"But how am I to come to Jesus? This is just what I don't see. If I saw Christ before me, I could get up and come to Him. But I don't really know what to do, nor what I should do. If I knew, I would do it. I want only to know when and how."
The quiet, reserved young man who asked this question was evidently earnest and sincere. To help him, I said: "I am glad that you have thought about this question, and the best way to answer it is to take you to God's Book. You remember what took place when the woman came near Jesus, and touched the hem of His garment?"
" 'For she said within herself, If I may but touch His garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned Him about, and when He saw her, He said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith bath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.' Matt. 9:21, 22.
"She was aware of her own sad condition. She believed He could cure her. She struggled to get to Him through the crowd. She touched His garment and immediately was made whole.
"Can you see how she came to Jesus? It was not the mere fact of touching Him. Others were touching Him. No, there had to be something more. This was no common touch, a touch merely by the fingers. Did not her heart go out to touch the heart of Jesus? Did she not put herself in such contact with Him that the soul was the instrument, and not the fingers?
"To come to Jesus you must do what this woman did. Try to put yourself into her place. Try to enter into her feelings and to realize what she felt. If you can do this, you will understand what is meant by coming to Jesus.
"Notice three things about her: she knew how sick and helpless she was. She believed that there was within her reach a mighty and a loving Savior, able and willing to save her. She did not withdraw until she had touched Him—she sent out her soul to Him in that touch. This is coming to Jesus.
"I will ask you only one question: If Jesus were now here present before our eyes, what would you do?"
"Oh, I would go to Him! I would fall down before Him and touch Him. I would cry, 'Lord, be merciful to me a sinner.' "
"But is He not here? Send out your heart's answer to Him now. Touch Him, and be saved. He is at hand, and He is waiting for this touch of faith from you."
At last he understood, and he touched Jesus with as true a touch as did the woman of old. The touch of faith was known to the Savior, and the sinner was healed.
And now there was a change that all could see. He had such joy in his salvation, such honest faith in the saving power of that touch, that he loved to tell everyone he met of that which was so dear to his own soul.
Friend, will you then touch Jesus, as the woman did? Let your heart reach out to Him. Touch Him, and be made whole.
"She only touched the hem of His garment, As to His side she stole Amid the crowd that gathered around Him, And straightway she was whole.
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."