Get up and Walk

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MARK

GET UP AND WALK

Mark 2:6-12

6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" 8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . ." He said to the paralytic, 11 "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home."  12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"

NIV

There will also be people who accuse true believers and people who oppose the truth of God because it threatens their way of life. Why would teachers of the Law be sitting in this crowd gathered to see Jesus? Did they think they were going to learn something? When Jesus forgave the man his sins, they know then it was going to be a good day for them. They thought they had found the way to expose him and bring the crowds back to the law for it might well be they already thought they were losing their students. But Jesus knew their thoughts, and Jesus exposed them as well as actually healed this man in front of their eyes, showing that Jesus has the power to forgive sins. Of course we already know that, we have the rest of the story, but these people at that time did not and everyone was amazed. There are a lot of times when in our life that sin might seem to paralyze us. It might keep us from doing what we know in our heart we should be. It might prevent us from serving God to the fullest. We can be paralyzed by guilt and shame, thinking we are not worthy to do some act of service to our Lord. Sin paralyzes even the best of us, keeping us from being all that God intends for us to be. We have to know that Jesus has the power to forgive sin, break down the ceiling if we have to and get to his feet seeking a healing, not just in the physical but in our spirits. Will we be perfect and free from sin then afterwards? Most likely not, but we have to keep seeking that forgiveness, getting past that paralyzing feeling, and take up our mats and walk in full view of them all. We must use whatever gift or gifts God has bestowed upon us for the furtherance of his Kingdom and we cannot allow any sin in our lives to paralyze us keeping us on the mat. We need to get up and walk.