AL 20
April 20
Luke 8:40-48. Christ heals the woman who touched him in the throng.
Though the Gadarenes desired the Lord Jesus to depart out of their coasts, there were others who gladly received him. So it is now—while some find religious privileges a burden, there are others who are longing to possess them. While some occupy seats in the house of God, and count the service a weariness; there are others, confined at home by various causes, envying, as David did, the happiness of the swallow, who builds his nest on God's altars.
The people on the opposite coast of the lake soon found the advantage of having the presence of Jesus. A ruler bows before his feet, laid low by sore distress respecting his only child.
On his way to the ruler's house, people thronged around the blessed Savior. How patient was the love that led him to submit to every inconvenience! Each step he took was encumbered by an oppressive crowd; yet he complained not of the heat and the noise of the throng. As he went, very many touched him, but only one did so in faith and with intention. Even so it is now; thousands offer prayers, yet few offer them with intention and with expectation of relief. Yet no other worshipers are noticed by Jesus. No other touch was noticed by him but that of the poor woman who said to herself, "If I may but touch his clothes, I shall be whole." Is it in this spirit we come to Jesus? Do we expect an answer to our prayers?
Our case by nature is desperate, like that of the woman. She had applied to many physicians, and had reduced herself to poverty, yet had obtained no relief; and having now spent all her money, her hope of human assistance must have failed her. Thus some people who have been convinced of their sinful state, have tried to obtain relief by multiplied services, and good works, but have never found peace until they came to Jesus.
Let us observe the Lord's condescending approbation of true faith, however weak. There was much ignorance mixed up in the faith of this woman. She thought that she might touch Jesus unperceived. She knew not that he saw her thought afar off, and that her inward groaning was not hidden from him. But Jesus does not despise weak faith, or quench the smoking flax.
Though he healed the woman upon her secret application to him, he desired her to make a public acknowledgment of her cure. He desires every sinner to do the same. "With the heart man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." The woman willingly made this confession, when she found it was required by her benefactor. Gratitude to Jesus should overcome every other feeling in our hearts, and make us willing to acknowledge what he has done for our souls, and from what a depth of misery he has delivered us.
The saints above are not ashamed to acknowledge their obligations to the Savior. They are willing that their past sins should be known, in order that his power and love may be exalted. The song of the blessed is, "You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood." They own that blood was required to atone for their guilt. If we join that happy throng, we shall appear among them as sinners saved by grace. We shall not desire to conceal from our heavenly companions that we were once polluted. We shall only desire that the wonderful power of our Redeemer may be made known among the assembled multitude. The thief who repented on the cross will extol the grace of his crucified Lord, who atoned for his flagrant crimes. And though we may not have committed the same kind of sins as that thief, we have all committed sins which, but for faith in the blood of Christ, must sink our souls into everlasting woe.