Social Distancing

We are in the midst of it friends. COVID-19 has invaded every part of our lives. This virus has exponentially multiplied and invaded my emails and social media feeds with no signs of slowing down.

Because of this virulent strain, we have new words and phrases to add to our vocabulary. The concept of social distancing is now as common as the air around us. We are all surveying our personal space to see if we have a six-foot bubble around us!

It is during times like these, I like to look for the message in the middle of the mess.

The concept of social distancing is actually eluded to in Luke 17.

¹¹ On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. ¹² And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance ¹³ and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” ¹⁴ When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 

Mark 17:11-14

Leprosy is not a virus, but a chronic skin infection that is highly contagious. Even in biblical times, people knew lepers needed to be quarantined. Many times the lepers would congregate together and form a colony.

Lepers were socially distanced to a severe degree. They lost contact with their families and friends. Note that they kept their distance from Jesus, but lifted their voice in desperation, knowing Jesus had the power to cleanse them and have mercy.

In Mark 1, Jesus actually touches a leper to heal him.

⁴⁰ And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” ⁴¹ Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” ⁴² And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.

Mark 1:40-42

Jesus knew that the leper needed more than physical healing.

He needed the emotional healing of physical touch after being socially distanced for so long. The language of Jesus’ response is strong in this scripture. “Moved with pity” is also translated in other versions as “moved with compassion”. The original Greek is splagchnizomai, meaning moved as to one’s bowels. The bowels were thought to be the seat of love and pity.

So what can we learn from these two stories of leprosy presented in scripture?

First and foremost, both knew Jesus was able to heal. They came to Jesus in desperate need. In this time of COVID-19 hysteria, we need to lean into our Savior for mercy and pray for healing.

Second, we can act with deep compassion as Jesus modeled for us. I am not saying to go touch someone with COVID-19, but do offer your help or volunteer in places where you could safely do so. There will be multiple opportunities to show love and compassion to our neighbors during this time. And of course, when someone expresses anxiety, point them to Jesus.

Finally, we do see that social-distancing is necessary at times. It is common sense to separate the highly communicable disease from large crowds of people. This will help “flatten the curve” of exponential growth.

Remember, even while practicing social-distancing, Jesus is still a friend “who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). He will never leave you or forsake you.

Take this time of “be still and know that I am God” to get to know Jesus on a deeper level. Don’t live in your anxiety.

…casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. I Peter 5:7