What’s your favorite smell?
I have some of my grandma’s perfume. Whenever I take it out and enjoy it’s scent, all these wonderful memories come flooding back. I feel her warmth and love. Sometimes, the scent alone brings tears to my eyes. She has been gone a long time but her scent still lingers.
The Scent of Jesus that Lingered
I can’t help but think of how Jesus must have smelled the day he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Just the day before Mary had poured “about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume” on Jesus feet. Surely, the scent would have lingered to the next day and been wafted in the air by those who were fanning palm branches, laying the branches down before Him and yelling “Hosanna!” and “Blessed is the King of Israel!” How that expensive, rare scent must have stood out and made a lasting impression on all those who were in his presence that day!
Who knows maybe the scent even lingered with each step he took towards the cross. What a beautiful gift Mary gave to Jesus and all those that came in contact with him the days following. Without knowing it, she was preparing Jesus for the day of His burial just a handful of days away.
John 12:1-8
Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him,objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages. He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
Jesus’ Fragrance Lingers Today
Christ has been gone from this earth for thousands of years but his scent still lingers today! Others can smell it through us – his disciples on earth!
For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?
2 Corinthians 2:15 -16
Just like Jesus, our life giving actions and words will be a sweet and wondrous smell to all those who accept it and will reek to those who reject it. No matter how it smells to others, know that it is a pleasing aroma to God and we should be proud to wear this eternal scent. Let us praise His name for all He has done.
Prayer Over Our Hearts
Lord, you have given us everything including your One and Only Son! Through Him we have life and hope everlasting. You’ve given us the gift of your Holy Spirit to guide us through this life and have even given us the scent of Christ himself! Praise you, Lord, for all you have done and will continue to do throughout the generations. May those we reach out to in your name take hold of you and impact generations upon generations for you too! It is our hope and prayer that we will be a pleasing aroma of Christ to you. In the One who pleased you with His sacrificial life – Amen!
I am a mother of 5 crazy, homeschooling children ages 10 & under, wife to an amazing man, and daughter of the King of the Universe!I enjoy reading, making my kids laugh, cooking, all things natural, learning to play guitar and dusting off my piano skills.One day I hope to run again, but until then I’m learning patience.
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Great post! You painted a great picture of palm Sunday 1000s pf years ago and how Jesus is still lingering today.
my pastor was talking about this last night, you really can smell his presence
What a great reminder. The fragrance of our lives should point to Jesus. It should be sweet, not sour.
May we be pleasing and sweet-smelling to Him every day!
Love this! Never thought of this lingering aroma before. Great thought to carry with me this week.
Kristi, I never thought about the fact that Jesus may have had that aromatic smell of Mary’s perfume clinging to Him as He enter Jerusalem that day and maybe even as He walked to the cross. What a lovely picture of the aroma we should carry wherever we go. Thanks for sharing. – Amy
http://stylingrannymama.com/
Beautiful analogy. Never realized Mary poured the fragrance the day before Palm Sunday. Thanks!
I always pray that our worship should be like sweet incense lifted up before the throne of grace!
Beautiful. I’d never thought about the smell from Mary anointing His feet lingering before.