Isolation

ISOLATION Luke 5:12-16 January 24, 2021 As we approach the one-year anniversary of Covid, the CDC (Center for Disease Control) has begun to identify a new health crisis, resulting from extreme isolation.1 While they are adamant that isolation helps limit the spread of Covid, they are now seeing a huge upswing in mental breakdowns. Stress over finances and loss of income are resulting in violent behavior. More than 25% of the nation is reporting chronic difficulty sleeping, severe depression, increased dependance on tobacco and alcohol, exercising to the point of disabling yourself, constant anxiety, and inability to turn off news or social media. These are mental health issues which will continue even after Covid ceases to be a factor. But, even worse, Covid induced isolation is causing death.2 This is Lara Hyman. Her son, Dr. Ira Hyman, documented her decline and death from March through September last year. He attributes her passing exclusively to isolation. She was in assisted living when Covid began. She was in good physical health. And, up until March she had one family visit every day. Beginning March first she was isolated to just her caregivers. Meals were served in her room, and she saw a nurse for a verbal wellness check once each day. Other than that, she was alone. As a physician, Dr. Hyman completely supported these actions. He tried to connect with his mother through video calls. But, he found as weeks went by she lost interest in the conversations. She lost interest in speaking with him over the tablet. Prior to Covid she walked with her family every day. In only a few months she became immobile. Her only movement was from bed to chair, and back again. She lost interest in eating and eventually quit altogether. Without the social aspect of eating, she didn't see the point. She was examined by a doctor, who found no physical reason for her decline. He explained to Dr. Hyman, "I believe it is just loneliness." Within 6 months she passed away - alone. Dr. Hyman launched himself into research to determine how unique his mother's situation was. Turns out her situation is very common. He has concluded that the Covid disease was responsible for 7% of the nursing home deaths last year. Interviews with staff and family attribute 40% of nursing home deaths to isolation. Being alone was 6 times more fatal than Covid. Our text today concerns Jesus and a leper. During Jesus' day there was only one treatment for leprosy - isolation. And, let's be honest, people have not changed one bit in 2000 years. So, all of the problems and complications we associate with isolation today were there as well. In fact, historical evidence indicates that many of those diagnosed with leprosy did not die from the disease. It seems that 40-50% became so distraught from isolation they committed suicide.3 When we think of leprosy, we think of Hansen's disease. The person on the left has Hansen's disease. This is the same disease the lepers on Molokai island in Hawaii have. But, in Jesus' day any disease of the skin was identified as leprosy.4 The person in the middle has psoriasis. The person on the far right has favus. In Jesus' day if you showed up with any of these three conditions you were classified as a leper, and you were immediately isolated. You might think - well, then join a leper colony. At least be with others like you. If you lived near a large city, there might be a colony. But, 95% of the population lived in small villages. If you were a leper, you were the only one. Isolation was complete. Jesus is preaching to a large crowd. After the miracle of catching so many fish; and after Peter, Andrew, James, and John leave fishing behind to become disciples; large crowds begin to seek Jesus out. Some of them are there for the message he preaches - a positive, and encouraging message about our relationship with the Father. Others are hoping for a miracle. In the midst of this large crowd a young man approaches Jesus. And, he is a leper. Luke describes him as having an advanced case. The original Greek says his disease was 'full'. That may mean that it covered his entire body. Or, it may mean that he was near death. In either case, the crowd would have immediately recognized this man is a leper. He's not supposed to be here. He is risking all of our health. This is like someone with Covid showing up for lunch at the nursing home. I think we can somewhat understand the tension and anxiety his presence created. But, it goes even deeper. The prevailing theory at that time, was that leprosy comes from sin.5 Yes, it can be physically spread from person to person. But, the real - true - underlying cause is sin. If you are a leper, you have done something really terrible. God really hates you. God has marked you physically so the rest of us can avoid your influence. Leprosy was far more feared as a spiritual problem, than a physical one. And, here is this sinner standing in the middle of our crowd. Just what is Jesus going to do about this? The young man bows low before Jesus. This is a position of unworthiness. It is a position of desperation. This is what you do if isolation has beaten you so badly you have no options, and no hope, left. He calls Jesus Lord. The Greek word is kyriōs, which can be translated as lord, master, or 'my owner' if you are a slave. He is not calling Jesus God. The large crowds love what Jesus has to say about God. But, they are nowhere close to embracing Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God yet. The young man recognizes that Jesus is in a position of authority over him, and he's a brilliant doctor, but he's not ready to throw around the 'g' word. He says to Jesus, if you are willing you can heal me and make me clean. Three important points in that one sentence. First, he doesn't doubt Jesus' ability to cure an incurable disease. He questions Jesus' willingness. He may be afraid that there is a fee associated with healing. And, as a leper he has no access to income. Would Jesus be willing to do