It never ceases to amaze me . . . never fails to cause me to pause and reflect . . . never loses its “awe-factor” as I try and picture in my mind’s eye (and nose) what it must have been like to have been there . . . and seen it happen . . . and smell it happen. I’m referring to those encounters with Jesus, recorded in the gospels, where He was anointed with costly aromatic oils by women who longed to touch Him and to shower upon Him extravagant worship. And, as I hover over the account in John 12 this morning, there is a desire to be filled with the fragrance.

Jesus is once again in the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus . . . Lazarus the alive guy. And Jesus is around the supper table with His disciples and Lazarus . . . enjoying, no doubt, some sweet fellowship . . . when in walks Mary. And Mary finds her way to the feet of Jesus . . . that seems to be the setting on her “Jesus GPS” . . . “home”, for Mary, is at the feet of Jesus (Luke 10:39, John 11:32).

“Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.” (John 12:3)

The house was filled with the fragrance. Ya’ think? Who hasn’t experienced coming across some lady who’s overdone it a bit with the perfume? Just a little dab too much and you can kind of smell her coming a mile way . . . and for mile after she’s left. So what’s the aroma like in the house after Mary has dumped a pound of perfume over Jesus. It’s everywhere! This simple, yet “no-holds-barred”, act of worship impacts everyone . . . not just those around the table . . . or in the room . . . but throughout the house. Everyone is made a participant in the adoration shown to Jesus . . . everyone is connected to this costly act of reverence and exaltation. To be in the house that day, was to have the smell of the anointed feet of Jesus burned almost permanently into your nostrils. Did Mary love Jesus? So much so you could smell the love.

And what about Jesus? If this is the same encounter as in Matthew 26, then not only did the pound of perfume find it’s way to His feet, but also over His head and entire body. Talk about your close encounters of the pungent kind. I have often thought that Jesus carried this anointing, done in preparation for His death, through the entire passion week . . . that all those who encountered Him that week . . . from those who arrested Him in the garden, to those who tried Him in the High Priests house, to those who beat Him, to those who nailed Him to the cross . . . that they all picked up on the aroma of costly perfume poured out on Him. His life literally a living sacrifice . . . His acceptable act of worship before the Father . . . as, in obedience, He completed the work He was sent to do. On Jesus too, you could smell the love.

But thanks to William MacDonald and his “Believer’s Bible Commentary” a new consideration was brought to my attention. What about Mary? She took that very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. Now 1Corinthians 11 says that a woman’s long hair is her glory (1Cor. 11:15) . . . and Mary took her glory and used it to wipe aromatic oils upon Jesus feet. So what did her hair smell like afterwards? And for how long? Her hair was filled with the fragrance of her worship. Her act of sacrificial love shown to the Savior would linger with her for days . . . maybe weeks. Her long tresses hanging over her should would constantly emit wisps of her desire for Jesus. At night when she tied back her hair before going to sleep she would again be reminded of the precious privilege that was hers to touch His feet and declare her allegiance to His holy name. As she got back into the swing of life and the daily routine, would she still, every now and then, catch a whiff of the aroma of the extravagant worship she had directed to the One who alone is worthy of worship? How long, after worshiping Jesus, would she smell the love.

Oh, to know intimate communion at the table with Jesus . . . to take up my place at the feet of Jesus . . . to hold nothing back in declaring my love to Him . . . to reach out with hands of faith and touch Him in worshipful adoration . . . to pour out upon Him the oils of praise . . . do you think it could result in a bit of an “after aroma”. I’m thinking so! Oh, to be filled with the fragrance . . . for His glory . . . and my abiding joy . . . amen.