Shall sit down . . . in the kingdom of heaven

 

Greek Banquet Relief

I looked for the title verse after reading from In Touch Ministries:

da Vinci’s portrayal of the Last Supper is so widely acclaimed that it’s often how we imagine the original moment recorded in chapters 13-17 of John’s gospel. But in clinging to the master’s rendition of this divine meal, we miss one critical and interesting detail: Jesus and the disciples weren’t sitting that night. They were reclining.

Reclining during a meal had been around for a few centuries, as shown in the Greek relief above, and lasted about a thousand longer. whether we have couches or chairs or something else in heaven, I sure am looking forward to the wedding supper of the Lamb!

The verse was a bit longer than this title:

And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 8:11 KJV)

This is part of a larger story, and must be taken in context:

And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. (Matthew 8:5-8 KJV)

This Roman military officer trusted what he heard about Jesus. He believed that Jesus had only to speak the word to heal the centurion’s servant. Take a moment and answer as honestly as you can – do you (and I ask myself) believe that Jesus is able to heal with a word? Not many in Israel in Jesus’ time did:

When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. (Matthew 8:10 KJV)

The faith of a Roman centurion was greater than any Jesus found in Israel. Sadly, in verse 12 Jesus speaks of many without faith:

But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 8:12 KJV)

Jesus was sent to the Children of Israel, the Kingdom of Israel, first. He said so just a few chapters later when it appears He declines a non-Jew:

And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Matthew 15:22-24 KJV)

The Son of God refusing to heal a non-Jew? Not so much. It is a lesson, pointing out the prejudices that His own disciples clung to in spite of what they had seen before. Note, too, that the Canaanite woman did not take His ministry to be so limited. He answered her as most Jews of the time would:

Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. (Matthew 15:25-27 KJV)

Again, Jesus honored her faith:

Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. (Matthew 15:28 KJV)

Faith is the basis of Christianity:

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6 KJV)

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

How do we get this faith:

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! . . . So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:13-15, 17 KJV)

I am so grateful that we are able to read the word of God any time we want. Available in book form, digitally over internet sites, and multiple apps for tablets and phone. Pick your favorite and read daily. It’s good for the soul.