The phrase "social distancing" is now a part of our vocabulary, and, until the Covid-19 crisis is over, it will be a routine part of daily life. At urmc.rochester.edu the phrase "social distancing" is defined as follows: "Social distancing means not interacting with anyone outside your household, and limiting trips to places where you might interact with other people. It is strongly recommended that you only leave your home for essential travel." You know the drill. Avoid public spaces. Stay away from large social gatherings. Stay six feet apart. Wear a face mask. Wash your hands often. Don’t touch your face. No handshakes, hugs, or friendly kisses on the cheek. If possible, work from home instead of your office or other public workspace. Visit friends and loved ones online instead of in person. Reports indicate the widespread practice of social distancing has been key in slowing the spread of the dreaded virus and will in the end help defeat it. That being true, for the time being, let us stay together on the practice of staying apart! Meanwhile, let us recognize medical professionals and all those who provide other truly "essential" services from day to day. We salute you for your bravery and willingness to stay close and expose yourself to what most of us are working hard to stay away from. Your actions are truly heroic!
Now think about Jesus and social distancing for a moment. In a word – He didn’t practice it! Stay with me here. This is NOT in any way a slam on the wisdom or necessity of the practice as we battle Covid-19. But Jesus didn’t practice it. He was often found smack dab in the middle of crowds of hurting and unhealthy people (read Mark 1:32-34 for one of a number of such instances). The diseases He healed were physical and spiritual in nature. At Mark 1:40-45 Mark reports Jesus doing something absolutely unheard of in His time – He reached out to and touched and cleansed / healed a leper! Leprosy required social distancing. Read Leviticus 13:44-46. The infected person "shall dwell alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp." As in isolation and quarantine. Leprosy dumped anguish on the leper at all levels – physical, mental, social, and religious. In mark’s account the leper pitifully pleaded with the Lord, "If You are willing, You can make me clean. Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to Him, ‘I am willing; be cleansed’ " (verses 40-41). In other cases of healing in the gospel accounts Jesus healed at a distance. But He didn’t practice social distancing in this case. Or in ours. To cure our spiritual leprosy of sin Christ drew near. Scripture says He was "Immanuel, which is translated, ‘God with us’ " (Matthew 1:23). Jesus was "the Word, and the word was with God, and word was God...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:1, 14). Matthew 8:17 (quoting Isaiah 53:4) says Jesus "took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses." That verse is not talking about Covid-19. First Peter 2:24 declares Jesus "bore our sins in His own body on the tree ... by whose stripes we are healed." Again, "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief" (1 Tim.1:15). To cure our disease Jesus exposed Himself to it. Thank God He didn’t practice physical or social or spiritual distancing. Thank God He didn’t stay at home. Thank God He drew near. Say it with me: Praise the Lord!
by: Dan Gulley, Smithville, TN
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