Many times people say things like "if I just saw "X", then I would believe. That "X" being some sort of additional evidence or proof than what they already have to go on.
So what does Jesus say about that approach?
Luke 16:24-31(NKJV)
“Then 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 in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.
And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’
“Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house,
for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’
Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’
And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’
But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”
This is Jesus
telling the story of what Abraham would say.
The guy in hell asks that a warning be sent to his 5 brothers. Abraham says a warning has already been sent
through the prophets and Scripture. Then
the guy in hell says 'yeah but if you raise someone from the dead to warn my
brothers, they will listen."
And you can see Abrahams response.
Notice the subtle prophecy in his response. "If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will
they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.".
Was that really Jesus predicting that even though He was about to be crucified
and raised from the dead, Jesus knew that even that would not persuade
everyone. Hmm.
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