Jesus is not far from His hometown of Capernaum. Found in the triad of the cities of Korazim and Bethsaida where there were Roman soldiers with Cornelius at the head where Jesus ministers and points to the true child of the Kingdom. The passage speaks more so to faith! That is why Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are brought up. He says this man would sit with these patriarchs and they fumed! We see this had nothing to do with pedigree!

Kingdom: This comes on the heels of Christ's sermon on the mount chronologically. "You have heard, but I say unto you" and He draws a contract between the spirit of the law and mere formalism. The Jews and others had a faulty view of the Kingdom in the belief of the restoration of the glory of David and Solomon here on the earth. They had a misconception of the entrance into that Kingdom. Christ points out that it has nothing to do with pedigree, but FAITH and the CROSS of Calvary! Jesus says to the Jews "many from the east and the west will sit ith Abraham and Isaac..." This was THEIR lineage! "Many will sit while many children will be cast out!" (Into hell.) He told Zacchaeus that he would reside in His house because he was a true son.....This man? the Jews thought?! The Almighty God had been at work in the heart of Cornelius and with his compassion and his mercy for His servant he approaches Jesus because of his servants sickness and he asks Jesus to heal him.

The Children: Cornelius speaks to Jesus and we must see two things here. First he sees and says "I am not worthy" and secondly says "Lord, you do not have to go as I have authority..." He implied Jesus had authority to speak and command and as He did he would be healed! He recognized his own sin and poverty. Something the Jews did not see as they glorified their own ancestry. Galatians 3 had not yet been written but it speaks to this very thing directly. "The just shall live by FAITH." If ye be Christ's then are ye heirs of the covenant and of Abraham! All by FAITH! The legalistic Jew back then and today as well as the LEGAL christian today. Are we going to sit with Abraham because we are Christian Reformed? Protestant Reformed? Baptist? etc. Because we pay our budget to the church? Went to church most of the time that they held services? Or are we like a Cornelius and say "I am not worthy Lord." And like a Zacchaeus and hear "I will sit with you because you are a son of Abraham?!" Only the cross of Calvary can set us free from the torments and palsy of sin! "I am not worthy Lord and ONLY YOU alone can speak the authority!"

Blessedness: Oh to be able to sit with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob! Contemplate it for a few moments. They had a vision of that glory and dwelt in tents because he believed FULLY in the coming of Christ! Where are you beloved? Where are you personally? I guarantee you will not stand and hold your baptism slip or certificate in front of the Lord!......