In your opinion, were the parables that Jesus told real events?
Keep in mind this really happened:
Numbers 23:7 And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.
I believe this story/parable is the only one that mentions actually names and Lazarus did die in John 11. The rich man however is not named......
Lazarus and the Rich Man - Here a little, there a little - Commentary
Luke 16:
14The
Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they scoffed at him.
15He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts. For that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
19"Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day.
20A certain beggar, named
Lazarus, was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22It happened that
the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried.
23In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw
Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom.
24He 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 in anguish in this flame.'
29"But Abraham said to him, 'They have
Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.'
30"He said, 'No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'
31"He said to him, 'If they don't listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.'"
John 11:43
43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “
Lazarus, come forth!”
44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”