Life-Giving Perfume

In Old Testament times, only two objects were placed within the temple behind the heavy curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place: the ark of the covenant and the golden alter of incense (Exodus 40:5, Hebrews 9:4) and the incense was burned only once per year—on the Day of Atonement when the nation would seek God’s forgiveness for all their sins.

When we reach the book of Mark, Chapter 14, we read the story of a woman, believed to be Mary of Bethany, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, who came to the home where Jesus was having dinner with his disciples. Breaking an alabaster jar of very expensive perfumed oil, Mary carefully empties it its entire contents over Jesus’ head. It is important to recognize that this was far more than a kind gesture of respect and adoration. Her gift was equivalent to a whole year’s salary! But the gift she offered likely held far more than financial value. Some scholars believe this could have been Mary’s dowry—her security and hope for marriage. Either way, one thing is certain: Mary gave Jesus the most precious and valuable thing she owned–with no hope of a return in this life. And because of her selfless act, Jesus announces that what she had done for Him would be proclaimed for all eternity. (Mark 14:1-9 NLT)

The very next night, as Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane, He earnestly prayed to God the Father in anguish and grief. Surely the aroma of the sweet perfume would have poured forth from every pore of Jesus’ body as His soul was tormented over what He knew awaited Him. The next day, Jesus was crucified. The moment He died on the cross, the massive temple curtain shielding the Most Holy Place ripped from top to bottom, forever removing the barrier standing between God and His people.

Looking back, as Jesus hung on the cross dying for the sins of the world, I can’t help but wonder if anyone noticed the sweet aroma of the perfume—just as the sweet incense preceded the giving of the annual temple sacrifices. One thing we can be sure of: this sweet aroma, the message of Jesus’ sacrifice, continues to spread throughout the world today, just as Jesus said it would.

“…He uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God…but to those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume.”
2 Cor 2:14-16  NLT

Shadia Hrichi

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