Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-08-16

The day after Jesus had cast out the
dumb demoniac in the synagogue, and
refuted the charge of the rulers, and be-
gun speaking in parallels, and had calm
ed the storm, and had cast out the le-
gion of devils from the man of Gadara
came back to Capernaum from the Cad
arene side of the lake because of the
urgent request of the Gadarenes that
He leave their city. The multitudes at
Capernaum We're glad enough to receive
Him forever, and He had a busy day
again.
In the company was one of the rulers
of the synagogue, Jairqs by name. He
had seen Jesus work many miracles and
had heard many of His words, but until
now he had held aloof from Him. He had
no doubt until now shared the popular
hatred of him which the scrihes and the
Pharisees felt; but now that he was in
great need, he presented a different at
titude. He had an only daughter just
u years DID, she was desperately ill: the
physicians had not been able to stay the
disease, and had informed him that there
was no hope for the child. How hard it
was for them to do this can only be
imagined by those who are not physi-
clans, and the desperate distress which
the news caused in this fathers heart
can not be imagined. but only be known
by those who have also heard these
words.
In his distress he would grasp at any
thing that offered the slightest hope.
He thought of the Teacher and Wonder
Worker in their city, and although he
had not been willing to admit His
claims, and had felt that He was a
dangerous man TO have in the commu-
nifty because He was setting aside all
i,o nd If ha
synagogue, he was willing now to go
even to Him if perchance He could do
anything for his only daughter who had
twined herself so about his heart.
THE CRY OF GREAT NEED.
He was one of those who greeted
Jesus on His return from Gadara.
Finding Him he fell at His feet, and
besought Him greatly, saying, MY lit
tie daughter lyeth at the point of death.
1 pray thee, come and lay Thy hands on
her, that she may be healed, and she
shall live" The word "besought" con-
veys the idea that he kept on asking,
not that Jesus did not care to go. but
il was to let the man realize how earn
est he had to be in his request. This
prayer had in it many of the elements
of power-it was humble. Jairus did
not ask it because he was a high Of
ficer in the synagogue, but bowling as
a suppliant at His feet; it was intense,
and earnest, and persistent; it was def
mite; he knew just what he wanted and
asked for that. Many a request fails
to be a prayer, and is, therefore, unan-
swered, because it fails in these points
Jairus did not have the faith of the
centurion; he asked simply that Jesus
say the word and his servant should be
healed: but Jairus felt that the presence
of Jesus was also necessary. However,
Jesus honOred what faith he had and
went with him. He never refuses an in
yitation to help. He will honor what
little faith you may have, if you tell
Him you are in need and want Him to
help you. And as He went great null
titude followed Him and thronged Him.
THE TOUCH OF FAITH.
In the crowd was a woman whose
condition Mark describes with keen sar-
casm. but which Luke, who was a ply
sician softens somewhat. Mark says
she had had an issue of blood IL years,
and had suffered many things of many
physicians, and was nothing bettered,
but rather grew worse. Luke says she
had spent all her living upon physi-
clans, neither could be healed of any
No wonder Mark felt that way. Pliny
says the treatment for this condition
then was "a poultice of ass dung and
a draught of goats wine" Her con-
dition was a desperate one.
Natural timidity made her shrink
from any publicity, but edging her way
through the great crowd, she touched
the hem of Jesus garment, saying, "If
but touch the hem of His garment, l
shall be made whole" She touched the
hem because it was as near as she could
get, and also because among the Jews
there was a peculiar sanctty felt for
the hem. They enlarged thg borders OF