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Chapter 4—The Touch of Faith
“‘If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.’”
Matthew 9:21
. A poor woman spoke these words, a woman who for
twelve years had suffered from a disease that made her life a burden.
She had spent all her money on physicians and remedies, only to
be pronounced incurable. But as she heard of the Great Healer, her
hopes revived. She thought, “If only I could get near enough to
speak to Him, I might be healed.”
Christ was on His way to the home of Jairus, the Jewish rabbi
who had pleaded with Him to come and heal his daughter: “‘My
little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands
on her, that she may be healed’”
Mark 5:23
. Jairus’s heartbroken
petition had touched the tender, sympathetic heart of Christ. At once
He set out with the ruler for his home.
They made slow progress, for the crowd pressed Christ on every
side. Finally, the Savior came near to where the afflicted woman
was standing. Again and again she had tried in vain to get near Him.
Now her opportunity had come. She could see no way of speaking
to Him. She would not try to hinder His slow advance. But she had
heard that healing came from a touch of His garments, and, fearful
of losing her one chance for relief, she pressed forward, saying to
herself, “‘If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.’”
Christ knew every thought of her mind, and He was making His
way to where she stood. He realized her great need, and He was
helping her to exercise faith.
As He was passing, she reached forward and succeeded in barely
touching the border of His garment. That moment she knew that
she was healed. In that one touch was concentrated the faith of her
life, and instantly her pain and feebleness disappeared. She felt the
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thrill as of an electric current passing through her body, restoring
her to perfect health. “She felt in her body that she was healed of
the affliction.”
Verse 29
.
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