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The Desire of Ages
with a look of amazement. Jostled upon all sides, and rudely pressed
hither and thither, as He was, it seemed a strange inquiry.
Peter, ever ready to speak, said, “Master, the multitude throng Thee
and press Thee, and sayest Thou, Who touched Me?” Jesus answered,
“Somebody hath touched Me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out
of Me.” The Saviour could distinguish the touch of faith from the
casual contact of the careless throng. Such trust should not be passed
without comment. He would speak to the humble woman words of
comfort that would be to her a wellspring of joy,—words that would
be a blessing to His followers to the close of time.
Looking toward the woman, Jesus insisted on knowing who had
touched Him. Finding concealment vain, she came forward trem-
blingly, and cast herself at His feet. With grateful tears she told the
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story of her suffering, and how she had found relief. Jesus gently said,
“Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go
in peace.” He gave no opportunity for superstition to claim healing
virtue for the mere act of touching His garments. It was not through
the outward contact with Him, but through the faith which took hold
on His divine power, that the cure was wrought.
The wondering crowd that pressed close about Christ realized no
accession of vital power. But when the suffering woman put forth her
hand to touch Him, believing that she would be made whole, she felt
the healing virtue. So in spiritual things. To talk of religion in a casual
way, to pray without soul hunger and living faith, avails nothing. A
nominal faith in Christ, which accepts Him merely as the Saviour of
the world, can never bring healing to the soul. The faith that is unto
salvation is not a mere intellectual assent to the truth. He who waits for
entire knowledge before he will exercise faith, cannot receive blessing
from God. It is not enough to believe about Christ; we must believe
in Him. The only faith that will benefit us is that which embraces
Him as a personal Saviour; which appropriates His merits to ourselves.
Many hold faith as an opinion. Saving faith is a transaction by which
those who receive Christ join themselves in covenant relation with
God. Genuine faith is life. A living faith means an increase of vigor, a
confiding trust, by which the soul becomes a conquering power.
After healing the woman, Jesus desired her to acknowledge the
blessing she had received. The gifts which the gospel offers are not to
be secured by stealth or enjoyed in secret. So the Lord calls upon us