SLEUTHING SCRIPTURE

SLEUTHING SCRIPTURE

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Luke 16:19-31  [Jesus taught] There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

  I enjoy murder mysteries, especially the ones that expose viewers to everything the detective(s) see and hear. DEATH IN PARADISE, streamed from Netflix, is a British 2 season series I recently experienced.

  “experienced”? Yep, I don’t simply enjoy watching tales of crime. I think of them as analytical exercises helpful with the labor of 2Timothy 2:15-16 classroom compliance.

  A repeated theme in the DIP series is how easily it is to get fixated and not notice otherwise that which also informs. Then there’s the matter of how very important questioning is in seeking discovery.  (THINK!! WHO? WHAT? WHERE? WHEN? WHY? HOW? homeschool students Ian and Shandree grew weary of hearing.)

  Consider the story Jesus told that is recorded by Luke 16. Play sleuth. Go beyond the obvious or that which you’ve often heard or read. (Commonest theme upon these ears was “Great Gulf” and “too late!”) Then share with this congregation what is newly edifying to you.

  Yes, let the word of Christ dwell in us richly in all wisdom unto the teaching and admonishing one another of that which we know and learn. (Col.3:15-16)

EBB4