I want to use the platform of this Preaching Moment to highlite this Headline: "ROLE REVERSAL." The Text I have tagged and targeted for Teaching is LUKE 16:19-26.
I agree with Louis B. Craddock, who said in his book entitled ’LUKE" that, ’In the course of teaching and preaching in the Church, it is often the case that Scripture is treated Unit by Unit with attention
given to individual events or teachings. In such a method, context consists primarily of the paragraphs immediately before and after the passage under investigation. Much can be gained by both Preacher
and Parishioner in such a precedure, especially if one is moving thru a biblical book in continuous or semi-continuous readings. However, now and then one comes to a major block of material that demands
some consideration as a whole before attention is given to its parts.Such is the nature of the section before us now.’
Luke 16 falls into the context of what is called "THE JOURNEY NARRATIVE." It commences at 9:51 and ends at 19:28. 9:51 is an expression that breaks from what precedes it, and that has the quality of setting the tone for what is about to come. 9:51 says: "When the day drew near for Him(Jesus) to be received up, He set His face to go to Jerusalem." In 9:51 Jesus sets out to go to Jerusalem but He does not arrive until 10 chapters later at 19:28, which says: "When He had said this, He went on ahead going up to Jerusalem."
Luke reminds us that what takes place between 9:51 and 19:28 is to be understood as occuring on Jesus’ Journey to Jerusalem, and that the fact of that Journey is to influence interpretation of what Jesus says and does.
If the Journey to Jerusalem is understood as Luke’s context for Jesus Preparing His Followers and Us not only for His Passion, but for Discipleship to and beyond the events in Jerusalem, then we can
understand why Jesus told this Parable of The Rich and Poor Man. For between here and New Jerusalem the believer encounters Rejection, Poverty, Sickness and Death.
The Two Parables of Chapter 16 represent a Positive and Negative Use of Material Things. Clearly Luke understood as well as we that the issues of Wealth and Poverty are Complex, that Anxiety about Money is a disease among both those who have it and
those who do not, and that a generous sharing of one’s goods can free one from the danger to the soul which lies coiled in the possession of things. Overall, Luke understood that Prosperity casts a Shadow over human Life, and it is the Poor who are the Objects of God’s special concern. Nowhere is that conviction more evident than in the Story of the Rich Man and Lazarus.
The audience is no longer Disciples but Pharisees, who are here portrayed as Lovers of Money who make fun of Jesus’ position on Money. For in Verse 14, they derided Jesus. In Verse 13, Jesus had separated God and mammon and said: "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." This apparently means that theirs was a Theology in which God and mammon were comfortable joined.
Therefore, Jesus and these Pharisees differed on their Theological interpretation of Wealth and Poverty. If the Pharisees misread the Law and the Prophets in justifying a Love of Wealth, and if the Rich Man in the Parable interpreted his and Lazarus’ condition as evidence of God’s Favor and Disfavor according to a certain reading of the Law and the Prophets, then both the Pharisees and the rich man are judged by the very Scriptures they had used to justify their life-styles.
The story is addressed to the Pharisees not simply on the use of wealth and poverty but on a Justification of their view on the basis of the Law and the Prophets.
Now, there are many Applications of this Parable. It could be used as a Commentary on Classical Class Wars. It could be used as a Contrast of Conservative Religion and Politics versus Socialism. Or it could be used as a Commentary on Capitalism versus Welfare.
But I want to view it in the light of the Neo or Modern Gospel of Prosperity juxtaposed to the Gospel according to Jesus.
I perceive TWO POINTS OF EMPHASIS highlited in this Parable of the RICH MAN-POOR MAN.
FIRST, JESUS EMPHASIZES THAT LIFE CONDITIONS DO NOT NECESSARILY INDICATE ONE’S PROPER RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
SECOND, THERE IS A ROLE REVERSAL THAT IS YET
RESERVED.
In the light of this Modern Gospel of Prosperity juxtaposed to the Gospel of Jesus, this Parable emphasizes the fact that:
I. NUMBER ONE, LIFE CONDITIONS DO NOT NECESSARILY INDICATE ONE’S PROPER RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
This is attested to in the Contrast of the Life of the Rich Man with that of the Poor Man, Lazarus in Verses 19-21.
In describing the Rich Man, I believe Jesus’ argument is:PROSPERITY IS NOT NECESSARILY AN INDICATION OF ONE’S PROPER RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND MAN.
