Olfactory Perception

I have worn the same perfume for years.
When I was in college, I had many fragrances I liked to wear.
After I was married, however, I found one fragrance that has been my signature scent.

While in college, I wore a certain perfume that was very unique.
It was not my favorite perfume, but I would receive compliments every time I wore it.
I remember being in a store one day and a woman was on the same aisle with me.
Finally, after seeming to follow me up one aisle and down another, she stopped me.

Excuse me. I’m sorry. I’m really not following you…it’s just that your perfume smells so nice.
I just had to know what you were wearing.

I told her the name of the perfume and that it had been a gift.
Apparently, the fragrant perfume lingered in the air as I walked past her.
The fragrance begins to define us.

I can never smell the fragrance of the perfume I wear.
I’m too used to it, I guess.
My husband likes the perfume I wear…my children have always liked it…I like it, as well.
It is me…so they say!

Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived in 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. (John 12:1-3)

Various scents define this family.
When Lazarus had died, he had been in the tomb four days before Jesus went to him.
The sisters, Mary and Martha could not understand why Jesus had waited so long to come.
Jesus was able to reveal Himself in a new way to Martha.

I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live even though he dies; and whoever lives in Me will never die. Do you believe this? (John 11:25,26)

Martha, the one who loved through her service, needed Jesus’ words.
Mary, the one who sat at Jesus’ feet, needed His tears.

Jesus, once more deeply moved came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” He said. “But Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
…Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” (John 11:38-40,43,44)

The odor was strong.
It was the odor of death.
Except with Jesus, death is only sleep.

The odor of death soon dissipated as Jesus told them to remove the grave clothes.
There was no need for them anymore.
Lazarus was alive.

The dinner given in Jesus’ honor was the sisters’ way of thanking Him.
They were so grateful that Jesus gave their brother back to them.
The chief priests were not only planning to kill Jesus, but Lazarus as well…for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in Him.
(John 12:11)

Mary did scandalous things at the dinner.
She let down her hair in public, which was simply not done in this culture.
Mary was uninhibited because of her great love for Jesus.

Nard was a very expensive perfume, imported from northern India.
The alabaster jar kept the nard cool and preserved the fragrance.
The nard was worth about three hundred denarii, which would have been a year’s wages.

Scandalous.
Break the alabaster jar.
Waste the expensive perfume.
Take down her hair and use it as a towel.

Mary, who was always at Jesus’ feet, was there once again.
Mary, who spent so much time listening to Jesus, heard more than she knew.
Mary, the one who prepared Jesus for burial, when no on else seemed to understand.
Scandalous.

Can you smell the perfume?
It permeates everything.
It is not the smell of death, but the smell of life.
The fragrance filled Jesus’ nostrils, while touching His heart.

Judas, the thief…the betrayer…feigned concern for the poor.
He really wanted to pocket some of the money from the sale of the perfume.

“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.” (John 12:7,8)

Leave her alone!
She is doing something wonderfully extravagant for Me.
I will be going to the cross for her…for those I love.

Scandalous…that the Son of God should die.

But that’s not the end of the story.
Can you smell it?
Not the smell of death…but rather the smell of Life.