The Invisible Man
Luke 16:19-31
This fresco by Italian Painter Domenico di Michelino in 1442
Is found in the Florence Cathedral Italy
It’s a painting showing Dante shown holding a copy of his Divine Comedy,
On the left hand side is the entrance to Hell,
the seven terraces of Mount Purgatory
are behind the painted figure
and the city of Florence,
with the spheres of Heaven above,
Dante’s Divine Comedy is a poem written in the early 1300’s
The poem describes Dante's travels
through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven [2]
as Dante’s vision of the afterlife reflects the Italian Roman Catholic Medieval World-View – he reflected his times
like Dante’s poem & Michelino’s fresco
We’re curious about what’s next what heaven or hell is like
like the stories that speak about it
like this story Jesus told about Lazarus & the Rich Man
There’s a certain man who’s rich
Well clothed and well fed
there’s a poor man sick with sores
so hungry he waits at the rich man’s gate
to eat any food that might be thrown out
Both die
The poor bloke goes to heaven
the rich man goes to hell
Then there’s an exchange between the rich man and Abraham
About the agony of hell
the merits of someone rising from the dead to warn people
the parable ends with Abraham saying
31"He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' "
Rich Man
Poor Man
Death
Heaven & Hell
simple to remember
All the big things of life and what happens next
So are we wondering is this story just a glimpse from Jesus of what’s to come?
As we look at this parable this morning
Let’s pray and ask for God’s help for us at this time
PRAY
I want to have this parable fresh in our minds I’ll read it again
Luke 16: 19-31
19"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'
25"But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'
27"He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, 28for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'
29"Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'
30" 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'
31"He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' "