Evening, February 14
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“She was healed immediately.”
Luke 8:47
One of the most touching and teaching of the Saviour’s miracles is before us tonight. 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 fulness 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.”