THE FRAGRANCE OF CHRIST
By Sherry CumbyBecause we have been drawn to Jesus by His Holy Spirit, our lives have been changed forever because we were Born Again.
"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.
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; to the other, the fragrance of life.
And who is equal to such a task?
Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God."
John 12:1-8
John says this was Mary of Bethany, Lazarus's sister, who anointed Jesus 6 days before Passover
John tells us that Jesus was anointed the night before his entrance into Jerusalem riding on a colt that had never been ridden. As He rode through the Old City, can you imagine the fragrance of Jesus from having had a pint of pure nard poured over His hair and body the night before?
Matthew 26:6-13
Matthew 26 begins with Jesus saying Passover was 2 days away. Matthew could have digressed and said while Jesus was in Bethany…
Regardless, Jesus was anointed in preparation for his burial.
As a woman, would you be willing to go to the house of a leper who had been healed by Jesus?
Would we be willing to eat a meal in the house of a leper?
It's one thing to see that the leper had been healed; another thing to eat a meal prepared in his house.
How long had this woman saved for this expensive perfume?
Do you think perhaps she had assembled it in her own kitchen?
Did she know she could have sold it for a high price and kept the money?
Did she ever stop to think that she could have sold the perfume and given the money to the poor?
Was it perfume left to her by her mother; or grandmother; as a gift? Did another man give it to her? Why the luxury of having such a gift?
GOD'S PURPOSE: Regardless of how this woman acquired it; we know she used it for God's purpose in God's timing. Jesus said this anointing was in preparation for His burial.
This woman had a calling of God on her life. We have no idea when she decided to do what she did. Perhaps it was a sudden urge to go to Simon's house when she saw Jesus enter.
Perhaps she walked by Simon's house and heard the laughter, or exuberant praise of a man who had been a leper and now the healer had come to his home for a meal.
She was moved by the Spirit of God to lavish love upon her Jewish Messiah: Son of David; One who had shown mercy to her.
Challenge: Are we ever moved to lavish love on Christ?
On others?
Ephesians 5:1-2
"Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