You need to understand that the Pharisees found in the Book of Deuteronomy and other selected Texts of OT Scripture, A GOSPEL OF WEALTH. They felt a Justification for Loving Wealth within a Theological Framework. Their theology was Deuteronomic because in that Book and particularly in Chapter 28, the word is clear. It says,Obey God and you will be blessed in War, in the Marketplace, in the Field and at Home. Deuteronomy teaches that Godliness is in league with Riches, and that Prosperity is the clear sign of God’s Favor.
Theirs was a religion of the Book, and their Love of Wealth found its confirmation in the Law and the Prophets. For the Book taught them, whoever is careful to obey the commands of God shall be highly favored. For Deuteronomy 28:3-4 clearly said: "Blessed shall
you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, and the fruit of your ground, and the fruit of your beasts, the increase of your cattle, and the young of your flock."
Thus, the Equations are quite clear to them: Wealth = Blessed of God=Obedience to God’s commandments. Thus to them, the rich man was a realistic portrayal of a man whose wealth was taken as evidence of God’s Favor; a man with whom the Pharisees can identify.
But in relating this parable of the rich man and poor man, Luke is attacking a Theology that says of the one who delights in God’s Law "In all that he does, he prospers" but the Poor are the Wicked and Cursed of God. Luke is attacking that theology that believed the rich man was justified in not helping the poor man, because one should not interfere when God is punishing a person. But in His description of the rich man, Jesus overthrows this Theology of Prosperity as a Sign of God’s Favor.
If you notice in Verse 19, Jesus employs the term "a certain man-tis anqrwpos" to convey one of Two Ideas, or perhaps both. One, "tis anqrwpos" conveys the idea that "that the Name of this Individual was Unimportant"; Two, that "Jesus did not Know his name"; or Three, "His name was unimportant to Jesus because He did not Know him."
Upon reflection, I believe the third option to be consistent with our Text and with the Context of the Ministry of Jesus as recorded in the Four Gospels. Why? Because 1) Jesus as Good Shepherd "Calleth His own sheep by Name." Said He: "I am the Good Shepherd and know My sheep." He knows the Way, Thoughts, Work, Heart and Soul of the Righteous. And 2) Jesus does not know the Reprobate; to them He shall say "I never knew you."
Therefore, Jesus uses this Unshaped, Indefinite "Someone, a Human Being, an Individual," or "a certain man," this "tis anqrwpos."
Perhaps here at the very beginning of this parable, we have the first hint at the Eternal and Irreversible Lostness or Unsavedness of this "certain man."
What truth, then, is Jesus communicating to us in not calling the Name of this Unidentified "Someone" in this parable? This: One Purpose for Jesus giving us Being as Human Beings is to Mold or Shape a Definiteness, a Definitiveness of this Indefinite Being of Humanness. In other words, a God-like Character, a Definite Substance of Integrity, a Firm Essence must be made of this Indefinite Ego or Self of Human Nature!
And if, within the context of this Time-Space Continuum of our being here on Earth, we Fail to have some Definitiveness or Definiteness to our Character or Inner Man/Woman that reflects the Image of Christ Jesus, then our Name is Unimportant to Jesus because He does not Know Us!!!
The Lord only knows and recognizes Himself in the nature of man. It is the formed image of Himself in us, the definitive essence of His character and nature in us that he recognizes! The Tragedy of life,then, is to go thru life UNFORMED; to live UNIDENTIFIED among the masses of men; to settle for an INDEFINITE BEING OF HUMANNESS; to have it said of us as our eulogy: "Now there was once a Certain Man/Woman!" TO LIVE AND DIE WITHOUT THE LORD KNOWING YOUR NAME IS THE ULTIMATE TRAGEDY!!!
Now what really crystalized that truth for me was the way Jesus used the Third Person Singular, Imperfect Greek Verb "hn" when speaking of both the rich and poor men. In both instances Jesus says "there was-hn a certain rich man ... and there was-han a certain beggar ..."
The Imperfect verb of Description "was-hn" is the verb of EXISTENCE,OF BEING, OF ORDINARY BEING. Its as if Jesus says:’There was once a Being of Indefinite Character, a Certain Man, SomeOne, a Mere Human Being; I really can’t tell!’
