Transcript
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
”