the desire of ages-第58章

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The　two　restored　demoniacs　were　the　first　missionaries　whom　Christ　sent　to　preach　the　gospel　in　the　region　of　Decapolis。　For　a　few　moments　only　these　men　had　been　privileged　to　hear　the　teachings　of　Christ。　Not　one　sermon　from　His　lips　had　ever　fallen　upon　their　ears。　They　could　not　instruct　the　people　as　the　disciples　who　had　been　daily　with　Christ　were　able　to　do。　But　they　bore　in　their　own　persons　the　evidence　that　Jesus　was　the　Messiah。　They　could　tell　what　they　knew；　what　they　themselves　had　seen；　and　heard；　and　felt　of　the　power　of　Christ。　This　is　what　everyone　can　do　whose　heart　has　been　touched　by　the　grace　of　God。　John；　the　beloved　disciple；　wrote：　〃That　which　was　from　the　beginning；　which　we　have　heard；　which　we　have　seen　with　our　eyes；　which　we　have　looked　upon；　and　our　hands　have　handled；　of　the　Word　of　life；　。　。　。　that　which　we　have　seen　and　heard　declare　we　unto　you。〃　1　John　1：1…3。　As　witnesses　for　Christ；　we　are　to　tell　what　we　know；　what　we　ourselves　have　seen　and　heard　and　felt。　If　we　have　been　following　Jesus　step　by　step；　we　shall　have　something　right　to　the　point　to　tell　concerning　the　way　in　which　He　has　led　us。　We　can　tell　how　we　have　tested　His　promise；　and　found　the　promise　true。　We　can　bear　witness　to　what　we　have　known　of　the　grace　of　Christ。　This　is　the　witness　for　which　our　Lord　calls；　and　for　want　of　which　the　world　is　perishing。

Though　the　people　of　Gergesa　had　not　received　Jesus；　He　did　not　leave　them　to　the　darkness　they　had　chosen。　When　they　bade　Him　depart　from　them；　they　had　not　heard　His　words。　They　were　ignorant　of　that　which　they　were　rejecting。　Therefore　He　again　sent　the　light　to　them；　and　by　those　to　whom　they　would　not　refuse　to　listen。

In　causing　the　destruction　of　the　swine；　it　was　Satan's　purpose　to　turn　the　people　away　from　the　Saviour；　and　prevent　the　preaching　of　the　gospel　in　that　region。　But　this　very　occurrence　roused　the　whole　country　as　nothing　else　could　have　done；　and　directed　attention　to　Christ。　Though　the　Saviour　Himself　departed；　the　men　whom　He　had　healed　remained　as　witnesses　to　His　power。　Those　who　had　been　mediums　of　the　prince　of　darkness　became　channels　of　light；　messengers　of　the　Son　of　God。　Men　marveled　as　they　listened　to　the　wondrous　news。　A　door　was　opened　to　the　gospel　throughout　that　region。　When　Jesus　returned　to　Decapolis；　the　people　flocked　about　Him；　and　for　three

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days；　not　merely　the　inhabitants　of　one　town；　but　thousands　from　all　the　surrounding　region；　heard　the　message　of　salvation。　Even　the　power　of　demons　is　under　the　control　of　our　Saviour；　and　the　working　of　evil　is　overruled　for　good。

The　encounter　with　the　demoniacs　of　Gergesa　had　a　lesson　for　the　disciples。　It　showed　the　depths　of　degradation　to　which　Satan　is　seeking　to　drag　the　whole　human　race；　and　the　mission　of　Christ　to　set　men　free　from　his　power。　Those　wretched　beings；　dwelling　in　the　place　of　graves；　possessed　by　demons；　in　bondage　to　uncontrolled　passions　and　loathsome　lusts；　represent　what　humanity　would　become　if　given　up　to　satanic　jurisdiction。　Satan's　influence　is　constantly　exerted　upon　men　to　distract　the　senses；　control　the　mind　for　evil；　and　incite　to　violence　and　crime。　He　weakens　the　body；　darkens　the　intellect；　and　debases　the　soul。　Whenever　men　reject　the　Saviour's　invitation；　they　are　yielding　themselves　to　Satan。　Multitudes　in　every　department　in　life；　in　the　home；　in　business；　and　even　in　the　church；　are　doing　this　today。　It　is　because　of　this　that　violence　and　crime　have　overspread　the　earth；　and　moral　darkness；　like　the　pall　of　death；　enshrouds　the　habitations　of　men。　Through　his　specious　temptations　Satan　leads　men　to　worse　and　worse　evils；　till　utter　depravity　and　ruin　are　the　result。　The　only　safeguard　against　his　power　is　found　in　the　presence　of　Jesus。　Before　men　and　angels　Satan　has　been　revealed　as　man's　enemy　and　destroyer；　Christ；　as　man's　friend　and　deliverer。　His　Spirit　will　develop　in　man　all　that　will　ennoble　the　character　and　dignify　the　nature。　It　will　build　man　up　for　the　glory　of　God　in　body　and　soul　and　spirit。　〃For　God　hath　not　given　us　the　spirit　of　fear；　but　of　power；　and　of　love；　and　of　a　sound　mind。〃　2　Tim。　1：7。　He　has　called　us　〃to　the　obtaining　of　the　glory〃character〃of　our　Lord　Jesus　Christ；〃　has　called　us　to　be　〃conformed　to　the　image　of　His　Son。〃　2　Thess。　2：14；　Rom。　8：29。

