The Rich Man and Lazarus

In Luke 16.19-31, Jesus tells a parable contrasting the fates of a certain rich man and a beggar named "Lazarus". A unique feature of this parable is that one of the characters, Lazarus, is given a name. Why is that?

I've often wondered why certain people in the gospels and Acts are mentioned by name. Some are obvious, such as the apostles, since everyone knew who they were. One that surprised me is Simon the Magician from Acts chapter 8. It turns out that he subsequently traveled to Rome, had himself declared a god, and became one of the first heretics. Thus, in a bad way, he was well known as well. I suspect that people called out by name were generally well known already, and the authors added their names because of this. However, "Lazarus" in the parable is said to have died and gone on to Heaven.

I think that John, who wrote his gospel decades after the others, intended, in part, to answer some of the questions left by the previous authors. Specifically, he devoted a lengthy passage in John 11 to a family in a small village outside Jerusalem. Mary was very well known as the one who poured expensive perfume on Jesus before his death. Her sister was immortalized in Luke 10.41 when Jesus chided her saying, "Martha, Martha!" They also had a brother named Lazarus whom Jesus famously raised from the dead. Along with telling a powerful story, John does addresses two issues from the previous gospels. First, he presents Martha as a strong woman with deep faith whom Jesus loved. Second, he explains why Jesus, and Luke in recounting it, used a real name in a parable.

When Jesus raised Lazarus, the news spread rapidly, so that even the chief priests felt compelled to act against Jesus. Now, imagine Jesus telling this parable and using Lazarus as a key character. It ends with the rich man begging Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers of their fate.

"³⁰But [the rich man] said, "No, father Abraham, rather if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent." ³¹And [Abraham] said to him, "If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead."

Some critics complain that God, if he were real, would do more to reveal himself to people. Jesus did countless public miracles, and yet he was put to death. The problem is that not that God has failed to reveal himself, but that people stubbornly refuse to acknowledge him.