-born son to be happy his brother had come home. Don’t compare your experience to others, it will only breed bitterness in your heart. Don’t look at other people and think about what is or isn’t “fair,” that’s a recipe for pain and anger. Rejoice for however God is blessing others, whether you think they deserve it or not, and whether you think you’re as blessed or not… you’re in the same boat.

Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.

Wait, didn’t Jesus come to bring “Peace on Earth, good will toward all men?” No, that’s a mistranslation of the Greek NT. The KJV says “Peace on earth, good will toward men.” but look it up in a modern translation, most of them say something like “on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.” That’s a big difference. The difference is one letter in Greek. εὐδοκία is what’s known as the nominative form “good will” in general as the subject. But in the previous 400 years, we’ve found so many more (and older) manuscripts, we can better recreate what the original writings most likely said. The original Greek is the word εὐδοκίας. Do you see how similar that is? It’s very easy to see how someone who was copying the NT hundreds of years after it was written happened to leave of that final letter. εὐδοκίας (the original reading) is the genitive form meaning “of good will” describing the quality of the subject, not the subject itself. So in other words, the peace that the angels were talking about is a description of those characterized by being pleasing to God. The way we please God is by believing in His Son (see: Romans 5:1). So, did Jesus come to bring peace for the world? No. He came to offer peace for those who would surrender under His terms. Not peace at all costs. Put Jesus first, and it may cause issues with friends and family, but He’s worth it!

But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’

The good Samaritan is the good neighbor. He doesn’t mind his own business, keep to himself, or keep his head down… he makes a difference in the lives of the hurting. He attends to the immediate need that he had come across, binding his wounds, and then provides for the man’s continued care. He didn’t have to invite the man to come to his house or change his entire life, it just took a little time to care and share the blessings God had given him. If you want to make a difference, simply do the same.

So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Jesus is the only way to God, salvation, and Heaven. All the other “messiahs” were false… not simply misguided, but “thieves and robbers.” If you’re one of Jesus’ sheep, you don’t fall for the false words. You don’t follow the false messiahs. Jesus gives eternal life, an abundant life, because he laid down his for us. Jesus is the good shepherd, follow him.