But it is even moreclearly revealed in the manner of words He used to introduce both. For in introducing the first in Verse 19, Jesus used the Indefinite Being "anqrwpos." But in Verse 20 he said: "And there was a certain Beggar or Poor Man-ptwcos." He did not use the noun "anthropos" in stating Lazarus’ genus, but the noun "Ptochos" in drawing a real distinction in Character and Kind. As if saying, the adjective "plousios-rich" does not add Inner Quality of Character to our essence, but the noun "ptwcos-beggar" does! I’ll explore that further shortly.
The Greek word-order of Verse 19a places the emphasis upon the noun "anthropos" for it is first in order. And the adjective "Plousios-Rich" which attributes an Outer quality to the noun "a certain man" denoted his Socio-Economic Status in life; and very interestingly comes Last in word-order. And "rich" being last in word-order reinforces Jesus’ statement of Verse 15: "For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God."
This man was the Kind or Class of human beings who possessed outer riches or wealth; the kind of person who does not have to work for a living because of the overabundance of earthly possessions or material resources.
Thus, he was a person who was Independent, Self-Sufficient, Aloof, Arrogant and Discriminating. Some theologs have identified this individual as Dives; while others have called him Neuas. The point is,
even though Jesus did not reveal his identity in the parable, nevertheless this man was well-known in his community and nation.
For anyone who only wears Purple and Fine Linen and who throws gala and expensive banquet every day at his mansion, Is Well-Known in that City! He is Unique in his Dress and Unparalelled in his Feasting. He is the Talk of the Town, the Toast of Society, the Envy of the Masses. Yes, he is well-known - but not to Jesus! His wealth or riches did not commend him to the notice of Jesus. Said Jesus, "For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God."
Jesus goes on to make TWO STATEMENTS about this individual that are the Direct Result of His Riches or Wealth. FIRST, He asserts His Customary Dress. The tense of the aspect of the verb Jesus uses is very enlightening. He uses the Iterative Imperfect Middle of Repeated Action; which means, "day after day after day, every day of the week; not one single day in each year passed in which this man was not clothed in or fully clothed in Fine Linen Underwear covered by Purple Robes. The man was decked-out, dressed down, matching and modeling.
And from the fact that he had plenty of money, we can safely say that if he wished, he could have changed three times a day or more. His wardrobe mirrored his Wealth and Social Status; he only wore Purple Robes and Underwear made of Fine Linen!
But note again that I told you this Imperfect Iterative Greek verb,"enedidusketo" was also in the Middle Voice; which means that either he and no one else, he alone was the only one who wore Purple Robes over Fine Egyptian Underwear; or he dressed solely for His own benefit. In either case, the man was Selfish, Arrogant and Pompous.
And Second, after asserting His Customary Dress, Jesus asserts His Customary Diet: "faring sumptuously every day." The present middle participle "eufainomenos" literally means "to put into a good frame of mind." The man was cheerful, glad, happy as a result of how he customarily ate. Every day he feasted elegantly, dined on the very best of Kosher food. Daily he threw a dinner party, inviting the rich and famous, representatives from the leading religious,social, political and economic sectors of Israel. His parties had to be the social event of the region, and to have been invited to his home must have been "to-die-for." This man was never naked neither hungry; therefore, he took his good fortune as a sign of God’s Favor.
Yet, the fact still remains that PROSPERITY IS NOT NECESSARILY AN INDICATION OF A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD OR MAN. Clearly this Modern Gospel of Prosperity is attacked and revealed as to what it actually is: a Perverted Interpretation of the Word of God for the purpose of trying to justify a Love of Wealth. But Jesus still says to you, as He did to those who laughed at His position on the Love of Wealth: "For what is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God." So, just as PROSPERITY IS NOT NECESSASRILY AN INDICATION OF A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD:
NEITHER IS POVERTY AN INDICATION OF LIVING UNDER THE CURSE OF GOD. I often hear those preachers of this Neo-Gospel of Prosperity teaching and even trying to argue from Scripture thaPoverty is a Curse from God. But, oh, what a perversion of the truth.
For in the same parable, Jesus juxtaposes the life of this poor man alongside that of the rich man. Says Jesus: "And there was a certain poor man names Lazarus." Jesus attributes a certain Quality to this man’s character by describing him as Ptochos. Ptochos denotes a certain kind of attitude one has about one’s self: that is, a seeing of oneself as Poor and Needy in relation to God, and as such, assuming a posture of humbleness in kneeling or crouching near the ground, and then, with outstretched hands, begging for the necessary things.
