The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-02-15

come and lay his hand upon her, he be-
lieves she will live.
In answer to this call, Jesus starts i'm
mediately for the centurion's home, fol.
lowed by his Twelve, and by multitude
that pressed and surged upon him.
1. An Invalid Restored by
Touching Christ's Garment,-vs.
| 43-48.
While journeying at the head of this
throng Jesus suddenly paused and turn
ing toward the excited people asked,
Who is 1t that touched me9 Peter, al
ways ready with an answer, seeing that
80 many were crowding upon him that
it will be hard to particularize, replies:
Master, the naultitudes press thee and
crash. But IL was not the mere touch
OF physical contact which Jesus had re-
cognized. There had been from the
throng single ul-touch, prayer, to
which the spirit of Jesus had immedi-
ately answered. Some one did touch me.
said the Master, for perceived that
posoer had gone forth from me.
In the pause which ensued, strange
| questions no doubt came to the minds
of the apostles. Was Jesus so sur
charged with spiritual forces that they
went forth from him without his active
volition? Did the healing power of ma
ture, or God in nature. 30 center in him
that he was an everfowing fountain of
healing influences? And who among
the many now standing about him,
while the journey to the dying daughter
of Jairus was being delayed, had given
to him this prayer touch, TO which an
answer had been so swiftly given?
Will any one confess? There were
many denials vehemently made; the
confession was for brief time with
held.
Then a woman, with the marks of in
| validism in her mien, cast herself on
her knees before Jesus and told in the
hearing of all her amazing story. 1t was
such story, we note, as she would, in
womanly modesty, have gladly with
held. She had, she said, been an invalid
| twelve years. During all that period
she had been ceremonially unclean, and
therefore shut away from all public wor.
ship by her people. Her mere touch
had brought ceremonial uncleanness to
others. She was thus, while in the
midst of her people, social outcast.
And she had never in all this period
ceased her endeavors to find relief. She
| had spent all her inherited means, her
entire living. on physicians. She had
meanwhile been growing worse. Then
she had seen Jesus. She believed in
him. She had not purposed to touch
him, thereby to render him ceremonial
ly unclean. She had barely touched
the border of his mantle. while she was
herself hid in the crowd pressing upon
him. But behold, a wonder had been
wrought! She had instantly felt the
tide of health surge into her being; and
now she was restored; she was one re-
deemed from slavery worse than
| death.
What will the Master say to her? He
who has never turned away from any
real human appeal will not. we may be
sure, fail to recognize at once the pitia-
bleness and the faith of this poor wom-
an. This is what he said, as three of the
Evangelists report, Daughter, THY FAITH
hath made thee achole; go in peace.
Matthew's record states what the
other records imply: And the avomaal
acas made achole from that hour.
2. The Rulers Daughter Re
stored from the Dead, Tvs. 1876.
Even while Jesus was speaking the
words of assurance to the afflicted wom-
an, messenger came to Jairus from bis
house with the message, Thy daughter
is dead. The news could scarcely have
been surprise to Jairus. He had at
the first, according to Matthew said to
Jesus, speaking out of his fear, My
daughter Is even nOlc dead. But the
advice of the messenger, Trouble not the
Master, now confirmed his fear and
deepened his despair. Jesus heard the
words of the messenger. He saw the
despair expressed in the face of the be-
reaved father. His word of comfort
of what comfort to the wondering faith
er,-was this: Fear not: only believe,
and she shall be made achole,-or, as
more correctly rendered, she shall be
saved; that is, saved to be still the light
and Joy of her earthly home.
The journey is resumed. The house.
now 80 suddenly darkened by the dread
presence of death. is reached. A crowd,
according to the custom of the Orient,
has almost instantly assembled in and
around the house. Jesus cannot suffer
the feverish multitudes to follow him
into the house. He now exercises an
authority none can resist. He chooses
the father and mother of the child to ac-
company him; they having the first
right. The mother. we assume, had
come forth from the chamber of death
to cast herself into the arms of her hus-
band, that they might bear together
their overwhelming bereavement. Jesus
also chooses three of his disciples to go
with him into the house.