And　souls　that　have　been　degraded　into　instruments　of　Satan　are　still　through　the　power　of　Christ　transformed　into　messengers　of　righteousness；　and　sent　forth　by　the　Son　of　God　to　tell　what　〃great　things　the　Lord　hath　done　for　thee；　and　hath　had　compassion　on　thee。〃




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　36

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Touch　of　Faith


Returning　from　Gergesa　to　the　western　shore；　Jesus　found　a　multitude　gathered　to　receive　Him；　and　they　greeted　Him　with　joy。　He　remained　by　the　seaside　for　a　time；　teaching　and　healing；　and　then　repaired　to　the　house　of　Levi…Matthew　to　meet　the　publicans　at　the　feast。　Here　Jairus；　the　ruler　of　the　synagogue；　found　Him。

This　elder　of　the　Jews　came　to　Jesus　in　great　distress；　and　cast　himself　at　His　feet；　exclaiming；　〃My　little　daughter　lieth　at　the　point　of　death：　I　pray　Thee；　come　and　lay　Thy　hands　on　her；　that　she　may　be　healed；　and　she　shall　live。〃

Jesus　set　out　at　once　with　the　ruler　for　his　home。　Though　the　disciples　had　seen　so　many　of　His　works　of　mercy；　they　were　surprised　at　His　compliance　with　the　entreaty　of　the　haughty　rabbi；　yet　they　accompanied　their　Master；　and　the　people　followed；　eager　and　expectant。

The　ruler's　house　was　not　far　distant；　but　Jesus　and　His　companions　advanced　slowly；　for　the　crowd　pressed　Him　on　every　side。　The　anxious　father　was　impatient　of　delay；　but　Jesus；　pitying　the　people；　stopped　now　and　then　to　relieve　some　suffering　one；　or　to　comfort　a　troubled　heart。

While　they　were　still　on　the　way；　a　messenger　pressed　through　the　crowd；　bearing　to　Jairus　the　news　that　his　daughter　was　dead；　and　it　was　useless　to　trouble　the　Master　further。　The　word　caught　the　ear　of

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Jesus。　〃Fear　not；〃　He　said；　〃believe　only；　and　she　shall　be　made　whole。〃

Jairus　pressed　closer　to　the　Saviour；　and　together　they　hurried　to　the　ruler's　home。　Already　the　hired　mourners　and　flute　players　were　there；　filling　the　air　with　their　clamor。　The　presence　of　the　crowd；　and　the　tumult　jarred　upon　the　spirit　of　Jesus。　He　tried　to　silence　them；　saying；　〃Why　make　ye　this　ado；　and　weep？　the　damsel　is　not　dead；　but　sleepeth。〃　They　were　indignant　at　the　words　of　the　Stranger。　They　had　seen　the　child　in　the　embrace　of　death；　and　they　laughed　Him　to　scorn。　Requiring　them　all　to　leave　the　house；　Jesus　took　with　Him　the　father　and　mother　of　the　maiden；　and　the　three　disciples；　Peter；　James；　and　John；　and　together　they　entered　the　chamber　of　death。

Jesus　approached　the　bedside；　and；　taking　the　child's　hand　in　His　own；　He　pronounced　softly；　in　the　familiar　language　of　her　home；　the　words；　〃Damsel；　I　say　unto　thee；　arise。〃

Instantly　a　tremor　passed　through　the　unconscious　form。　The　pulses　of　life　beat　again。　The　lips　unclosed　with　a　smile。　The　eyes　opened　widely　as　if　from　sleep；　and　the　maiden　gazed　with　wonder　on　the　group　beside　her。　She　arose；　and　her　parents　clasped　her　in　their　arms；　and　wept　for　joy。

