Friday, March 21, 2008

Good Friday Reflection - Jesus Smells!

A week ago my colleague at HTC, Dr. Innes Visagie (a.k.a "the sausage man"), gave a wonderful homily on Eph. 5.1-2: "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" (NIV).

Sacrifices are frequently said provide a pleasing aroma to the Lord (e.g. Gen. 8.21; Exod. 29.18, 25, 41; Lev. 1.9, 13) and they avert his wrath, expiate sin, and effect reconciliation between the offender (us) and the offended party (God).

We experience salvation for one and only one reason: because Jesus smells! The scent of his death turns away the wrath of God against our sin, it is our passover sacrifice, Jesus is our substitute and representative because God smells the death of his son. But note the application here as well (and we can add 2 Cor. 2.14-16). We are to imitate God and love as Christ loved, which means we have to smell as well. Does your life smell as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God? Are you a "living sacrifice" (Rom. 12.1) and do you and your church offer "spiritual sacrifices" acceptable to God" (1 Pet. 2.5).

Smell ya later.

A blessed Easter to all!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for your kind words. Happy Easter to you and your family