this pro-bono? Secondly, he believes Jesus can heal what no one else can heal. That's a pretty big deal. Have you ever had faith that someone could do the impossible? His leprosy is 'full', it is advanced. He doesn't just have a few psoriasis spots - he is covered from head to foot. When it gets this bad it is incurable. Yet, he believes. And third, but most importantly, he believes Jesus can make him 'clean'. What he's saying is - you can take away the sin that caused this. That's a wow! Only the ceremony of atonement - lead by the Temple priests - can take away sin. Only God can forgive sin. The leper is putting Jesus in the place of the priests. Big deal. What Jesus does next is unimaginable. He touches the man. One of the most devastating effects of isolation is the lack of human contact. We are built for touching. The therapeutic benefits of a single hug are legion. No one touches a leper because you might catch leprosy. More importantly, no one touches a leper because his sin makes him impure.6 If you touch him, you become impure as well. His sin rubs off on you. And, it requires 7 days of observation by priests, in isolation, to determine if you are now a sinner. Jesus doesn't seem to care. It's more important to reaffirm the man's humanity, by touching him. The prophet Elisha cured the Syrian General Namaan of leprosy. But, he did not touch him. He sent a messenger to him, who told him go wash in the River Jordan 7 times, then report back. Elisha believed in miracles. But, he wasn't going to damage his own sinlessness by 'touching' a leper. Jesus could have followed Elisha's example. There was precedent. He did not need to touch the man. But, he did. There is emotional healing as well as physical. And, the man is healed instantly. Jesus sends the man to Jerusalem to be inspected by the priests and declared both cured and clean. This was the law.7 It's one thing to see if the disease is gone. It's another thing to see if the sin is gone. Only the priests can make that decision. This is a one week/7-day process. It takes time to make sure the disease isn't coming right back. You might be experiencing a temporary abatement. Let's isolate you for a week and make sure this thing is really gone. Oh, and you owe the priests an offering. A couple lambs if you have them. If not, a lamb and two doves. If you don't have the money, nothing else matters. You will not be declared clean. Which explains why the young man wasn't sure if Jesus would be willing. Nobody gives you back your life for free. Before he sends him away, Jesus tells the man to keep silent. Do not tell anyone what has happened. Why? Why would Jesus do that? We don't know for sure. There are six possible answers. Option 1 - until the priests say you're cured, you're not cured. No reason to get excited until the priests make it official. Option 2 - Jesus doesn't want the guy going around bragging like he's somebody special. I was cured because Jesus likes me better than you. Option 3 - If the priests hear about this before the leper gets there, they will hide him away and deny the miracle. Only the priests can remove sin. Not Jesus. Option 4 - Jesus doesn't want to deal with the explosion of miracle seekers once this goes public. Option 5 - Jesus is too humble to take credit for the miracle. And, option 6 - Jesus touched a leper. That means he needs to be in isolation to see if he is diseased, and if he is a sinner. And, he just doesn't want to deal with the hassle. There is no information available to support or deny any of these theories. You pick the one that makes the most sense to you. Unfortunately, word gets out, and Jesus goes viral. The crowds blow up. And, Jesus' response is - isolation. He begins taking time away from everyone to pray. He gets away from the crowds. He gets away from his family. And, he gets away from his disciples. He uses the alone time to reconnect with the Father. You see, an absence of human contact is devastating. An absence of spiritual contact is just as damaging. It may be that in our Covid isolation, our loss of contact with the Holy Spirit is hurting us as much, or more, than our loss of contact with each other. I would never pressure anyone to come out in public if you are not comfortable. I will not do that. At the same time, I do worry about those who have just dropped off the face of the earth. I worry that you are suffering depression. I worry that you are suffering loneliness. I worry about the effect of complete isolation on your physical and emotional health. And, just as much, I worry about your spiritual health. When we become depressed, and sick, and lonely - it gets harder and harder to pray. And, without our spiritual health, it becomes quite a challenge to address our physical and emotional health. Isolation kills. Roughly one half to two thirds of our church has stopped all contact. My fear is they are sitting alone in the dark suffering in silence. If there is someone you have not connected with in the last year; call, write, email, or text them. Make a connection. Do not leave our family in isolation. Reach out to one another. This is the hardest thing we've ever been through, and we need to care for one another. 1 https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html 2 https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mental-mishaps/202009/death-covid-isolation 3 Mary Ann McCol and Richard S. Ascough, "Jesus and People with Disabilities: Old Stories, New Approaches," The Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling, 63 no. 3 (Fall 2009), 26-30. 4 Darrell L. Bock, Luke 1:1-9:50 (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2008), 472. 5 Joel B. Green, New Interpreter's Study Bible (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003), 1862. 6 NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2016), 1751. 7 R. C. Sproul, general editor. New Geneva Study Bible (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1612. --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ 2