365 Days in the Gospels and Spirit of Prophecy
April 15
Bible discovery
Matthew 9:18-22 365DGSP 106.1
18 While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. 365DGSP 106.2
19 And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples. 365DGSP 106.3
20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: 365DGSP 106.4
21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. 365DGSP 106.5
22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. 365DGSP 106.6
21 And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea. 365DGSP 106.8
22 And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, 365DGSP 106.9
23 And besought him greatly, saying, 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. 365DGSP 106.10
24 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him. 365DGSP 106.11
25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 365DGSP 106.12
26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 365DGSP 106.13
27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 365DGSP 106.14
28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. 365DGSP 106.15
29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. 365DGSP 106.16
30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? 365DGSP 106.17
31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 365DGSP 106.18
32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. 365DGSP 106.19
33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 365DGSP 106.20
34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. 365DGSP 106.21
40 And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him. 365DGSP 106.23
41 And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus’ feet, and besought him that he would come into his house: 365DGSP 106.24
42 For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him. 365DGSP 106.25
43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, 365DGSP 106.26
44 Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. 365DGSP 106.27
45 And 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? 365DGSP 106.28
46 And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. 365DGSP 106.29
47 And 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. 365DGSP 106.30
48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace. 365DGSP 106.31
Spirit of Prophecy Reading
The Desire of Ages pp.344-347: 365DGSP 106.32
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. 365DGSP 106.33
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. 365DGSP 106.34
Looking toward the woman, Jesus insisted on knowing who had touched Him. Finding concealment vain, she came forward tremblingly, 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. 365DGSP 106.35
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 God. Genuine faith is life. A living faith means an increase of vigor, a confiding trust, by which the soul becomes a conquering power. 365DGSP 106.36
After healing the woman, Jesus desired her to acknowledge the blessing she had received. The gifts which the gospel offers are not to be secured by stealth or enjoyed in secret. So the Lord calls upon us for confession of His goodness. “Ye are My witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God.” Isaiah 43:12. 365DGSP 106.37
Our confession of His faithfulness is Heaven's chosen agency for revealing Christ to the world. We are to acknowledge His grace as made known through the holy men of old; but that which will be most effectual is the testimony of our own experience. We are witnesses for God as we reveal in ourselves the working of a power that is divine. Every individual has a life distinct from all others, and an experience differing essentially from theirs. God desires that our praise shall ascend to Him, marked by our own individuality. These precious acknowledgments to the praise of the glory of His grace, when supported by a Christ-like life, have an irresistible power that works for the salvation of souls. 365DGSP 106.38