2 the 23. 1 And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw minstrels and the people making a noise, flute-players, crowd tumult, damsel 24. He said unto them, 3 Give place for the mis is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. 25. But when the people were hand'; and the maid crowd was damsel arose. put forth, he entered in, and took her by the 26. And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land. I Mark 5: 38; Luke 8: 51. forth but timidly touched the blue and white tassels that hung from the four corners of his cloak. These were worn by all Jews as a reminder of the commandments. She had heard (Mark) of the wonders Christ could perform, and she had faith that merely a touch of his garments would heal her. We What was the result? She was cured at once, and knew that she was cured. have here the only hint that is given us of what miracle-working cost Jesus. Our Lord felt that power had gone out from him (Mark and Luke). Miracles cost him something. As a Leyden jar is charged with electricity ready to flow forth at a touch, so he was charged with this mysterious healing influence. Therefore he knew that some touch of faith had reached him, and the woman was discovered out of all that pushing and pressing throng. What did Christ say to her, as she bent before him, trembling because in her uncleanness she had dared to touch a rabbi, and fearing not only punishment but that the precious cure would be withdrawn? Daughter (a tender word, as of a father to a child, though she was probably no younger than our Lord, if as young), be of good comfort (R.V. "cheer"); thy faith hath made thee whole. "The four occasions (see Inductive Study 6) on which Jesus used the words 'Be of good cheer' were all critical moments, when exceptional encouragement seemed to be required." Rev. Charles Moinet. What are the teachings of this beautiful story? 1. The duty of wayside ministries. "There are many who are so occupied by one set of duties as to have no time for others. But love is universal; it is interested in all that is human. Christ is our pattern here. His bosom was like the ocean, with its own mighty tide, but receiving and responding to the tidal influences of every estuary and river and small creek." — F. W. Robertson. Nor was the time lost. It was like the delay in the case of Lazarus. In the meantime the girl died, and Christ had the opportunity to work the greatest of all miracles, for the strengthening of their faith and ours. 2. "Whoever believes, touches the hem of the garment. We need no priest to perform his mystic rites ere virtue will flow forth from Christ to heal us. Be encouraged, sinner, to apply at once to Christ."- Newman Hall. "Oh! touch the hem of his garment, And thou, too, shalt be free; His saving power, this very hour, Shall give new life to thee." - G. F. Root. 3. The outward forms of religion will not help us, however close we are to them, unless we touch them with the hand of faith. They may be compared to telegraph wires, through which messages are all the while passing. You may climb up and put your ear to the wire, or hold it in your hand; but you will not hear a word of all the important messages that are passing through it. But let an operator come with his instrument and attach it, and he hears every word." - J. R. Miller. 4. What Christ is to us, we should be to one another. Our lives should radiate sunshine and healing. "As we meet and touch each day A glorious, helpful ministry." - Vs. 23-26. What test of the ruler's faith came as they Some one ran to meet him telling him (Mark and Luke) that his III. Faith for Another. approached his house? daughter was dead. "Why troublest thou the Master any further?" It is hard even for us, after all these centuries of knowledge of Christ, to realize that it is no trouble for him, but rather his chief joy, to bring blessing to his children. How did Christ strengthen the ruler's faith? By bidding him "Fear not: only believe, and she shall be made whole." We need never have a fear regarding Christ's power or his willingness to bless, but only regarding our own faith that makes it possible for him to bless us. What offended Christ as he drew near to the house of death? He saw the minstrels (R.V., "flute-players ") and the people making a noise. There were "many, weeping and wailing greatly" (Mark). The "flute-players employed mournful instrumental music, on occasion of deaths, in order to assist the mourning women' with their dirges. They may have been neighbors that were volunteering their services." Morison. Christ heard "piercing shrieks, and loud, high, prolonged quavering wails of mourning. At the very moment of death, one of these wild shrieks, by whoever is nearest the dead, announces the fact of the death. This cry is taken up and repeated by friends of the family near and far. Every sympathizing woman friend who hurries to share the mourning over the dead announces her approach to the sorrow-stricken home by the conventional shriek, and then adds her voice to the mourning chorus." -Trumbull. How did Christ protest against this? By the striking words Give place, (depart): for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. Therefore Christ put every one out except the parents (Mark), and Peter, John, and James, the disciples nearest to him, who also witnessed the transfiguration and the agony in Gethsemane. But But did Christ mean that the girl had not really died? Not at all. To be sure, as Sir Thomas Browne quaintly wrote, "Sleep is Death's younger brother, and so like him that I never dare trust him without my prayers." Christ used the same words regarding Lazarus, who had been three days in his grave. "In both cases the words are most probably used with reference to the speedy awakening which was to follow."