The Aroma of Christ
it is vitally important that we are ready as a people who come before our God with clean hearts and hands.
It is interesting to note that people in the UK regularly spend large sums of money both on fragrances and perfumes, and personal hygiene products. In our society, these products are important so that we will be acceptable in all our social interactions.
Likewise, in the Old Testament, we read in Exodus 30:22-33 that a holy anointing oil was to be manufactured and that it was to be specially perfumed. One of its uses was for Aaron the priest and his sons to be anointed with this special oil, and so be consecrated (set apart and holy) and acceptable for service before the Lord (v30).
In the New Testament, it is Jesus who is the aroma to those around us (2 Corinthians 2:15). If this is the case, I wonder whether our Heavenly Father is able to smell the aroma of His Son in, and upon, us?
Do you remember Jesus washing His disciples’ feet?
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” 10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. (John 13:6 – 10)
Jesus may not have used soap as He went round the table to wash each disciples’ feet in turn. However, once the disciple’s feet had been cleansed, metaphorically the aroma of Christ would have attached to the feet of them all. We, too, need the daily cleansing of Jesus as we go through the stuff of life that seeks to pollute us. How do we do this? James tells us to:
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (James 4:7 – 10)
As we present ourselves to Jesus to have the daily pollution of life washed away, we will be consecrated (set apart) to intercede for the needs of our communities and ourselves.
