Scripture: John 5:8 (ESV)
“Jesus said to him, ‘Get up, take up your bed, and walk.’”
Without hesitation, without touching the man, without the help of the pool or any human hand—Jesus speaks. And in three commands, He transforms a life: “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.”
There is no ceremony or buildup. No bargaining. Just the sovereign voice of the Son of God speaking life and strength into legs that had not moved in 38 years. The very command carries within it the power to fulfill itself.
John Calvin highlights this divine authority: “Christ does not touch him, but by the bare word alone conveys both strength and health.” Calvin notes that the man contributes nothing to his healing—it is Christ alone who acts. He commands the impossible, and the impossible becomes reality. This, Calvin says, shows us the nature of grace: what Christ commands, He enables.
J.C. Ryle emphasizes the simplicity and sufficiency of the word of Christ. “There is no delay, no process, no medicine—only a word.” Ryle observes that this miracle mirrors what happens in salvation: Christ speaks, and the dead soul lives. The call of the gospel is like this command—rise, believe, follow—and where His word goes forth in power, transformation follows.
These three commands—rise, take up your bed, and walk—also carry symbolic meaning. Jesus not only restores the man’s strength, but calls him to act. He is not to remain where he was. His mat is no longer his resting place, but his testimony. His legs are no longer dead weight—they’re a witness to the One who heals.
Reflection Questions:
- Where do you need to hear Jesus’ command to “rise” in your life today?
- What “bed” are you holding onto—something tied to your old life—that you now need to carry as testimony?
- Do you believe Jesus’ word has power to transform not just bodies, but hearts and lives?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for the power of Your word. When You speak, the impossible becomes reality. Speak into our weakness today—give us strength to rise, faith to move, and courage to walk in newness of life. Help us to leave behind what once bound us, and to carry our story as a testimony to Your mercy. In Your name, Amen.
Covenant Presbyterian Church 