The Fragrance of Christ

The Fragrance Spreads

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When Mary poured out her oil, “the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil” (John 12:3). No one in that house could miss it. A sweet smell does not stay in one corner. It spreads to everyone nearby.

Paul's picture. Years later, the apostle Paul used the same kind of picture for the good news about Jesus. He thanked God, who leads His people in Christ and through them spreads the fragrance of knowing Him in every place (2 Corinthians 2:14).

The fragrance of Christ. Paul went on to say that believers are to God the fragrance of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:15). When people who belong to Jesus live for Him and speak about Him, something of Jesus spreads to the people around them.

How it spreads. It spreads when you tell a friend what Jesus has done for you. The fragrance also spreads when you are kind to someone others leave out, when you forgive, and when you tell the truth even when it is hard.

For God first. Paul said believers are the fragrance of Christ to God. Before anyone else notices, God Himself is pleased when the love of Jesus shows in His children.

Not everyone likes it. Paul said that to some people the message about Jesus smells like death, and to others it smells like life (2 Corinthians 2:16). Not everyone is glad to hear about Jesus, and some people turn away.

The sweetest news. But to everyone who believes, the message about Jesus is life: forgiveness, a new heart and life with God forever. That is worth sharing, even when some people do not want to hear it.

Who is enough? Paul asked who is sufficient for these things (2 Corinthians 2:16). No one can spread the fragrance of Christ by trying hard alone. A little later Paul answered that our sufficiency comes from God (2 Corinthians 3:5).

Where it comes from. The fragrance is not ours. It comes from Jesus. Paul wrote “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

One house, many places. Mary's gift filled one house in Bethany. A life that loves Jesus can fill a home, a classroom, a team or a neighborhood with the sweetness of His kindness and truth.

What to do. Think of one place you go every week. Ask Jesus to help you spread the good news of His love there, with your words and with your kindness.

John 12:3 ends, “And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.” One gift, poured out on Jesus, reached every person in the room. Paul later used a picture like it for the gospel.

Spread in every place (2 Corinthians 2:14). Paul thanked God, who always leads His people in triumph in Christ and through them spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ in every place. The gospel moves outward the way a fragrance fills a house.

In every place. Paul wrote those words after traveling from city to city with the good news. Wherever believers went, the knowledge of Christ went with them, the way a fragrance travels with the person who wears it.

Euodia. In 2:15 Paul says believers are to God the fragrance of Christ. His word is euodia (say: yoo-oh-DEE-ah), a sweet smell. Paul uses the same word for Jesus' own sacrifice in Ephesians 5:2 and for a church's gift in Philippians 4:18.

To God first. Paul says believers are a fragrance of Christ to God. The fragrance is for Him first. Before anyone else smells it, God delights in the life of Jesus showing in His people.

Two responses (2:15-16). The same fragrance reaches those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To one it is an aroma of death leading to death, and to the other an aroma of life leading to life. The message is the same; hearts receive it differently.

Who is sufficient? Paul asked who is sufficient for these things (2:16), and he answered a few verses later that his sufficiency was from God (3:5). Spreading the fragrance is God's work through weak people, not a task we carry alone.

A fragrance with a source. The sweetness believers carry comes from Christ crucified and risen: “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

The house as a picture. Mary did not explain her worship to the guests. The fragrance spoke for itself. A life given to Jesus will often be noticed before a word is said, and then it opens the door for words about Him.

Not a performance. A fragrance cannot be faked for long. Paul's picture is not about acting religious in front of others. It is about a life that has really been with Jesus and carries Him wherever it goes.

Application. Choose one friend who does not know Jesus well. Pray for that friend by name each day this week, and look for one honest moment to say what Jesus means to you.

A Sweet-Smelling Gift

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Paul used the picture of a sweet smell again in a thank-you letter. He wrote it to the church in the city of Philippi, which had helped him again and again.

Paul in chains. When Paul wrote this letter, he was a prisoner because he preached about Jesus (Philippians 1:13). He could not travel freely, and the believers at Philippi wanted to help him.

A church that gave. The believers at Philippi had sent gifts to Paul before, more than once (Philippians 4:15-16). Now they sent another gift, and a man named Epaphroditus carried it to him (Philippians 4:18).

Giving that cost. Epaphroditus did more than carry a gift. While he was serving Paul, he became so sick that he nearly died, but God had mercy on him (Philippians 2:27).

A fragrance to God. Paul wrote that their gift was a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God (Philippians 4:18). They gave to Paul, but God received it as a gift to Himself.

Long ago. In the Old Testament, an offering given wholly to God was called “a sweet aroma to the Lord” (Leviticus 1:9). The Philippians' gift was a different kind of offering: love for a servant of Jesus.

A brother and fellow worker. Paul called Epaphroditus his brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier (Philippians 2:25). Serving Jesus together had made them close friends.

Thankful hearts. Paul did not only thank the church. He thanked God every time he remembered them (Philippians 1:3). A gift given in love makes people thankful to God.

Mary and the Philippians. Mary poured her gift on Jesus Himself. The Philippians sent their gift to Jesus' servant far away. Jesus gladly received Mary's gift, and God was pleased with the Philippians' gift.

The first sweet-smelling gift. Before we give anything, Jesus gave Himself. “And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma” (Ephesians 5:2).

Not to earn love. Our gifts do not buy God's love. Jesus died for our sins and rose again while we could give Him nothing. Our gifts answer His love: “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

What to do. Think of someone who serves Jesus: a pastor, a missionary or a teacher. Pray for that person, and with your family send a note, a drawing or a small gift to say thank you.

Paul used the language of fragrance again in Philippians, a thank-you letter to a church that had supported him for years.

The setting. Paul wrote as a prisoner whose chains were for Christ (Philippians 1:13). The Philippian believers had shared with him in giving and receiving when no other church did, and had sent help to him more than once (Philippians 4:15-16).

Epaphroditus. Their latest gift came by the hand of Epaphroditus, one of their own (Philippians 4:18). Giving cost them, and carrying it cost him.

What it cost him. Paul tells the church that Epaphroditus came close to death for the work of Christ while serving him (Philippians 2:27, 30). The gift that smelled sweet to God was carried at real cost.

Three phrases (4:18). Paul called the gift a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. Sweet-smelling translates euodia, the same word as 2 Corinthians 2:15. The gift went to Paul, but it rose to God.

Offering language. Leviticus called a burnt offering “a sweet aroma to the Lord” (Leviticus 1:9). Paul uses offering words for a church's gift. Believers no longer bring animals, but love given for Christ's sake is still an offering God receives.

Brother, worker, soldier. Paul called Epaphroditus his brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier (Philippians 2:25). The gift came with a person who shared Paul's work for the gospel.

Christ's offering first. “And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma” (Ephesians 5:2). His self-giving on the cross is the one offering that takes away sin. Every gift His people give follows His.

Thanks that goes up. Paul opens the letter by thanking God every time he remembers them (Philippians 1:3). A gift given for Christ's sake turns into thanksgiving to God, so the fragrance rises twice.

Mary and Philippi. Mary anointed Jesus in person; the Philippians gave to His servant in prison. In both, love for Jesus became something given away. Jesus called Mary's gift a good work, and Paul called the Philippians' gift well pleasing to God.

Love answering love. “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Our gifts are never payment for salvation. They are the fragrance of hearts that have already received Him.

Application. Find out about one missionary or ministry your church supports. Pray for them by name, and plan one gift of time, money or encouragement you can give gladly this month.

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