But, in another sense, they are not with Him. They are called to serve,
when He quits the scene of His labour. We learn this from the demoniac
Legion (chap. 5), delivered from his miserable condition. Man-and Israel in
particular-was completely under the power of the enemy. Christ, as to the
work of His power, completely delivered the one in whose behalf this power
was exercised. He is clothed-not naked-in his right mind, and sitting at
the feet of Jesus to hear His words. But the people of the place are
afraid, and send Jesus away-what the world has done with Christ; and in the
history of the herd of swine we have the picture of Israel after the
remnant has been healed. They are unclean, and Satan drives them to
destruction. Now, when Jesus departs, he who had personally experienced the
mighty effects of His love would have liked to be with Him; but he was to
go home and bear testimony to those around him of all that Jesus had done.
He was to serve in the absence of Jesus. In all these narratives we see the
work and the devotedness of the Servant, but at the same time the divine
power of Jesus manifested in this service.
In the circumstances that follow the cure of the demoniac, we find the true
position of Jesus portrayed in His work. He is called upon to heal the
daughter of Jairus-even as He came to heal the Jews, had that been
possible. As He went toward the house of Jairus to perform this work, a
poor incurable woman touches the hem of His garment with faith, and is
instantly healed. This was the case with Jesus during His passage among the
Jews. In the multitude that surrounded Him, some souls through grace
touched Him by faith. In truth, their disease was in itself incurable; but
Jesus had life in Himself according to the power of God, and faith drew out
its virtue by touching Him. Such are brought to acknowledge their
condition, but they are healed. Outwardly He was in the midst of all
Israel-faith reaped the benefit in the sense of its own need and of the
glory of His Person. Now, with respect to the one who was the object of His
journey, remedy was unavailing. Jesus finds her dead, but does not miss the
object of His journey. He raises her again, for He can give life. Thus too
with respect to Israel. On the way, those who had faith in Jesus were
healed, incurable as they were in themselves; but in fact, as to Israel,
the nation was dead in trespasses and sins. Apparently this put a stop to
the work of Jesus. But grace will restore life to Israel in the end. We see
the perfect grace of Jesus intercepting the effect of the bad tidings
brought from the ruler's house. He says to Jairus, as soon as the messenger
has told him of his daughter's death, and the inutility of troubling the
Master any farther, "Be not afraid, only believe." In effect, although the
Lord restores life to a dead Israel in the end of the ages, nevertheless it
is by faith that it takes place. The case of the poor woman, although in
its direct application it does not go beyond the Jews, yet applies in
principle to the healing of every Gentile who, through grace, is brought to
touch Jesus by faith.
This history then gives the character of His service, the manner in
which-on account of man's condition-it had to be accomplished.
