For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. 2 Corinthians 2
The Bible tells us that we have an odor issue if we are Christians. We smell like Christ to those around us. Isn’t that amazing to consider?
People cannot help but come into contact with the aroma of Jesus around us.
It is like when my Dad who was a fireman would come to visit after having a long day at the firehouse. As soon as he walked in the house, we knew that he had been at a fire. The odor of smoke was overwhelming. It was in his clothes, in his hair and even on his skin. The smell would just assault us. There was no way to escape it particularly if it had been a big fire and he had been in the middle of it.
Or if you have ever smelled a hothouse filled with orchids. The air seems heavy with their scent.
The same is true with us and Jesus. The closer we get to Him, the more we smell like Him. The less Jesus is involved in our lives, the lighter the aroma.
When Mary of Bethany anoints Jesus for burial, it is a wonderful picture of this process. Mary gives up all of her concerns about stature and propriety and uses her hands and her hair to get the oil onto Jesus’ head and feet. She is literally at His feet serving Him with all that she has in this world.The oil involved was very aromatic. The Bible says that the whole house was filled with its smell. Jesus was covered with that oil and therefore smelled strongly of it. He is the focus of the account, obviously.
When Mary gets up and leaves that house, she takes the same fragrance with her into the world. The same oil is covering her hands and is all through her hair. Those who encounter her will know immediately that she smells just like Jesus. It is obvious that she has been very near to Him.
Everything she touches after leaving Jesus’ feet will also bear a bit of the fragrance of Jesus.
But Mary does not leave the house covered with the fragrance of anointing unless she spends time with Jesus. Sitting at His feet, learning from Him and serving Him are necessary components of becoming like Jesus to this lost and fallen world.
Where are we spending our time today? What do we smell like? What fragrance does the world smell most powerfully on us?
This is definitely one of my favorite stories and an eye opener that no matter what I do or where I go to I want to represent Jesus!
That is wonderful to hear! Praise the Lord!
Tom
I was struck by a very similar thought by a different story in the Gospels. When Peter is accused of being a Christ follower, one of the reasons why is that he is a Galilean, and they can tell by how he talks. I asked myself, do I sound like I am someone who is a Christ follower? Is it so natural that I have a genuine accent?
That is a good one as well. As the old question goes, If you are accused of being a Christian, is there enough evidence to convict you?