- Alford. At the same time the words indicate the humility of Christ, and his willingness to minimize the weight of obligation under which he was placing the parents. A smaller spirit would have called every one to witness that the girl was really dead, in order that the wonder might be magnified. What was the process of the miracle? as in the case of all Christ's wonderful works. took her by the hand, softly said, "Talitha cumi," and the maid arose. preserved in Mark, "are an indication that Christ spoke in Aramaic, the language of Palestine at the time." International Critical Commentary. He used no mystical formula, but common, familiar words. "Talitha is a word of endearment, so that the words are equivalent to Come, my child.'" - Alford. "Talitha Cumi Home" is the name often and beautifully given to rescue homes for fallen women. A Strolling Musician. , "The Saviour said, 'Maiden, arise!' and suddenly a flush Full on his beaming countenance, arose!"-N. P. Willis. Very simple, He merely These words, FAITH FOR OTHERS. Intercessory prayer is one of the greatest duties and privileges of the Christian. It is finely illustrated in this miracle. "The possession of faith by the patient was not in the least essential, so far as the power of Jesus was concerned, to his bodily cure, although no doubt favorable thereto." - George Macdonald. Many blessings are granted men in answer to the prayers of those that have more faith than they, and thus often the beneficiaries come to have saving faith for themselves. as 27. And when Jesus crying out. passed by from departed thence, two blind men followed him, and saying, 'Have merhus, thou son of David. have mercy on us. 28. And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They unto him, Yea, Lord. said say 29. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. done 2 30. And their eyes were opened and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that that no man know it. 3 it. 31. But they' when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country. land. went forth, and 1 Matt. 15: 22; Mark 10: 47; Luke 18: 38. 2 Matt. 8: 4; Luke 5: 14. 3 Mark 7: 36. ILLUSTRATION. A man brings to a sick friend a supply of bottled water from a healing spring far up among the mountains. He tells the sick man of the sparkling origin of the water, shows him a picture of its glorious surroundings, gets him to drink it, and the man grows strong enough before long to go himself to the spring, drink its waters, and become invigorated by the bracing mountain air. When cured, he in turn will lead others to the same healing. IV. Comrades in Faith. - Vs. 27-31. When was the next appeal made to Jesus? When he departed thence, from the house of Jaïrus or from Capernaum. Who made it? Two blind men, whose like may be found in any Eastern crowd to this day. "Blindness was, and is, one of the commonest afflictions of the natives of Palestine. The blear eyes, often crusted round with dried secretion and fly-infested, make some of the most sickening sights in a Syrian village crowd.” — Hastings's Bible Dictionary. "It is mainly due to ophthalmia, caused partly by the sun-glare and partly by lack of cleanliness."- Hastings's Dictionary of Christ. How did they make their appeal? Not in a quiet, reverential way like Jaïrus, nor with awed shrinking like the woman with an issue of blood, but they followed him persistently, crying with importunity like Bartimæus, Thou son of David, have mercy on us. We are not restricted to one form of appeal in approaching our Lord, but his ears are open to every cry. "Son What was implied by this mode of address? of David" was a well-known popular title of the Messiah. But, though Jesus often called himself "Son of man," and especially commended those that called him Christ or Messiah, "he did not himself use the title Son of David,' as it implied a deliverer of Israel from a foreign yoke and a ruler in Jerusalem; and he seems not to have desired its use by others."-Principal Garvie. See Inductive Study 9. Why did Christ, before healing them, ask about their faith in him? Because he wanted to show them the heart of the matter, not his power,- Christ took that for granted, but their faith. According to their faith the healing was to come, as in the cases of the woman (v. 22) and Jaïrus (Mark 5: 36). "Faith is the bucket let down into the fountain of God's grace." Trench. Besides, the expression of their belief in Christ would help to strengthen it. A Strolling Musician. What is noticeable in the manner of the cure? 1. Its ease, with a mere touch, expressive of infinite power. 2. Its instantaneousness, "whereas in all cases of natural cure the eyes must go through a long process of protection from extreme light which, in their weakened state, they cannot bear." Abbott. 3. Our Lord's command for strict silence regarding it. He had just given such a command concerning the daughter of Jaïrus (Mark 5: 43), the reason being that when his miracles of healing were noised about, the multitude man 33. And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel. 34. But the Phǎr'i-sees said, "By the prince of the devils through the prince of the devils. I Matt. 12: 22; Luke 11: 14. He casteth out devils he 2 Matt. 12: 24; Mark 3: 22; Luke 11: 15. beset Jesus for more of them, and left him no opportunity for his spiritual teaching and higher ministries. A friend of mine, to whom God has given in wonderful degree the power of healing in answer to prayer - a well-known evangelist, once told me that he had been compelled for years to avoid any exercise of this gift because it interfered so seriously with his evangelistic work. Why did the blind men disobey? They probably thought the command due merely to Christ's modesty, and that common gratitude, as well as consideration for the sufferers around them, required them to publish abroad what the great healer had done for them. What new phase of faith does this miracle present? The woman showed faith for herself; Jaïrus, faith for another; these two men, the faith that is strengthened and upheld by comradeship. The chief thing that you can do for your friend is to increase his faith in all that is noble and good. "Friends keep us worthy of ourselves." - Robert Louis Stevenson. It is much easier to believe, and to act on our beliefs, if those near us are so believing and acting. Here is the great advantage of associating with other believers in churches, prayer meetings, and other religious gatherings. As Paul wrote (Rom. 1: 12), "That I with you may be comforted in you, each of us by the other's faith." Notice how the disciples seem to have come in pairs to Jesus, and how he sent them forth to preach two and two. V. Despisers of Faith.