Opening Our Lives

How has the coronavirus kept us isolated? What are the results of isolation? Are there other forms of isolation?

How has quarantining give us time to think?

e.g. Boston globe, hundreds of prisoners set free; irony (forced in, forced out) raises questions of prison reform, but both limited choices;

released from prison “I’ve had plenty of time to think”

Problem: Application when your physical space limited? Forced us inward. Take time to think;

Challenge: despite our limitations, God has given us time to look inward

Forced Isolation. Forces us to look Inward

Isolation

Isolation; Inward; Internet (2 eyes with a possible 3rd)

Objection? Busy telecommuting? Kids? Distance Learning; Reflect!

Bible: There are some examples of quarantine per say; examples of people forced to live alone (simon the leper)

examples of isolation:

Woman at the well; Several husbands;

Woman at the well; Several husbands;

Simon the leper (literally) and

Luke 7:37–39 NIV

A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

Luke 7:

Mary - what isolated her? sin, reputation; sinned all her life?

Extravagance in a time of withholding - Judas

Then enters Mary. Into this seen where Martha is truly serving with a worshipful attitude, focusing on Jesus instead of the others around her, where Lazarus and Simon and telling everyone how Jesus had radically changed their lives, Mary comes and does the unexpected. Mary worshipped extravagantly by giving Jesus her treasured possession. She gave her life savings. The perfume that is described here would have been imported from India. It was kept in a sealed alabaster jar. And it was about 12 ounces worth. It would have cost the amount of money that a laborer would make in an entire year! It was a lot of money in that little jar! It was like a life’s savings for Mary. However, Mary truly loved Jesus. He had changed her life. He had saved her life by raising her brother, and through his teaching, she believed in him and had eternal life! She loved Jesus, and was thankful for all He had done.She loved Him for what He was about to do! This was just 6 days before He would give His life by dying on the cross for her sin. Jesus had been talking about this over the past few months. The disciples didn’t get it, even though He said it plainly. I believe Mary understood. She believed what He said. Jesus even said, she was doing this for His burial! She knew what was coming, and she loved Jesus so much for what He was about to do to give her forgiveness for sin, and eternal life!So, she worshiped extravagantly!

So, she worshiped extravagantly!

What could she do to Jesus to show Him how she loved Him? She could think of nothing better than her life savings wrapped up in that bottle of perfume. She gave sacrificially! She gave extravagantly! He was going to give His life for hers! She wanted to give sacrificially her life for Him!

I love the way Jesus said it as recorded in Mark. “She did what she could!”

So she took her life savings. She broke it, and poured on His head, and His feet. But she did not want it just to be running all over the place. She needed to rub it in. She wanted it to stay with Him. Not having anything else, she let down her hair and wiped his feet. She loved Him so much she was willing to humble herself to wiping his feet with her hair!

And then, her sacrifice filled the entire house!

As the wonderful aroma of that extravagant worship filled the house, we then see the next character enter the scene… Judas.

Prodigal Daughter - can’t control past (history) future (mystery) today?; what control? we are controlled! worship; invite Jesus (Simon did not; Woman did)

https://sermons.faithlife.com/sermons/377529-the-prodigal-daughter?utm_source=logos&utm_medium=guidesection&utm_content=searchresult&utm_campaign=promo-faithlifesermons

What keeps us isolated from one another?