Lazarus became a beggar on account of His Phsyical Condition. His sickness or disease had so debilatated him as to prevent him from working to earn means to support himself. Jesus says the disease had run its course, for he was full of sores. And since it had run its course, it was just a matter of time before it claimed his life. It had so affected his life that he was no longer able to Walk; for Jesus says, he was thrown down at the rich man’s gate. He had to depend on the hands and legs of others to move about from place to place.
To throw him down suggests that those who carried him were uncaring folk. To throw down on the ground one who is already full of sores must have been very painful. Being full of sores, it must have been impossible for Lazarus to find a comfortable position; for any way he would sit or lie down, he would be on a sore, painful part of his body.
But there at the rich man’s gate, he was hurriedly and unsympathetically thrown down, and there he lay hurting, bruised, smelly, offensive to look at and Dying. He was not a beggar by choice or because he was a loafer or refused to work. NO! He was a Beggar as a result of his Condition; and his condition was not necessarily attributable to a Curse from God either, as if he were so wicked a sinner as to be suffering the Punishment of God.
Now its sad but yet true that this same mind-set is prevalent in our country and among so many so-called "born-again conservative Christians." They mistakenly and sometimes intentionally believe that
those who are poor are cursed of God; believe that poverty is a conscious choice of poor folk, and therefore they deserve no kind of help because to do so, would be to interfere in their punishment by God. As a consequence, we have undergone budget-cutting, targeted at programs designed to aid the poor. They figure that if they dump the poor,throw them down, that the poor will figure out a way to get up on their own and help themselves. Oh, what Cruelty! What Evil! THIS MAN COULD NOT GET UP. HE WAS DEBILATATED, FULL OF SORES. HE RESORTED TO BEGGING AS A LAST RESORT OF A DYING MAN.
This poor man’s plight also reminds us of the fact that SOME CONDITIONS OF MISERY WILL NOT BE RELIEVED IN THIS LIFE! He was full of sores, the disease had run its course, and therefore it was just a matter of time before it took his earthly life. And so, He Died. Yeah, some Conditions of Misery WILL NOT BE RELIEVED IN THIS LIFE. Poor people, for the most part, will Die in Poverty. Not every Sickness will Be Healed. Not every political, religious or economic captive will be freed. Not every person in an abusive or toxic relationship will be delivered. Some, if not most, will just have to endure unto the end, and be faithful unto death. Every Lazarus won’t be raised from the dead after four days in this life; some will die in Misery! For "it came to pass that the Poor man Dies!"
And since some conditions will not be relieved in this life, we should realize that THERE IS A PROFOUND MESSAGE IN THE CRAVING OF CRUMBS! For Jesus says that Lazarus was "desiring to be fed or satisifed with the Crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table." Or as it is in the Greek Text, "desiring to be satisfied from the fallings from the rich man’s table."
Now please don’t miss the Significance of that Statement, for it is Profound! Here is a man full of sores, debilatated and unable to walk or move about, shunned by folk and family, an embarrassment and burden to society and lastly dying; and his sole desire, his only longing was to TASTE SOME CRUMBS! I don’t think you caught that, so let me run it by you again. He did not desire to be healed of his sickness. He did not desire the fellowship and acceptance of family and friends. He did not desire relief or release from his constant pain. He did not desire just one restful night of sleep before he died. NO! His only request, the only desire of his heart was JUST TO TASTE SOME CRUMBS BEFORE HE DIED!
Oh, what a PROFOUND MESSAGE IN THAT CRAVING OF
CRUMBS!!!
And are not the Poor, Hungry, Suffering, Sick Human Beings among us worhty of at least OUR CRUMBS? They don’t want what you have; just a Fraction, a Fragment of it. Not the Whole, not Half, not 10% or 1%; but just a Fraction of,1/10 of 1%; JUST SOME CRUMBS!!!
Lazarus didn’t expect to be invited into the house and sit at the table as an Equal; He just Desired Some Crumbs that fell to the Floor, some finger food.
Oh, I’ve come to the conclusion that many of this world’s people do not expect to ever be treated as human being worthy of equal and full rights as God’s creation. They don’t expect to live comfortable lives in adequate housing, or to be paid comparable wages for their work. But, Oh, they do desire CRUMBS OF RESPECT, CRUMBS OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, CRUMBS OF MERCY from those of us who claim we know and love the Lord!!! Sometimes, Just CRUMBS will satisfy the Longings of a Fragmented Life! JUST CRUMBS will suffice until THE CHANGE COME!!
