We need to live in such a way that people smell the perfume and see the palms. Two stories from John 12 convince me of this.
In the first story (John 12:1-8), Mary anointed Jesus with exotic and expensive perfume. On her part, it was likely a lavish act of gratitude for Jesus restoring her brother Lazarus to life. But Jesus interpreted her action as preparing his body for burial. One way the ancient people prepared a body for burial was to perfume it. And Jesus knew the next Saturday after Mary’s actions, he would be dead and entombed. He came to die our death and save us from our sins, and this was on his mind as the fragrance wafted around him.
The way John described the scene, everyone in the house knew of Mary’s action and Jesus’s interpretation. The whole house was filled with the wonderful smell (verse 3).
Is that the way it is with your life? Do you point people to the cross? Do you point people to his sacrificial death for you? Do they understand Christianity to be about the work of Jesus on your behalf? Is it Jesus who’s getting all the glory when people spend time with you? Praise for his gracious sacrifice should waft around you like fragrant perfume.
The next day, after the perfume of praise we see palms of pledge (John 12:12-15). As Jesus entered Jerusalem, thousands of people waved palm branches as they pledged their allegiance to Jesus as king. It was a public and bold and unashamed declaration of who they were loyal to.
Is your loyalty to Jesus that obvious when people see your life? Do they see you as someone under Christ’s authority? Do they see you more and more changed into godliness as you obey him?
May everyone notice your gratitude for his sacrifice, as if you were pouring out perfume to him in praise. And may everyone notice your loyalty to his commands, as if you were waving palms in pledge.
Let’s study these two stories in greater depth. Join us on campus or online at 10am this Sunday!
--Tom
Tom serves as pastor at Hillcrest Church in Austin, Texas. His sermons are available on YouTube and the HillcrestToGo Podcast and you can find him on Facebook and Twitter. If someone forwarded this email newsletter to you, sign up here to receive Tom’s weekly devotional in your email inbox.