Focus: Aroma Of Christ

Text: 2Cor.2:15

"For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish."

Believers in Christ and ministers of Christ exude from their lives the sweet fragrance of their Lord Jesus Christ. We read concerning Mary's costly perfume that when she broke it, the house was filled with the odor of it. John says, "Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment" (Jh.12:3). We are like Mary's costly bottle of oil. We carry within us the sweet scent of Christ, and when we let God break us, then the sweet smell of Christ will ooze out from our lives to the world around us.

Christ smelled absolutely good in every facet of His life on earth. He enters into our lives by way of spiritual rebirth, and by His indwelling presence we are infused with the aroma of His perfect life. We read of Peter and John, that when the people "saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus" (Act.4:13). Peter and John carried in them the aroma of Christ - the aroma of incredible and contagious boldness. The two illiterate followers of Christ captivated and captured their supposedly enlightened audience, because of their closeness to the Master Jesus Christ. Christ happened to them. The aroma of Christ's life had rubbed off on them. The Jewish authority attributed their stunning and audacious boldness to their association with Christ.

Those who came into contact with the Lord Jesus Christ smelled the aroma of a unique individual and a brand new humanity. The people said, "Never man spake like this man" (Jh.7:46). His own disciples said, "What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!" (Mt.8:26). The fragrance of Christ spread abroad. Wherever He was, He was smelling sweet. The people tasted the multi-dimensional flavors of His life.

Take a close look at Christ. Observe closely:

*His life

His life was the light of men.

*His love

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (Jh.15:13).

*His truth

He tells the truth in love. He speaks reality and speaks with finality. He says, "I am the truth."

*His simplicity

He says about Himself, "I am meek and lowly in heart."

*His compassion

He was always moved with compassion for the people.

*His humanity or humanness

Pilate said, "Behold the man!"

We can go on and on. Talk about His courage, His divinity, His authority, His courage, His miraculous power, His calmness and peace, His words, His grace, His gentleness, His touch and His glory.

Through the church and all believers in Christ the fragrance of Christ will spread around the world. Don't fail Christ! Let the aroma of His life ooze out of you!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter