Fourth Sunday in Lent - Smell
Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. John 12:1-3
If I had to guess, I’d wager that “the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume” is a nice way of saying “Mary dumped out SO much of this pure, fragrant oil on Jesus, that very quickly the whole dang house and everything in it smelled like nard.” Like a knocks you over, makes your eyes water kind of intense smell. Even after folks left Lazarus’ home after all this, they probably smelled the fragrance on their clothes for a while longer.
And I wonder what they thought about whenever they got a whiff of that same smell later on. Smell is a powerful sense. You can be walking down the street, minding your own business and then – wham! You smell something delicious coming from a restaurant or a food stand and you’re instantly transported back to your childhood home and a favorite meal your family used to cook. Or you find a lone piece of clothing that belonged to a loved one, so you lift it to your nose and…it’s like they are right there with you.
I’d like to imagine that later on, after Jesus had died, risen, and ascended into heaven, that those present at Lazarus’ house that day forever associated the overwhelming smell of pure nard with Mary’s extravagant anointing of Jesus. I wonder if it stirred something in their hearts every time they smelled it, something that reminded them of just how close they were to the Messiah. And hey, maybe it felt like, just for a moment, that Jesus was standing right back there with them.
Invitation: Walk into another room, or go outside. Close your eyes, and take a big breath in through your nose. What images or memories come to mind, based on what you’re smelling? Next, seek out a favorite smell of yours. Take a big whiff and give thanks for simple joy and pleasure. Consider inviting a friend nearby to take a smell, too.
Prayer: God who breathed the breath of life into humanity’s nostrils, and who was moved to compassion by the smell of a burnt offering from Noah, bless my sense of smell. May it help remind me of the richness of your mercy, provision, and hope. I ask this through the power of your Holy Spirit, Amen.