Introduction
How do you smell
this morning?
As soon as you
get off the plane at Honolulu airport, you smell the beautiful fragrance of the
frangipani. It just lingers in the air, and gently drifts on the breeze.
Wherever you go through the Hawaiian islands, you smell frangipani.
Imagine then the
potential of the “aroma” of Christ” over a whole town or region! Picture a
group of people, completely sold out on the notion of following Jesus, and the
potential they have for good within a local neighbourhood (as they bear the
sweet perfume of Jesus).
The Background
Life certainly
has its challenges. But with God we can get through them. Not only get through
them, but somehow thrive. Perhaps not every day. Perhaps not every minute of
every day. But at least most of the time. Perhaps, as we grow in Christ, nearly
all the time. Our helpful witness to Jesus should be maintained even
when things are not going so well. Paul expresses this in terms of Christ
leading us in “triumphal procession”.
Yet the passage
we read begins (at verse 12) with Paul being a bit unsure about where he was
supposed to be – Paul seems to be a bit ‘betwixt and between’! There was an
open door in one place (Troas), but Paul was anxious to catch up with Titus to
see how some of his previous correspondence had gone down – “his mind could not
rest”. Paul may have been concerned about what was being said about him around
about – this is quite the human inclination! This is like when we get a bit
agitated about certain events, and lie awake at night thinking about them.
Despite this
dilemma, Paul resolved to bring the good “aroma of Christ” wherever he was.
This potential had been placed within him (by God), and thus it should not
be constrained. Even when life is taking unexpected turns, and even if we are
unsure with some of the big picture questions … about … what we should be
doing, and where we should be ... we should still be (beneficially) fragrant.
“Thanks be to God”, Paul says (v.14a) - 'I can do this'!
Collectively,
this suggests to me, that while we wait for some of our church vision to manifest
itself, we should still be helpfully fragrant in everything we do. Here is
reason not to get bogged down in frustration or ever let disappointment
get the better of us. There should be NO holding patterns, just forward
movement – a “triumphal procession”.
The Metaphor
The image Paul is
likely drawing upon (in verse 14) is the scene of a Roman general leading his
conquering army back through their home city, complete with the captured
prisoners from the defeated army trailing along behind (facing enslavement or death). The assembled crowd
would be applauding, and also burning incense and spices, and lavishly
sprinkling perfume around (in thanksgiving to the gods who gave them victory).
However, Paul
shifts the metaphor very quickly into a different dimension. In the spiritual
life, the praise (of the crowd) comes, NOT from a great military victory, nor
from human works of any kind, but rather simply from what??? (verse 14b) –
“knowing [Jesus]”.
What does it mean
that we “know” Jesus??? “Knowing” Jesus means being in relationship with Jesus,
and having Jesus as our Saviour and Lord, the One we daily follow. Jesus brings
us forgiveness, and is our best friend. Knowing Jesus also means that we
believe in the truth of Jesus’ claims about himself, and that the world can be
changed in this Name of Jesus.
This sort of
parade would NOT be 'triumphalist' in the sense of rubbing people’s noses in it,
because this always tends toward judgmentalism and exclusion. “Knowing Jesus”
is a privilege to share, not an achievement to take pride in. This was an
unmerited gift, attracting our humble gratitude. The victory we are
celebrating, is NOT our victory, but Christ’s victory in us. 'Triumphalism' can
often mask our human struggles, and detach us from the needs of others (as if
we had no needs ourselves). [The 'mask' of 'triumphalism' is worn as if we had everything together, when it is better to be honest.] “Knowing Jesus” should make us more honest with our
deficiencies, and thus more open and available to connect with the
vulnerabilities of others. It is better that people get to sense a consistent
faith through good and bad. Carrying the “aroma of Christ” is NOT about a
pretence of perfection, but rather about a positive dealing with reality.
