2nd May 2026

2nd May 2026


Pray (ACts) 


Read (Luke 16v19-31) 


Message (Scott Woodburn) 


Why was Heaven called "Abraham's bosom" by Jesus? It seems an odd phrase to our Western ears but it in fact signified a place of glorious blessing. When the Lord and His Disciples ate the Last Supper they weren't sitting around a table the way you and I eat our dinner. Scripture speaks of Jesus and the twelve reclining at the table (John 13v23). Imagine these men almost lying down on couches around the table. John was beside Jesus and in order to speak to Him, John had to lean back into the Lord's chest or bosom (John 13v25).


Such a posture is not familiar to us here in Northern Ireland but it certainly displayed the level of friendship that existed between the Lord and His Disciples. Now imagine Lazarus the poor sore infested wretch who lay outside a rich man's home. No one would ever let Lazarus recline at their table and who would want such a man leaning back against their bosom?


Even so, as the rich man wept in Hades, Lazarus was at Abraham's bosom. Abraham is described in Scripture as Gods' friend (Isaiah 41v8), all the nations of the world have been blessed by him (Galatians 3v8), he was the man of faith (Hebrews 11v8) and if we belong to Jesus then we are spiritual descendants of Abraham (Galatians 3v29).


Today Abraham rejoices in Heaven and amazingly even a filthy beggar like Lazarus by faith received the blessing of being in the place where Abraham was. In life he may have not been welcome at anyone's table but in death he reclined at Abraham's bosom. We cannot buy our way into Heaven and not everyone will rest there but irrespective of colour, class or creed all those who put their faith in Christ have been promised Heavenly glory. Brothers and sisters, if you are despised in this world then know for sure that you will be welcome in Heaven, thanks be to God.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q57 Which is the fourth commandment? The fourth commandment is, Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath-day, and hallowed it.