Global Pleasing Aroma
Introduction
Whatever Charlie Kirk might have done, his wife has performed, despite Donald J Trump’s anti-Christ response: “I hate my opponent, and I don’t want the best for them. I’m sorry. I am sorry, Erika”! Jesus started it, “”Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”” (Luke 23:34) Stephen continued it, “While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.” (Acts 7:59-60), and Erika Kirk declared the triumphant essence of the Gospel before the principalities and powers of this dark world (Eph 6:12). “I forgive him (Charlie’s murderer) because it was what Christ did, and it’s what Charlie would do.” Heartfelt unconditional forgiveness is uniquely powerful (cf. Matt 18:35). It is the prophetic presence behind Dostoyevsky’s, “beauty will save the world”. As God the Father spoke to me decades ago in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre concerning the crucifixion, “This (act of suffering sonly obedience) is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.” Today I affirm this revelation in full, and add to it another dimension, this is the most beautiful thing I have ever smelled!” When the Protestant Reformers whitewashed the walls of churches, evicted its paintings images and icons, banning too the liturgical use of incense, they did a disservice to the Gospel. This teaching seeks to explain why.
Old Covenant Types
Aroma producing plants are specifically mentioned in the paradisical state of Eden (Gen 2:12) but their saving role burst into sight only after the Flood. “Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. 21 The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.” (Gen 8:20-21) Clearly, the shedding of sacrificial blood mixed with costly aromas stills the heart of an angry God. This became more pronounced under the Law: “ 12 He (High Priest) is to take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the Lord and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense and take them behind the curtain. 13 He is to put the incense on the fire before the Lord, and the smoke of the incense will conceal the atonement cover above the tablets of the covenant law, so that he will not die.” (Lev 16:12-14) The ability of the blood sprinkled on the Day of Atonement depended on the power of holy aroma to shield the sacrificing priest from God’s holy judgement. Such blood-and-incense, points to the death of Jesus.
Prophetic Perfume
Psalm 45 is a prophetic messianic Psalm of the coming warrior King, Jesus. “All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia” (Ps 45:8 cf. SoS 1:3 etc.). Hebrews exalts Christ by quoting his Psalm, “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness, beyond your companions.” (Heb 1:9; Ps 45:7). The atmosphere of the cross never leaves us in gloom and doom but lifts us into the “inexpressible joy” of the heavenly places (1 Pet 1:8-9 cf. John 19:30, “It is finished/accomplished/consummated”). It was on the threshold of the cross that a woman with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard, broke the jar and poured the perfume on Jesus’ head and body in of a way he uniquely marked out as “beautiful” and a preparation for his sanctified burial (Mark 14:2ff.).
The Aroma of Christ
Such aromatic powers may seem strange to us, but not to the holy writers of Scripture. Paul speaks confidently about the odour of the presence of Jesus through is Bride: “But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?” (2 Cor 2:14-15). The one fragrance has the power of both life and death; in the mystery of God’s Gospel, it both draws out faith and hardens hearts (Isa 6:9-10; Matt 13:14-15; Acts 28:26-27). In a direct manner, Paul connects this dynamic with the power of forgiveness. “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Eph 5:1-2 cf. Ps 141:2). Jesus himself is the mercy seat/throne of God (Ex 25:10-22; Rom 3:25; Heb 4:16). Such is the power of the holy Gospel. What then is lacking in our meeting together today, for we rarely see people “fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”” (1 Cor 14:25). The answer, as always, is that we have substituted other mediators for Christ. This is clear under the old and new covenants.
Imitation Incense
“Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.” (Lev 10:1-2). Even the anointed successors of the first High Priest were deceived as to their authority and so consumed by holy fire. In a less spectacularly way, the same judgement happens under the new covenant. “That (abuse of the Lord’s Supper) is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep” (1 Cor 11:27-32; cf. Acts 5:1-11; Rev 2:16). Anywhere that earthly mediators, like anointed preachers-teachers or gifted musicians are venerated above the Lamb of God divine judgement is already falling. The evidence for this is the failure of most of the Church to heal the sick in the order of God (James 5:13-16).
Application and Conclusion
Part of the eternal glory of the Church is to offer all it has and ever could be to Christ as a sweet-smelling savour for his praise, honour and glory. Such a cosmic odour is essential both to our priesthood now, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Pet 2:9) and into eternity : “And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign[b] on the earth.”” (Rev 5:9-10). You and I are integral ingredients of the costliest aroma ever purchased, purchased by the blood of God’s one and only Son, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your bodies” (1 Cor 6:19-20).