Matthew 9:5-7, Walking and Talking, Putting Feet to your Faith

Matthew 9:5-7 “Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” Then he said to the paralytic, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” And the man got up and went home.”

“Talk is cheap” is one phrase I hear a lot and so is “the proof is in the pudding.” One phrase I heard puts things succinctly “put some walkin' in your talkin'”  Thats what Jesus faced, and what we face as believers today.  Our Lord was tremendously impressed with the faith, perseverance, and sheer chutzpah of the friends of this paralyzed man. Their friend was sick, but they knew Jesus was the cure. He couldn't move, so they put him on a mat and carried him like he was on a stretcher. The lines to see Jesus were long and the house Jesus was in was small, so they went around the side. The crowds spilled out through the door and covered the windows, so these brave men climbed the roof and took it apart to get their friend to Jesus. Jesus could make everything right! There was no distance, nor obstacle too great for the wellbeing of their friend. Jesus was mightily impressed and He decided to show the proof of those friends' faith. He gave the man what he needed most – forgiveness.

To make a point with everyone else, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?” (Matthew 9:4b) Christ turned and spoke exactly what was in their minds. “Which is easier?”   Jesus put everything on that poor, paralyzed man's shoulders.  It was left up to that man to accept the faith of his friends, prove the claims of Christ, and to show his own faith.  Jesus told him to get up and walk. This man had been paralyzed and could not walk! But here he had to accept Christ's vocal command to get up, get up, get up and then step, step, and another step. Certainly Jesus could have cured him instantaneously but I think that He worked more gradually by providing just enough strength and healing for the next movement, the next step. This man had to first move his arms. We don't know how bad his quadriplegia was, but depending on where and why, this was an effort. He had to pull himself to  an upright position. “Wow! What improvement! Thank you Lord, this makes my life much easier!” and He could have been content with that, but Jesus had more for him. “Get up and walk.” So the man continued to pull himself. Grasping at the hand of a friend, or a disciple, or even one of the pharisees nearby, he laboriously and painfully could have pulled himself to his feet. Time passed by, the tension of the people  growing as they watched as this man slowly put some feet to his faith.

The first tottering step would have been nearly pure agony as muscles that had not done anything for years were healed and put to the test at the same time. The second step would be firmer, but required our paralytic friend to say “Yes Lord, I want more of this, I want total healing!” The excruciating pain could have forced him to stop, but he persevered another much firmer step showing his muscles miraculously relearning their co-ordination. Then another and another step, faster and faster as he realized the pain was lessening, the strain was going, and the movements surer with each pace! He wouldn't quit now! Christ made him well and he wouldn't take anything less than complete and total wholeness! Running and leaping and praising God, this man's faith was put to the test and came out victorious as the multitudes saw his healing. It took effort! It took pain! It took struggle! It took faith! It wasn't easy or sudden either.

Let's learn from this, that faith requires action to follow up. We can say we have faith, but until we start “walkin' our talkin'” then it isn't proven, and we can lose out on what God has in store for us. That first step is always going to be the hardest, but once we have that done, its easier to take the next.

We walk by faith, and oh, how sweet
The flow’rs that grow beneath our feet
And fragrance breathe along the way
That leads the soul to endless day.
                                           Fanny Crosby, 1885.