Psalm 18:1-20
Ephesians 2:11-22
Mark 2:1-12
Jesus told the guy who had been let down through the roof that his sins had been forgiven, then he told him to take up his mat and walk. How did the man know that he could walk?
The story takes place in Capernaum, (Mark 2:1-12), one of the places where Jesus is reputed to have lived (Matt 4:14). The carpenter said “Get up and walk”. Yes, we know that he had healed many people and that he preached a very good sermon. How could this man walk? The evidence was all against it. Presumably he had been lying paralyzed on his mat for years.
What would his life be like if he did get up and walk? What if he fell over after a few steps, or tomorrow, and was back on his mat? What if he could not find a job, he could no longer beg? What would be his wife’s reaction to her husband walking in through the door through which four friends had carried him out? She would be delighted. Her breadwinner was fully operational again. But would she begin to doubt? Perhaps she might think that his sickness had all been in his mind and that he had been malingering all those years. It might just be safer to stay on the mat. The whatifs can be very powerful. Fear of the unknown can be more unpalatable than very unpleasant but familiar circumstances.
How did this particular paralytic have the confidence to know that he could walk? He only had Jesus’ word for it yet he got up, rolled up his mat and he walked home.
Jesus means what he says. If he says ‘walk’ then it is alright to walk. There need be no fear of not being able to do as he says.
Jesus knew that the man would be able to walk. He knew that it might be safer to stay on the mat. Perhaps that was why he said ‘Your sins are forgiven’ before he told the man to get up and walk. He was giving the man confidence to get up and go. Jesus knew how loud the whispering whatifs can shout, their voices like the compelling sirens of the Greek gods. The sin of listening to fear was overcome.
He does not ask us to do anything that we are incapable of doing, given that he is with us and helping us to bear the load (Matt 11:30). Walking had very extreme consequences for the man. Not only would he be capable of getting himself home but tomorrow he would either go to work or look for a job. No more lying around whilst others served him. He could get his own food and take himself to the bathroom. Listening to Jesus and obeying him opened up a whole knew existence for the guy.
What is your mat? What is keeping you from fulfilling the role God has for you? What command are you are pretending not to hear? What is it that you cannot do because you don’t feel equipped, either physically or mentally?
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