the desire of ages-第71节
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e is constantly exerted upon men to distract the senses； control the mind for evil； and incite to violence and crime。 He weakens the body； darkens the intellect； and debases the soul。 Whenever men reject the Saviour's invitation； they are yielding themselves to Satan。 Multitudes in every department in life； in the home； in business； and even in the church； are doing this today。 It is because of this that violence and crime have overspread the earth； and moral darkness； like the pall of death； enshrouds the habitations of men。 Through his specious temptations Satan leads men to worse and worse evils； till utter depravity and ruin are the result。 The only safeguard against his power is found in the presence of Jesus。 Before men and angels Satan has been revealed as man's enemy and destroyer； Christ； as man's friend and deliverer。 His Spirit will develop in man all that will ennoble the character and dignify the nature。 It will build man up for the glory of God in body and soul and spirit。 〃For God hath not given us the spirit of fear； but of power； and of love； and of a sound mind。〃 2 Tim。 1：7。 He has called us 〃to the obtaining of the glory〃character〃of our Lord Jesus Christ；〃 has called us to be 〃conformed to the image of His Son。〃 2 Thess。 2：14； Rom。 8：29。
And souls that have been degraded into instruments of Satan are still through the power of Christ transformed into messengers of righteousness； and sent forth by the Son of God to tell what 〃great things the Lord hath done for thee； and hath had compassion on thee。〃
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Chapter 36
The Touch of Faith
Returning from Gergesa to the western shore； Jesus found a multitude gathered to receive Him； and they greeted Him with joy。 He remained by the seaside for a time； teaching and healing； and then repaired to the house of Levi…Matthew to meet the publicans at the feast。 Here Jairus； the ruler of the synagogue； found Him。
This elder of the Jews came to Jesus in great distress； and cast himself at His feet； exclaiming； 〃My little daughter lieth at the point of death： I pray Thee； come and lay Thy hands on her； that she may be healed； and she shall live。〃
Jesus set out at once with the ruler for his home。 Though the disciples had seen so many of His works of mercy； they were surprised at His compliance with the entreaty of the haughty rabbi； yet they accompanied their Master； and the people followed； eager and expectant。
The ruler's house was not far distant； but Jesus and His companions advanced slowly； for the crowd pressed Him on every side。 The anxious father was impatient of delay； but Jesus； pitying the people； stopped now and then to relieve some suffering one； or to comfort a troubled heart。
While they were still on the way； a messenger pressed through the crowd； bearing to Jairus the news that his daughter was dead； and it was useless to trouble the Master further。 The word caught the ear of
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Jesus。 〃Fear not；〃 He said； 〃believe only； and she shall be made whole。〃
Jairus pressed closer to the Saviour； and together they hurried to the ruler's home。 Already the hired mourners and flute players were there； filling the air with their clamor。 The presence of the crowd； and the tumult jarred upon the spirit of Jesus。 He tried to silence them； saying； 〃Why make ye this ado； and weep？ the damsel is not dead； but sleepeth。〃 They were indignant at the words of the Stranger。 They had seen the child in the embrace of death； and they laughed Him to scorn。 Requiring them all to leave the house； Jesus took with Him the father and mother of the maiden； and the three disciples； Peter； James； and John； and together they entered the chamber of death。
Jesus approached the bedside； and； taking the child's hand in His own； He pronounced softly； in the familiar language of her home； the words； 〃Damsel； I say unto thee； arise。〃
Instantly a tremor passed through the unconscious form。 The pulses of life beat again。 The lips unclosed with a smile。 The eyes opened widely as if from sleep； and the maiden gazed with wonder on the group beside her。 She arose； and her parents clasped her in their arms； and wept for joy。
On the way to the ruler's house； Jesus had met； in the crowd； a poor woman who for twelve years had suffered from a disease that made her life a burden。 She had spent all her means upon physicians and remedies； only to be pronounced incurable。 But her hopes revived when she heard of the cures that Christ performed。 She felt assured that if she could only go to Him she would be healed。 In weakness and suffering she came to the seaside where He was teaching； and tried to press through the crowd； but in vain。 Again she followed Him from the house of Levi…Matthew； but was still unable to reach Him。 She had begun to despair； when； in making His way through the multitude； He came near where she was。
The golden opportunity had come。 She was in the presence of the Great Physician！ But amid the confusion she could not speak to Him； nor catch more than a passing glimpse of His figure。 Fearful of losing her one chance of relief； she pressed forward； saying to herself； 〃If I may but touch His garment； I shall be whole。〃 As He was passing； she reached forward； and succeeded in barely touching the border of His garment。 But in that moment she knew that she was healed。 In that one touch she was concentrated the faith of her life； and instantly her pain and feebleness gave place to the vigor of perfect health。
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With a grateful heart she then tried to withdraw from the crowd； but suddenly Jesus stopped； and the people halted with Him。 He turned； and looking about asked in a voice distinctly heard above the confusion of the multitude； 〃Who touched Me？〃 The people answered this query 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 tremblingly；
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and cast herself at His feet。 With grateful tears she told the 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 for confession of His goodness。 〃Ye are My witnesses； saith the Lord； that I am God。〃 Isa。 43：12。
Our confession of His faithfulness is Heaven's chosen agency for revealing Christ to the world。 We are to acknowledge His grace as made known through the holy men of old； but that which will be most effectual is the testimony of our own experience。 We are witnesses for God as we reveal in ourselves the working of a power that is divine。 Every individual has a life distinct from all others； and an experience differing essentially from theirs。 God desires that our praise shall ascend to Him； marked by our own individuality。 These precious acknowledgments to the praise of the glory of His grace； when supported by a Christ…like life； have an irresistible power t
