Day 3. Smelling of Jesus
In church on Sunday I saw someone who hadnt been there for a while. A young man for whom I have a great affection - he is like an adopted son, only a couple of years older than Sam and a new Chrsitian. I was so happy to see him, and he me, and we hugged each other at the start of the service. Later on we got chatting, and then praying and he hugged me again when we said goodbye.
In the car on the way home I realised that I could smell something nice, but unusual in the car. And soon worked out that it was his aftershave which was on my jumper - transferred in a hug and lingering thereafter. The God thoughts started immediately. Lots of them 😁
Firstly, I started thinking about how important it is to be hugged. Last weekend I watched as a single friend of mine was held for what seemed like ages in a proper embrace by one of our church leaders. And I thought how lovely it was that in a world where single people can often go without any physical contact with another human being for days and weeks and months, that in church it is OK to touch, hug, embrace, even kiss each other. Its really good for us to be touched. Our mental health suffers when we are isolated from each other.
Then I thought about Jesus. He was single. Who did He have to hug Him? Although the Gospels dont elaborate much there are two verses in John 13 ( 23 and 25) which talk of John putting his head on Jesus's breast as they recline at dinner. Im sure that didnt just happen once. It speaks of a relationship of close friendship, ease and familiarity, and touch. Two men so comfortable with each other that they can lean into each other with warmth and affection. Jesus needed that. And I got to wondering whether John smelled like Jesus after he had been leaning up against him for a while.
In 2 Corinthians 2 ;14 we are told
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us spreads and makes evident everywhere the sweet fragrance of the knowledge of Him
How do we get to smell like Jesus? By being hugged by Him. By reclining with our heads on His chest for such a long time that when we get up and go, His scent is on our clothes and His very nature has rubbed off on us.
The other thought I had was about babies. Babies smell amazing. When you pick up a baby the first thing you want to do is get your face close up to that soft, clean, wonderful smell. Mothers quite often smell of baby puke and worse 😊 That's the downside of getting to hug and cuddle an infant with whom you are in love. But it doesnt matter. The fact is that babies smell of their parents and parents smell of their babies because the two are intertwined in physical bonds of affection. If anyone one earth carried the aroma of Jesus when He was alive, surely it was His mother. Physically and matephorically she must have carried his fragrance with her wherever she went.
And as I write this I also see Mary at the end of Jesus's life, lifting His robes to her face to smell one last trace of Him as he is buried. We often connect with someone who has died through the scent they leave behind on their clothes, in their home, on that favourite jumper.
This Christmas almost certainly someone will give you something smelly. Soap, a candle, perfume, shower gel. How much better that we should smell like Jesus because He has hugged us so tightly and for so long that His fragrance lingers in the car with us all the way home from church and into the days and weeks beyond.
Lord this Advent as I spend time thinking about your birth and your return, I want to draw so close to You that people can tell Ive been with you. Let the sweet fragrance of the knowledge of You follow me wherever I go. And let me be aware af anyone today who needs a touch, a hug, a warm embrace and offer it gladly knowing that through it You will bring love, healing and joy.
In the car on the way home I realised that I could smell something nice, but unusual in the car. And soon worked out that it was his aftershave which was on my jumper - transferred in a hug and lingering thereafter. The God thoughts started immediately. Lots of them 😁
Firstly, I started thinking about how important it is to be hugged. Last weekend I watched as a single friend of mine was held for what seemed like ages in a proper embrace by one of our church leaders. And I thought how lovely it was that in a world where single people can often go without any physical contact with another human being for days and weeks and months, that in church it is OK to touch, hug, embrace, even kiss each other. Its really good for us to be touched. Our mental health suffers when we are isolated from each other. Then I thought about Jesus. He was single. Who did He have to hug Him? Although the Gospels dont elaborate much there are two verses in John 13 ( 23 and 25) which talk of John putting his head on Jesus's breast as they recline at dinner. Im sure that didnt just happen once. It speaks of a relationship of close friendship, ease and familiarity, and touch. Two men so comfortable with each other that they can lean into each other with warmth and affection. Jesus needed that. And I got to wondering whether John smelled like Jesus after he had been leaning up against him for a while.
In 2 Corinthians 2 ;14 we are told
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us spreads and makes evident everywhere the sweet fragrance of the knowledge of Him
How do we get to smell like Jesus? By being hugged by Him. By reclining with our heads on His chest for such a long time that when we get up and go, His scent is on our clothes and His very nature has rubbed off on us.
The other thought I had was about babies. Babies smell amazing. When you pick up a baby the first thing you want to do is get your face close up to that soft, clean, wonderful smell. Mothers quite often smell of baby puke and worse 😊 That's the downside of getting to hug and cuddle an infant with whom you are in love. But it doesnt matter. The fact is that babies smell of their parents and parents smell of their babies because the two are intertwined in physical bonds of affection. If anyone one earth carried the aroma of Jesus when He was alive, surely it was His mother. Physically and matephorically she must have carried his fragrance with her wherever she went.
And as I write this I also see Mary at the end of Jesus's life, lifting His robes to her face to smell one last trace of Him as he is buried. We often connect with someone who has died through the scent they leave behind on their clothes, in their home, on that favourite jumper.
This Christmas almost certainly someone will give you something smelly. Soap, a candle, perfume, shower gel. How much better that we should smell like Jesus because He has hugged us so tightly and for so long that His fragrance lingers in the car with us all the way home from church and into the days and weeks beyond.
Lord this Advent as I spend time thinking about your birth and your return, I want to draw so close to You that people can tell Ive been with you. Let the sweet fragrance of the knowledge of You follow me wherever I go. And let me be aware af anyone today who needs a touch, a hug, a warm embrace and offer it gladly knowing that through it You will bring love, healing and joy.
Comments
Post a Comment