The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 217

of the workR. But whatever the precise period in the biography to which it belongs, the tale tdd is one which appeals to the more domestic affections of the heart; one too which gives a graciously lull manifestation of Jesus the Resurrection and the Life. fhe tranesction resli11ed M he went illustrates chiefly Christ the Life ; that which was done in ,m~wer to the ruler's pleRding illW!trates chiefly Christ the Resurrection- the two lll!pecttl of the incarnate I Am. \\1Lh reg!i.fd to the 1urrner of t1,ese evonta, consider the touch of the Lord by the woman who liad found her way to his presence, and what camo of the touch, I. The touch repre,mnts THE ONLY HOPE, She had nothing else to which to cling. For twelve long yca.rs she had been a sick and weny woman. There is something interesting in the circumstance which Luke the pr.ys1cian record8, that all her mennij had been spent on physicians, but that she could not be healed of e.ny. Mark adds that she rather grew worse. The physician-evangelist has no such addition; but " he knew what human skill could do, e.nd, still better, what it could not do, e.nd he bowed himself humbly in the presence of Christ." Well, all the living has been spent. A little before the moment of Jesus passing, she might not have been so reAdy. A portion of her income would still have been lc;ft. The temptation would have been to try e.notlier doctor. But now there is only this chance. It is the energy of despair. "Thou must B&ve, and thou alone." Ah I sinner, if thou wouldst know the virtue that there iB in the Son of God for thee, thou must come to an ond with aelf, with ell strivings after a rizhtcousness of thine own. Thy living, all that iB thine, must be wholly reruuved from thy sight. Jesus wholly I Jesus only I II. The touch represents AN IMME.DIATE ACT OF WILL. "When she had hee.rd," ■ays Mark," the things cuncerning Je.aus, sue came." There is no delay over question& such SB, " How can I ree.ch his presence ? How can I get through this multitude? Will he care for me? " All such self-inquiry is at once dismissed. The true faith is 'busied only with its Object. The mind is too much in ee.rnest to stop over problems concerning the act or the manner of faith. "If thou wert sick for want of God, how swiftly wouldst thou move I" Two things are aecn-the need, and Christ the only 1WBwer to the need; and, these things seen, the will is supreme over all that savours of intellectual doubt and difficulty. "If I may but get to him, I shall be whole." llL The touch represents A PEBBONAL CONT.ACT. "Only to put my hand on the clothe■, or even the fringe of tlie garment." So she says to herself. Not, perhaps, a very lofty faith. A good deal in it, possibly, of the superstition to which she had been accustomed ; of an idea of magical charm, and so forth. But the real thing in it was the conviction that he was able to B&ve to the uttermost; that the cure was certain if she could get to him. The touch meant herself in her want laying hold of Christ himself, the Saviour and his salvation. And this is the vital force of faith. Notions may be confused., may be very poor e.nd deficient; the Lord wi_ll rectify that. The aaving !!face is such a confidence as will bring in.to direct relation to the love of God in Christ. And this touch is at once distinguished. Every one who has to do with multitudes Ullderstands, so far, the secret of the quick "Who touched me?" He knows by in.tuition the souls that a.re really sympathetic with him. These touch; tne others only press around. In the crowd surging about Jesus there is only one who touches. The people have welcomed him, and are following him; but their handling of him and her touch are quite different. Blessed among women I type of the sollla blessed eternally: "I perceived that power had gone forth from me." IV. The touch is the way to THE CURE BOTB OF BODY AND SOUL. " Immediately she was healed." "Straightway," says Mark," she felt in her body that she was healed." What a sensation that instant bound of health I Observe that "immediately" or "straightway" in the reports of Jesus' works of healing in the Gospels. The health does not come as the end of a laborious discipline or regimen; it is not the end, but the be~nnin.g of a new life. We do not work to salvation; we work from it. The moment a life is really surre!.!dered to God and the affiance of the soul with the Redeemer is fulfilled, that moment it is healed, it is cleansed. 'fhere is a new life in.trcxluced--a life which is henceforth the power of God to 1111lvation, It is not perfect, but it is there. This Divine life is the health of the soul. It is then iu a healthy condition before God. And henceforth, according to his power that worketh in lll!, be cvmpletos and perfects the lifo which himself has impar,ed. Wo.s it on. v111. 1-56.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKF.. ?17