Some religion scholars sitting there started whispering among themselves, “He can’t talk that way! That’s blasphemy! God and only God can forgive sins.” Jesus knew right away what they were thinking, and said, “Why are you so skeptical? Which is simpler: to say to the paraplegic, ‘I forgive your sins,’ or say, ‘Get up, take your stretcher, and start walking’? Well, just so it’s clear that I’m the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both . . .” (he looked now at the paraplegic), “Get up. Pick up your stretcher and go home.” And the man did it—got up, grabbed his stretcher, and walked out, with everyone there watching him. They rubbed their eyes, incredulous—and then praised God, saying, “We’ve never seen anything like this!” (Mark 2: 6-12 MSG)
GET UP AND WALK
©2014 Diana Rasmussen
Do you want to be well?
He asked me that day
I had to admit
I was comfortable that way
Things were familiar
I knew what to expect
as I lay on the mat
of all my defects
He looked into my eyes
I chose to believe
I could walk out of
my own misery
Walk out of your illness
Walk out of your guilt
Walk out of poverty
and all abuse
Walk out of depression
Walk out of addiction
Walk out of the shame
and all the lies
Take His hand
and go forward
He makes all things new
And the way that I talked
changed the moment He told me to
“Get up and walk!”
