When Jesus tells the paralytic “get up and walk” in front of all these people, “get up and walk”, think about the courage that it took in that moment

I mean, talk about having the odds stacked against you

He’s never walked before

I’m sure he’s tried and failed

Furthermore, he’s never met Jesus before today and now he’s supposed to take him at his word in front of all these people, in front of all his critics

Plus as far as we can tell, nobody really wants him there in the first place

This was supposed to be a preaching day, not a healing day

Most people think he’s just a sermon distraction at best and a curse at worst

He’s, without a doubt, the most out of place person in that room

They don’t like the fact that he came through the roof

They don’t like the fact that he interrupted the service

They don’t like the fact that Jesus thinks he can forgive him

And they’re certainly not going to like the fact if he gets up and walks out of that place

And now in the face of all that, he’s got to try to get up and walk for the first time ever

When most of us took our first steps, we had parents and siblings cheering us on, but not this man

He has to get up and walk out in front of people who don’t want him to

He has to take his first steps in the face of conflict

He has to do it in the face of doubt and suspicion and critics

He has to do it in the face of people who didn’t even want him in the room

And I just wonder if there’s people in the room today who kind of feel like the man on the mat

Paralyzed with fear, regret, guilt and shame

Paralyzed with worry and burdens and stresses and disappointments and it just feels like the odds are stacked against you

And so to anyone who feels stuck for any reason, I want you to hear the words of Jesus as if they are for you because they are for you… Take heart, my son

Take heart, my daughter

“Get up, pick up your mat, and walk

” In the face of adversity, in the face of uncertainty, in the face of everything that has ever been against you, “get up, pick up your mat, and walk

” Pick up your forgiveness that’s free

Pick up your new label and your new name

Pick up the people of God, pick up the word of God and walk

Walk with confidence

Walk with courage

Walk in the power and in the name of Jesus

“Get up, pick up your mat, and walk

” And so to anyone who feels stuck, alone, lost, or defeated, those words are for you

“Get up, pick up your mat, and walk

”