Scriptural Meditation

“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’”

John 5:8 NIV

Oftentimes when I read this parable, the emphasis is placed on the fact that Jesus heals this man who’s “invalid” (Jn. 5:5). We don’t know exactly what type of disability the man is battling. The text says that people of all types of disabilities lie at this pool waiting for it to stir up so that they can step in to receive their healing. Then here is this man who occasionally sees people walking over him to step in the pool, receive their miracle, and walk back by him as if they possessed something he was undeserving to receive.

During my workout this morning, this last verse was heavily on my mind. The fact of the matter is that Jesus only asked this “invalid” man if he wanted to “get well” (Jn. 5:7). The man replies with his excuses and complaints of those passing him by. Then Jesus tells him to simply “get up! Pick up his mat and walk” (Jn. 5:8).

There may be people passing you by on their way to their healing, blessing, promotion, miracle, release, come-up, breakthrough, etc. But if we just remember that Jesus only asked him if he wanted to be well. So the question for each of you reading this is the same question Jesus asked the invalid man sitting at the pool: Do you want to get well? Neither your validity, qualifications, or resume have any impressions on your well being.

So whenever YOU are ready: Get up! Pick up your mat and walk. Your healing cannot take place where you’re sitting. Your breakthrough won’t come in your misery. The place of your blessing is not in the same place where everyone else is receiving their blessing. Leave the place of your expectancy, and go to that thing or place God has called you to go!

Get up! Pick up your mat! Walk!!!