But instead of getting Crumbs, so many only get THE DOGS! DENIED CRUMBS OF HUMANNESS, WE GET THE DOGS OF DEGRADATION! Some of our brothers and sisters are treated like Animals. These Dogs Knew Lazarus and were accustomed to his presence. They didn’t bark at him, or try to bite him. So used to him were they that as often as they saw him, they came and Licked his Sores.
There he was Helpless, unable to avoid them, unable to chase them away; so he had to suffer the Degradation of Dogs on every side of him, Licking his aching, bleeding wounds.
What kind of Church or Believers are we to allow those who have the image of God to "Go to the Dogs?" All around us our folk are going to the Dogs. The Dogs of Cultic and Cultural Multilation; the Dogs of Sexual Promiscuity; the Dogs of Greedy, Profit-Driven Capitalism; the Demonic Dogs of Seducing Spirits and
Doctrines of devils ARE LICKING THE HURTING WOUNDS OF
MANY OF OUR FOLK! We see them and act like we don’t. We see them in need of Some Fallings, Some Crumbs and shut up our bowels of compassion to them. We pass them by and shake our heads in disgust, saying to ourselves in Pharisaic pride "Ain’t that a pitiful sight!" And yet, we gladly and sometimes out of a sense of duty, give our "Fallings", our "Crumbs" to the Dogs of this world, but the Poor Lazaruses, whom God has Chosen, Absolutely Nothing!!!
But that’s alright; because A CHANGE IS COMING!!!
Which leads me to my SECOND AND LAST POINT, WHICH IS:
II. THERE IS A ROLE REVERSAL THAT IS YET RESERVED!!!
This Role Reversal is depicted from TWO PERSPECTIVES.
FIRST, this Role Reversal is seen in the CONTRASTING PLACES OF REST, in Verses 22 and 23. In strict theological terms Contrasting Places of Rest are called the INTERMEDIATE STATE: i.e., the conditions of human beings between their death and the resurrection. In 2 Corinthians 5:1-5, Paul called the
Intermediate State the "Naked State" in between our "Tent State and Glorified Body." Said Paul: "For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent, groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life." So this contrasting of Abraham’s Bosom with Hades depicts the Intermediate State.
Right a way in Verse 22, Jesus informs us that DEATH BEGINS ROLE REVERSAL. In speaking of the Death of Lazarus, Jesus uses the Historical Present Infinitive "apoqanein." The Historical Present speaks of a Past Event as though it is Just Now Happening in the Present. Thus of Lazarus, says Jesus, not that the beggar died, but that the beggar Dies or is in the Act of Dying. Jesus places special attention on the Passing of Lazarus. He says: the beggar Dies.
Whereas in the case of the rich man Jesus says, the rich man also "died," Past Tense. As if to say that his death had no special significance but the Beggar’s Does. Jesus has us there on the scene watching intently Lazarus, full of sores, desiring only the crumbs, breathing his last breathe of air and then giving up the ghost. But as to the rich man, Jesus treats his death as a Past Historical Fact; he died and was buried.
What, then, is this thing called Death? Death is not the end of existence, of being. It is simply a transition to a different mode of existence, a different level of existence without the human body; for the soul is separated from the body and goes to the Intermediate State. Death is a Transition to a different level of Being.
So Jesus says of Lazarus in Verse 22, "the beggar dies, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s Bosom." And that the rich man died and was buried and in Verse 23 "being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes."
Thus, Abraham’s Bosom and Hades are the Destinations of Disembodied Souls. As it relates to Hades, the NT distinguishes between Gehenna and Hades. Hades, translated "Hell" in KJV, receives the Unrighteous for the period between death and reseurrection.
Whereas Gehenna is the place of Punishment assigned permanently at the last judgement. The torment of Gehenna is eternal as described by Jesus in Mark 9:43 & 48, where He said of Gehenna to go to Hell (Hades), into the fire that shall never be quenched(Gehenna) where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.." Furthermore, the souls of the ungodly are outside the body in Hades; but in Gehenna both body and soul, reunited at the resurrection, are destroyed by eternal fire. Thus, in Hades the rich man’s soul was transferred to a Different Level of Existence away from the Presence of God in a condition of Temporary Torture and Torment.
