One of the most touching and
teaching of the Saviour's miracles is before us today. The woman was very
ignorant. She imagined that virtue came out of Christ by a law of necessity,
without His knowledge or direct will. Moreover, she was a stranger to the
generosity of Jesus' character, or she would not have gone behind to steal the
cure which He was so ready to bestow. Misery should always place itself right
in the face of mercy. Had she known the love of Jesus' heart, she would have
said, "I have but to put myself where He can see me--His omniscience will
teach Him my case, and His love at once will work my cure." We admire her
faith, but we marvel at her ignorance. After she had obtained the cure, she
rejoiced with trembling: glad was she that the divine virtue had wrought a
marvel in her; but she feared lest Christ should retract the blessing, and put
a negative upon the grant of His grace: little did she comprehend the fullness of His love! We have not so clear a view of Him as we could wish; we know not
the heights and depths of His love; but we know of a surety that He is too good
to withdraw from a trembling soul the gift which it has been able to obtain.
But here is the marvel of it: little as was her knowledge, her faith, because
it was real faith, saved her, and saved her at once. There was no tedious
delay--faith's miracle was instantaneous. If we have faith as a grain of
mustard seed, salvation is our present and eternal possession. If in the list
of the Lord's children we are written as the feeblest of the family, yet, being
heirs through faith, no power, human or devilish, can eject us from salvation.
If we dare not lean our heads upon His bosom with John, yet if we can venture
in the press behind Him, and touch the hem of his garment, we are made whole.
Courage, timid one! thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. "Being
justified by faith, we have peace with God."
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