In the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Mark is a very telling story of a certain woman who had spent all that she had on physicians in a long and vain search for help. We read that this woman, "when she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment." From the story one gathers that she was humble, and possibly timid, but her faith was so great as to convince her that if she could but touch the clothes of this Godlike man she would be healed. She did; and her whole-souled yearning was instantly rewarded, for we read that "she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague." And just as instantly Jesus knew that healing had taken place, and he lovingly blessed the steadfast faith that acknowledged a power unseen to the human senses.
Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, gives a beautiful interpretation of this incident in the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." Her words (p. 86,) "Jesus possessed more spiritual susceptibility than the disciples," emphasize for the reader that this spiritual awareness of Jesus was accompanied by healings miraculous to material thinking. Because his thought was undivided, the carnal mind held no temptations for him; he was responsive to but one influence, and that was the divine. He knew the truth of God and the consequent indivisibility of that oneness. In his tender prayer, according to the seventeenth chapter of John, he prayed that this oneness might, through an understanding of the Christ, unfold to and be established in the hearts of men. He knew that this oneness of God ensured protection.
In seeking to free themselves from the burdens of sickness, multitudes joined "in the press behind" on those dusty roads of bygone ages. No doubt they hoped that in some mysterious way a miracle might be wrought in their own wretched experience. And how often it was. What to the multitude, had they observed this woman, would have been but her physical touch on his garment, to Jesus typified the reaching out of her prayerful thought to the truth. Mrs. Eddy, in speaking of Jesus at this time, writes (Science and Health, p. 86,) "His quick apprehension of this mental call illustrated his spirituality." And that "quick apprehension" meant for the woman an instantaneous healing. Our Leader goes on to state, "The disciples' misconception of it uncovered their materiality." They apparently saw but another sick mortal reaching out in desperation to touch this awesome wayside preacher in the hope that a distressing physical condition might miraculously disappear.