But as to Lazarus, he was deposited in Abraham’s Bosom; a Place of Honor at the banquet table in Paradise. Abraham’s Bosom represents Paradise, the resting place of the Blessed. Besides the idea of eating together on the same couch as Abraham, His Bosom also denotes the Closest Communion. There was Lazarus, a beggar who was previously full of sores and shunned by everyone except the Dogs, Laying His Head on Abraham’s Breast!
In verse 24,, we have the first hint of the rich man’s Religiousity. Jesus says that he himself cried out saying, "Father Abraham." He claimed to be a son of Abraham, and a Jew. He claims to be an Israelitte, to whom pertains the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the Law, the service of God and the promises. But Paul reminds us in Romans 9:7-8 that they are "Not all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but ’In Isaac your seed shall be called.’ That is, those who are "the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed."
This man in Hades further believed in the Concept of Mercy, but not in the Reciprosity of Mercy. He cried, "Pity me, have mercy on me,and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water andcool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame". But yet when he lived in his physical body, he wouldn’t even pity Lazarus enough to give him his Crumbs. But in Hades, he confronts the doctrine of Retribution; which basically says, Pay Day Is Coming!; whatsoever a man sows that shall he also reap; for God is no respector of persons, but will reward each one according to our works.
In Verse 25, Abraham says to him, "Son, remember that in your lifetime received your good things, and likewise Lazarus the evil things." He received in full with a receipt pleasures and comforts his money could buy. His good things were not a reward of obedience or faith; but good only in the sense of beneficial for a
season of time. But Lazarus received the evil things; things hurtful and destructive: sickness,mistreatment, hunger, aloneness. He received not the evil things as a punishment or curse from God; but as his lot in life as a follower of the Lamb.
Then in Verse 25 Abraham brings in THE ROLE REVERSAL.
Said he, But now he is comforted and you are tormented. Now Lazarus is the rich man clothed in Purple and Fine Linen, faring sumptuously every day; and the rich man is the beggar,begging for a drop of water to cool his tongue, being tormented in Hades’s flame.
This is a Complete Reversal of Roles: the powerful and rich will exchange places with the powerless and poor. This pattern of Role Reversal appears often in Luke. For Mary, upon learning she was to bring forth the Holy Child Jesus, sung of the God who brings down the mighty and exalts those of low degree, who fills the hungry and sends the rich away empty. And this Eschatological Reversal has already begun, and God’s choice of Mary is evidence of it.
In Luke Jesus pronounces Blessings upon the Economically Poor for theirs is(now) the kingdom of God(Eschatologically).
He blesses the physically hungry for eschatologically they shall be filled as Lazarus at the banquet table in Paradise. He blesses those who weep for they shall eschatologically Laugh. He blesses those who are hated, excluded and reviled by men for the Son of Man’s sake. Says Jesus, "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed you reward(eschatologically) is great in heaven." ROLE REVERSAL!
Says Jesus, the greatest shall serve the least. Says Jesus,
"Every valley shall be exalted, every mountain and hill shall be made low." Says Jesus, "the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain." ROLE REVERSAL!
Says Jesus, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Says Jesus, "I have come in this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind." Says Jesus, "Tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before the chief priests and elders. ROLE REVERSAL!
Says Jesus, "The first shall be last and the last first." THERE IS A ROLE REVERSAL THAT IS YET RESERVED! So I think I’ll assume the posture and attitude of Job and resolve, "All the days of my appointed time will I wait,TIL MY CHANGE COME." For THERE IS A CHANGE COMING! "For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that He shall stand at the last day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself,and my eyes shall behold and not another."
For when the trumpet of God shall sound at the Second Coming of Christ, "the dead in Christ shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written,’Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ’O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’" ROLE REVERSAL!!
I think Edwin Hawkins stated it beautifully in a song he wrote that says:
"A Change, a change has come over me.
He washed me white as snow.
He Changed my life so complete,
And now I sit at His feet
To do what must be done;
I’ll work and work till He comes.
For a wonderful Change has come over me."
Hold on, my Lazarus Kind of Friends, for "hast thou not known? hast thou not heard that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, faints not, neither is weary?
There is no searching of His understanding. He gives power to the faint; and to them that have no might, he increases strength. Even the youth shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall; But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary: and they shall walk, and not faint." A CHANGE IS COMING: ROLE REVERSAL!!!
