p. 3 | The Touch of Faith by Mrs. E. G. White

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Aug 19, 1913

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 32.

The Touch of Faith

By Mrs. E. G. White

By Mrs. E. G. White

WHEN Jesus returned across the sea with His disciples, a great crowd were waiting to receive Him, and they welcomed Him with much joy. The fact of His coming being noised abroad, the people had collected in great numbers to listen to His teaching. There were the rich and the poor, the high and the low, Pharisees, doctors, and lawyers, all anxious to hear His words and witness His miracles. As usual, there were many of the sick and variously afflicted, entreating His mercy in their behalf.

At length, faint and weary with the work of teaching and healing, Jesus left the multitude, in order to partake of food in the house of Levi. But the people pressed about the door, bringing the sick, the deformed, and the lunatic, for Him to heal. As He sat at the table, one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, came and fell at His feet, beseeching Him: "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."

The father was in great distress, for his child had been given up to die by the most learned physicians. Jesus at once responded to the entreaty of the stricken parent, and went with him to his home. The disciples were surprised at the ready compliance with the request of the haughty ruler. Altho it was only a short distance, their progress was very slow; for the people pressed forward on every side, eager to see the great Teacher who had created so much excitement, begging His attention and His aid.

There was one poor woman among that crowd who had suffered twelve long years with a disease that made her life a burden. She had spent all her substance upon physicians and remedies, seeking to cure her grievous malady. But it was all in vain; she was pronounced incurable, and given up to die. But her hopes revived when she heard of the wonderful cures effected by Jesus. She believed that if she could come into His presence, He would take pity on her and heal her. Suffering with pain and weakness, she came to the seaside where He was teaching, and sought to press through the crowd that encompassed Him. But her way was continually hedged up by the throng. She began to despair of approaching Him, when Jesus, in urging His way through the multitude, came within her reach.

The healing of the woman who touched the hem of Jesus' garment. The artist, Paolo Veronese, here represents her as healed and well, confessing her faith and the Master's power.

The golden opportunity had come; she was in the presence of the great Physician! But amid the confusion, she could not be heard by Him, nor catch more than a passing glimpse of His figure. Fearful of losing the one chance of relief from her illness, she pressed forward, saying to herself, If I but touch His garment I shall be cured. She seized the opportunity as He was passing, and reached forward, barely touching the hem of His garment. But in that moment she felt herself healed of her disease. Instantly health and strength took the place of feebleness and pain. She had concentrated all the faith of her life in that one touch that made her whole.

With a thankful heart she then sought unobtrusively to retire from the crowd; but suddenly Jesus stopped, and all the people, following His example, also halted. He turned, and looking about Him with a penetrating eye, asked in a voice distinctly heard by all, "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 indeed a singular inquiry.

Peter, recovering from his surprise, and 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 blessed Redeemer could distinguish the touch of faith from the casual contact of the careless crowd. He well knew all the circumstances of the case, and would not pass such confidence and trust without comment. He would address to the humble woman words of comfort that would be to her a well-spring of joy.

Looking toward the woman, Jesus still insisted upon knowing who had touched Him. Finding concealment vain, she came forward tremblingly and knelt at His feet. In hearing of all the multitude, she told Jesus the simple story of her long and tedious suffering, and the instant relief that she had experienced in touching the border of His garment. Her narration was interrupted by her grateful tears as she experienced the joy of perfect health, which had been a stranger to her for twelve weary years. Instead of being angered at her presumption, Jesus commended her action, saying, "Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace." In these words He instructed all present that it was no virtue in the simple act of touching His clothes that had wrought the cure, but the strong faith that reached out and claimed His divine help.

The true faith of the Christian is represented in this woman. It is not essential to the exercise of faith that the feelings should be wrought up to a high pitch of excitement; neither is it necessary, in order to gain the hearing of the Lord, that our petitions should be noisy, or attended with physical exercise. It is true that Satan frequently creates in the heart of the suppliant such a conflict with doubt and temptation that strong cries and tears are involuntarily forced from him; and it is also true that the penitent's sense of guilt is sometimes so great that a repentance commensurate with his sin causes him to experience an agony that

finds vent in cries and groans, which the compassionate Saviour hears with pity. But Jesus does not fail to answer the silent prayer of faith. He who simply takes God at His word, and reaches out to connect himself with the Saviour, will receive His blessing in return.

Faith is simple in its operation and powerful in its results. Many professed Christians who have a knowledge of the Sacred Word, and believe its truth, fail in the child-like trust that is essential to the religion of Jesus. They do not reach out with that peculiar touch that brings the virtue of healing to the soul. They allow cold doubt to creep in and destroy their confidence. He who waits for entire knowledge before he can exercise faith, will never be blessed of God. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

The diseased woman believed that Jesus could heal her; and the more her mind was exercised in that direction, the more certain she became that even to touch His garment would relieve her malady. In answer to her firm belief, the virtue of divine power granted her prayer. This is a lesson of encouragement to the soul defiled by sin. In like manner as Jesus dealt with bodily infirmities, will He deal with the repentant soul that calls on Him. The touch of faith will bring the coveted pardon that fills the soul with gratitude and joy.