Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!” Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking!
John 5:8-9
As Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, He was met by a paralyzed man who had been crippled for 38 years. This man went down to the pool of Bethesda everyday with the hopes that he would have an opportunity to be healed.
Tradition holds that when the water in the pool started to bubble or stir, whoever was the first in the pool would be healed. The problem this man faced was he needed someone to assist him into the water. Little did he know the “Living Water” had come to him.
The day Jesus came walking by changed this man’s life forever. Jesus asked him if he wanted to be healed. The man replied with the excuse we all would use, “I can’t.”
He said to Jesus, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” (John 5:7) Immediately Jesus commanded him to stand up, pick up his mat, and walk.
Can you imagine the thoughts that were going through this man’s mind? He had never walked a day in his life. And if he was able to get up and walk he wouldn’t need help getting into the pool.
Jesus instructed this man to stand up and quit making excuses. He was ultimately saying, all you need is Me!
This man had to be willing to get up. He had to be willing to take the first step. He had to be willing to try. He had to quit giving reasons why he couldn’t do something and have faith in Jesus.
Sometimes things happen to us that keep us paralyzed from receiving a blessing from God. But we can’t let those things stop us from being blessed by God.
Some of the best blessings we can receive are brought forth because of our faith in Jesus. Yes, we may fall but Jesus will catch us. Yes, we may stumble but Jesus is there to help us.
We may even go a wrong direction but Jesus is there to redirect our steps. Are you coming up with excuses of why you can’t do something? Stop giving excuses and get up and walk. Are you willing to overcome the fear that crippling you and fall into the arms of Jesus?
Pray
Lord, I don’t know all the how’s, where’s, why’s, or when’s but I know you will be with me through it all. Give me the willpower to stand up and walk in faith.