- Vs. 32-34. What was the last case in this series of healing miracles? A dumb man. The Greek word, kwoóv, "is used also of deafness (Matt. 11: 5; Mark 7: 32; Luke 7: 22). It means dull or blunted.". Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament. What was the cause of the dumbness? "It was not the result of any local physical injury or disease, neither was it congenital, but the man was dumb because he was possessed by a demon. The statement is to us conclusive as a proof that demoniacal possession was not an ordinary physical disease."-William M. Taylor. Therefore when the demon was cast out and the man given possession of his own mind again, he had no difficulty in speaking at once. Blind Men. From a Sketch. How did the spectators receive this miracle? With entire amazement. The cure of the dumb and deaf. deafness being usually associated with dumbness was considered the most difficult of all cures, because the demon had possession of the organ through which alone the order to dismiss the demon could reach the sufferer, and also of the organ through which alone he could answer! That is probably why it was usually in connection with the cure of the dumb that the Pharisees, as here, charged Jesus with working the miracle because he was in league with the evil spirits themselves. What terrible danger lies in such scouting of faith and its works as these Pharisees exhibited? The danger that it will become a fixed habit of the soul, shutting a man out forever from all that is pure and holy and happy. As faith in Christ is the noblest possible attitude of the soul, so the sneering at that faith is the most ignoble attitude of the soul, and leads the soul into the blackest peril. ILLUSTRATION. "If a tree could seize itself and drag every fiber of its root out of the earth, what would become of the tree? All nature would fight against it and kill it, its juices would be sucked out, its veins would be dried up with an everlasting desiccation, and never more would the birds of the air tenant themselves in its leafy boughs; it has cut itself out of the grooves along which nature sends her life-currents. yourself." -Joseph Parker. Take care how you uproot VI. Where Faith Was Not. - Matt. 13: 54-58. What illustration of the absence of faith came at once in the Saviour's life? His return to "his own country "' and his kinsfolk at Nazareth, his second rejection there, and his failure, on account of their unbelief, to work there the mighty miracles he had been working at Capernaum and elsewhere. Mark's order (see Mark 6: 1-6) shows that this incident came at this time. Why was faith a necessity before Christ could work his miracles? Because influence of all kinds cannot flow except along appropriate channels. We would think a man a fool if he wanted electricity but refused to stretch a wire for it; or if he wanted to conduct water from a river to his field and scorned to dig a ditch for it. In the same way, if a man wants knowledge, he knows that it will flow into his life only along the channel of a clear and industrious brain. We must have faith in a man before we can enter into the joys of friendship; suspicious questioning would at once cut us off from him. Is it strange that this law, which runs throughout nature and society, should also determine the measure of God's gifts to men? " IF WE HAVE FAITH. Is our "Golden Text, "All things are possible to him that believeth (Mark 9: 23), to be taken literally? Certainly; it is exactly true. Only, genuine belief will not lead us to pray for absurdities, for what is plainly out of harmony with God's will. ILLUSTRATIONS. "There are Christians so insane that they pray to God as did one in Boston that he might be turned into a goat for the glory of God. A poor Christian man that some of you recall is said to have prayed every day that he should be made eighty years old in one day. A man in New York prayed for a million of gold to establish missions; and then because his prayer was not answered he abandoned God and the work and died a drunkard. But when little Elizabeth of France, the beloved sister of Louis XVI., went to him in her childish way and threw her arms about her brother and asked, 'Why won't you send Lafayette over to the Colonies?' it was a prayer of faith, for she had said before she went into that dinner that she felt sure she could get her brother to do it.". Russell H. Conwell. Our faith is like the rocky channel through which the waters of Niagara flow, to fall upon the great turbines that transform their force into electricity. The power is not in the channel or in the turbines but in Niagara. So our faith merely allows God's power to flow into our lives, and the infinite possibilities of human faith are just the infinite possibilities of God. This faith is to be exercised in all the perplexities of our daily lives. Every to-morrow has two handles. We can take hold of it by the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith." ILLUSTRATIONS. "A self-opening gate is sometimes seen on country roads. If a traveler stops before he gets to it, it will not open. If he drives close up, the wheels of the carriage press the springs below the roadway, and the gate swings back. Thus we should meet all barriers. The Christian must press close up in faith, and the difficulty will be overcome." "A Scotchwoman was once introduced as 'Mrs. a woman of great faith.' 'No,' she said, 'I am a woman of little faith, but with a great God.'" What a blessed lesson this will be if it teaches us to rest our faith, with perfect confidence, upon the Lord Jesus Christ! |