The Touch of Faith

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 8
 
(Mark 5:25-3425And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 26And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 27When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 28For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. 29And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. 30And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? 31And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 32And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. 33But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 34And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. (Mark 5:25‑34); Luke 8:43-4843And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, 44Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. 45And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 46And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. 47And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. 48And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace. (Luke 8:43‑48).)
WHO is that One amid the throng,
Who so benignly walks along,
Love beaming in His face?
'Tis Christ the Lord who hastens by,
For one, in yonder house, doth lie,
Who needs His healing grace.
One, too, there is amid that crowd,
Beneath the weight of suffering bowed,
Unknown to all beside.
For twelve long years she bore her pain,
Gave all she had, could nothing gain,
Till JESUS she espied.
But when she sees HIM drawing near,
How bounds her heart with hope and cheer,
Resolved the crowd to brave!
“If I but touch His garment's hem,”
She thinks, "I shall lack nothing then"
That touch of faith she gave.
Immediately her pains depart.
What joy, what comfort fills her heart!
She would not have it known.
She little dreamed that feeble touch
Had cheered her Saviour's heart as much
As it had healed her own.
He felt the virtue flowing o'er,
That HE was trusted, which was more
Than aught she else could do.
And could He let the healed one go,
Without a word, a look, to show
That He had loved her too?
He does not heed the callous press;
He longs to hear her lips confess
How HE had made her whole.
And thus He gives her sweet release:
“Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.'
He now has saved her soul.
And is not Jesus now the same
As when that lowly woman came
To have her pain removed? Since
He ascended to His throne
How many a touch, unseen, unknown,
His healing power has proved!
Yes, still the streams of virtue flow,
To cleanse the sin, to cure the woe,
It needs not but to touch.
And now, as then, the sufferer feels
How truly, perfectly, it heals;
And Christ is cheered as much.