One day, Jesus is in a house teaching. So many people want to hear what He is saying that the house is packed to capacity. Four men approach the house, carrying a bed with a man who is paralyzed with a palsy. They would like to ask Jesus to heal the man, but they can’t get into the house because it’s so crowded. Not to be denied, they carry the sick man up to the roof of the house, remove some of the ceiling tiles, and lower the man on his bed into the room where Jesus is. Talk about determination! (Mark 2:2-4, Luke 5:17-19).

Recognizing the faith being exhibited, Jesus grants the ultimate healing to this man — the healing of the soul. He says to the man, “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee” (Matthew 9:2). Some people in the room think, “Who does this man think he is, saying he can forgive sins?” The response that Jesus gives illustrates the primary reason why He heals the sick:

“[Which] is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.” (Matthew 9:5-6)

Immediately, the man is healed of his paralysis! He arises, picks up his bed, and walks out of the house, glorifying God (Luke 5:25).

The same Jesus who healed this man of paralysis is able to do the same thing today. Just a few months ago, an article appeared on this blog that described a man in Zambia who had been paralyzed for three years. The man was carried into church on a mat, and the ministry of The Church of Jesus Christ anointed him. The next Sunday, the man walked into church on his own power, praising God and requesting baptism!

It’s good to know that the Lord still has the power to touch someone who is paralyzed and say, “Arise and walk.” It’s especially good because it demonstrates that He also still has the power to forgive sins. Another way of putting this is that the Lord can touch people who are paralyzed spiritually and heal them such that they can then walk with Jesus.

However, even after we’ve been forgiven of our sins, there are still ways that we can be paralyzed spiritually. For example:

• We can be paralyzed by fear
• We can be paralyzed by doubt
• We can be paralyzed by temptation
• We can be paralyzed by worldly wisdom

Are any of these (or anything else) keeping you down spiritually? Making it difficult to walk with Jesus? If so, then hear the words of the Lord today, saying, “Arise and walk!”

Which is easier? For the Lord to cause a paralyzed person to walk, or for Him to help you overcome your fears? We know that He can do the first one, so He is surely able to do the second.

Assuming you’ve been baptized, you’ve already experienced a healing of your soul. You’ve already been freed from the shackles of sin. On the day of your baptism, you went from being paralyzed spiritually to being able to arise and walk with Jesus. You know what it feels like to choose to trust in the Lord — continue to make that choice every day of your life!

Our God is greater than anything that the enemy can throw at us. So, if you’re feeling down or even paralyzed spiritually, arise and walk with Jesus — He is always there to walk with you.

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.” (Colossians 2:6)

This article has undergone ministry review and approval.