It wouldn’t be the first thing that comes to mind if were someone were to ask me to summarize what happened on the cross of Calvary . . . if were someone were to ask me to describe what took place on that hill some 2,000 years ago. Humanly, it was tortuous . . . horrific pain . . . unimaginable agony. Logically, it was incomprehensible . . . the Son of God, He who created all things, nailed to a tree . . . the perfect spotless Son of Man, without blemish, crucified for the “crimes” He committed . . . the Author of Life giving up His life. Theologically, it is my only hope and standing before a holy God . . . that through the precious blood of His blessed Son I have been redeemed . . . my sins atoned for . . . my debt paid.

But this morning, the Spirit reminds me of another “spin” on the significance of Calvary. Not a human perspective . . . not a logical view . . . less a theological statement of what was accomplished but more a view of how it was received. A view from the throne of God . . . one which stirs my soul . . .

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.    (Ephesians 5:1-2 ESV)

Usually when I read these opening verses of Ephesians 5 what catches my eye are the commands to obey . . . “be imitators of God” . . . “walk in love.” This morning what’s grabbed me is the great example Paul presents . . . that of Christ . . . the One who loved us while we were yet sinners . . . the One who gave Himself up for us that we might die to self for Him. And it’s the “color commentary” the Spirit has Paul add that evokes awe, wonder, and worship.

The tortuous cross . . . the incomprehensible cross . . . the cross of redemption . . . was also the cross of “a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” . . . as the NKJV says, “a sweet-smelling aroma” ascending to the very portals of heaven.

How would you describe what happened on the cross? . . . Sweet-smelling! . . . Fragrant! . . Well-pleasing! Not answers that come to mind immediately . . . but meditate on them a bit and the “aroma of Calvary” starts to impact your own soul.

Sweet-smelling to the God of heaven as it was a sacrifice of God’s prescription . . . an offering of His own design. Perfectly prescribed and orchestrated . . sufficient to purchase back a lost creation . . . fully adequate to make a way for lost souls to be found . . . wholly capable of atoning for all sin, past, present, and future . . . a just manner by which sinners might be declared righteous by faith . . . the perfect expression of the love of God . . . the perfect demonstration of the grace of God. Sweet!

A pleasing aroma as it was His beloved Son on the altar . . . “the One in whom I am well pleased.” Second Person of the the Holy Trinity . . . God with us . . . manifest in flesh . . . come to do the Father’s will . . . come not to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many . . . holy, blameless, spotless . . . a Shepherd willing to lay down His life for His Sheep . . . a fountain of living water prepared to be poured out so that those dying of thirst might drink and thirst no more . . . the Lamb of God come to take away the sins of the world.

Oh take it in, my soul. Draw deep breaths of such a God-pleasing aroma. Smell afresh the blessed scent of the Son of God. Inhale the well-pleasing odor of heaven . . . praise God for such a fragrant offering!

And then . . . having breathed deep . . . be an imitator of God . . . walking in love . . . just as Christ loved us . . . by His grace . . . and for His glory.

Even so, amen!