On　the　way　to　the　ruler's　house；　Jesus　had　met；　in　the　crowd；　a　poor　woman　who　for　twelve　years　had　suffered　from　a　disease　that　made　her　life　a　burden。　She　had　spent　all　her　means　upon　physicians　and　remedies；　only　to　be　pronounced　incurable。　But　her　hopes　revived　when　she　heard　of　the　cures　that　Christ　performed。　She　felt　assured　that　if　she　could　only　go　to　Him　she　would　be　healed。　In　weakness　and　suffering　she　came　to　the　seaside　where　He　was　teaching；　and　tried　to　press　through　the　crowd；　but　in　vain。　Again　she　followed　Him　from　the　house　of　Levi…Matthew；　but　was　still　unable　to　reach　Him。　She　had　begun　to　despair；　when；　in　making　His　way　through　the　multitude；　He　came　near　where　she　was。

The　golden　opportunity　had　come。　She　was　in　the　presence　of　the　Great　Physician！　But　amid　the　confusion　she　could　not　speak　to　Him；　nor　catch　more　than　a　passing　glimpse　of　His　figure。　Fearful　of　losing　her　one　chance　of　relief；　she　pressed　forward；　saying　to　herself；　〃If　I　may　but　touch　His　garment；　I　shall　be　whole。〃　As　He　was　passing；　she　reached　forward；　and　succeeded　in　barely　touching　the　border　of　His　garment。　But　in　that　moment　she　knew　that　she　was　healed。　In　that　one　touch　she　was　concentrated　the　faith　of　her　life；　and　instantly　her　pain　and　feebleness　gave　place　to　the　vigor　of　perfect　health。

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With　a　grateful　heart　she　then　tried　to　withdraw　from　the　crowd；　but　suddenly　Jesus　stopped；　and　the　people　halted　with　Him。　He　turned；　and　looking　about　asked　in　a　voice　distinctly　heard　above　the　confusion　of　the　multitude；　〃Who　touched　Me？〃　The　people　answered　this　query　with　a　look　of　amazement。　Jostled　upon　all　sides；　and　rudely　pressed　hither　and　thither；　as　He　was；　it　seemed　a　strange　inquiry。

Peter；　ever　ready　to　speak；　said；　〃Master；　the　multitude　throng　Thee　and　press　Thee；　and　sayest　Thou；　Who　touched　Me？〃　Jesus　answered；　〃Somebody　hath　touched　Me：　for　I　perceive　that　virtue　is　gone　out　of　Me。〃　The　Saviour　could　distinguish　the　touch　of　faith　from　the　casual　contact　of　the　careless　throng。　Such　trust　should　not　be　passed　without　comment。　He　would　speak　to　the　humble　woman　words　of　comfort　that　would　be　to　her　a　wellspring　of　joy；words　that　would　be　a　blessing　to　His　followers　to　the　close　of　time。

Looking　toward　the　woman；　Jesus　insisted　on　knowing　who　had　touched　Him。　Finding　concealment　vain；　she　came　forward　tremblingly；

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and　cast　herself　at　His　feet。　With　grateful　tears　she　told　the　story　of　her　suffering；　and　how　she　had　found　relief。　Jesus　gently　said；　〃Daughter；　be　of　good　comfort：　thy　faith　hath　made　thee　whole；　go　in　peace。〃　He　gave　no　opportunity　for　superstition　to　claim　healing　virtue　for　the　mere　act　of　touching　His　garments。　It　was　not　through　the　outward　contact　with　Him；　but　through　the　faith　which　took　hold　on　His　divine　power；　that　the　cure　was　wrought。

The　wondering　crowd　that　pressed　close　about　Christ　realized　no　accession　of　vital　power。　But　when　the　suffering　woman　put　forth　her　hand　to　touch　Him；　believing　that　she　would　be　made　whole；　she　felt　the　healing　virtue。　So　in　spiritual　things。　To　talk　of　religion　in　a　casual　way；　to　pray　without　soul　hunger　and　living　faith；　avails　nothing。　A　nominal　faith　in　Christ；　which　accepts　Him　merely　as　the　Saviour　of　the　world；　can　never　bring　healing　to　the　soul。　The　faith　that　is　unto　salvation　is　not　a　mere　intellectual　assent　to　the　truth。　He　who　waits　for　entire　knowledge　before　he　will　exercise　faith；　cannot　receive　blessing　from　God。　It　is　not　enough　to　believe　about　Christ；　we　must　believe　in　Him。　The　only　faith　that　will　benefit　us　is　that　which　embraces　Him　as　a　personal　Saviour；　which　appropriates　His　merits　to　ourselves。　Many　hold　faith　as　an　opinion。　Saving　faith　is　a　transaction　by　which　those　who　receive　Christ　join　themselves　in　covenant　relation　with　Go