FRAGRANCE

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Eph 5:1-2).

In certain cultures, fragrance plays an important role in everyday life. My husband is from the Holy Land, and I experience this directly every day. Each morning after his shower, he “showers” again with cologne. He douses himself with it.

I’m talking head-to-toe spritzing. The fragrance is so strong that I can’t go

into the bathroom until it dissipates. It’s become a running joke in our family that when we can’t figure out what to buy him for a special occasion, we’ll never go wrong with cologne.

In Scripture, One of the most known stories about fragrance in the Bible is the beautiful story of Mary, one of Jesus’ disciples. I can just see this young woman carrying in a beautiful, translucent white alabaster jar filled with nard, a potent anointing oil and then, to everyone’s surprise, she breaks the jar and pours out the fragrant offering on Jesus’ head. The disciples there couldn’t believe their eyes. Nard was used only for special occasions and instead of seeing the spiritual significance of her actions, they yelled at her for wasting what could have been sold and given to the poor.

I love Jesus’ response and the way He stood up for Mary. He rebuked them, saying, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her” (Matt. 26:10-13).

Mary’s intent was pure. She wanted to honor her Lord through her offering–likely the most valuable possession she owned. The story of her bold sacrifice is told throughout the world, more than two thousand years later.

Though it was an extravagant gesture, Mary certainly wasn’t aware it would be legendary in Christ’s eyes. She was simply working with what she had in the context of her life. Likewise, our service to Jesus is also a type of love offering that greatly pleases Him.

And like any perfume, the odor is perceived differently. In 2 Corinthians 2:15-16, Paul tells us: For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death and to the other, the fragrance of life.

You, too, have more to offer. Using what you already have, what fragrant offering could you pour out on Christ? On the people in your path?