If we consider
that historical Roman procession again – equally the prisoners (or captives) of
the defeated army were being led in procession. This will often be our experience
of life. Who will be most impressive … who will have the best aroma – the
victors in the way they handle success, or maybe the captives in the way they
handle suffering? The point I am making, is that this procession, spreading the
good “aroma of Christ”, should not depend on how we feel … as much as on
… who we know!!
The
Application
A fragrance is
being spread … a good aroma, but this does not come from a bottle or an incense
stick, but rather comes from “knowing [Jesus]”. So, we start to think, what
makes for this fragrance … this good aroma? How is this evident? What form does
this lovely fragrance take? We talk about being ‘light and salt’ quite often.
What might aroma add to this level of witness?? Basically perhaps, those things
that will make a difference in the lives of those who DON’T know Jesus!!
Expressions of joy, peace, hope and purpose.
Ø Followers of Jesus become known for their
well-founded values
Ø Followers of Jesus hold true (or stick) to
their commitments
Ø Followers of Jesus become known as
community-builders, and for their practical love and care for neighbours
(rather than forming rigid boundaries)
Ø Followers of Jesus are prepared to not
only offer help, but also to seek and accept help
Ø Followers of Jesus are known for their
teamwork, and for their commitment to the common good
Ø Followers of Jesus are known for
supporting the vulnerable, offering welcome, hospitality and companionship
Ø Followers of Jesus will be more known for
their collective generosity than their individual success
Ø Followers of Jesus are known for the
encouragement they bring, and the value they place on human well-being
Ø Followers of Jesus are known for their
positive message of grace.
Verses 15 and 16
are very interesting. People who “know” Jesus cast an aroma around the whole
community, which includes those who are on the road of salvation, and those who
are not … those who are lost and “perishing”. Such an aroma would be good both
ways. For those “being saved” this is an encouragement, and an expression of
solidarity and community. For those “perishing”, this is another chance to meet
Jesus – maybe the first chance, maybe the only chance. A person’s own choices
will then decide whether this aroma of Jesus will lead to life or death.
It seems this
good aroma brings a point of decision. People decide for or against God on
the basis of what they experience of God in us. This is
a little bit scary!! Part of this good aroma are points of difference that
stand out. Sometimes we don’t like to stand out … it can be a bit intimidating
or embarrassing. The disciple Peter, at his lowest moment, tried to avoid being
identified with Jesus. But, for the sake of others, we are meant to gently
stand out as disciples of Jesus. If we were charged with the crime of being a
disciple of Jesus, would there be enough evidence to find us guilty?!?
[Refer to Article
entitled: 10 Church Growth Strategies That Cost Zero Dollars by Carey
Nieuwhof.]
Can This Be
Me?
The question is
asked (in v.16b), “Who is sufficient for these things”? [Or, NIV, “Who is equal to such a
task”?] Who could pull this 'good aroma' off?? The answer is … potentially all of
us. Not in our own strength, but in “knowing” Jesus.
Verse 17 gives us
some further guidance. Will we have a good aroma? Not if we are “peddlers” …
“peddlers of God’s word … like so many”. What does this mean? This would be
people who are good at quoting God’s word, but not living it themselves.
This would be people ready with fine sounding clichés, but without the depth of
faith to explain them. This would be people of self-interest, speaking for
their own popularity or profit. This would be people who are good at quoting
God’s word, but not loving their neighbour. These would be people more
interested in the letter of the word, than building relationships (where the
Word might really thrive). These “peddlers” are ‘pharisees’ … not disciples.
But, as we said,
potentially we can be sufficient, we can give off a
good aroma, we can be good representatives of Jesus! That is
(according to verse 17b), if we speak with sincerity … as persons sent from God
who also abide in God. In our witness, we should always be thinking about our
integrity. To give a good aroma, we must speak as we live – which means we must
live as we believe. We should also be thinking about our level of closeness to
God – to give off a good aroma we must be continually attuned to God, so we
don’t go off on our own paths (where there is less blessing than on God’s
path).
Conclusion
Christ spreads
the fragrance, through us, “in every place” (v.14). This “fragrance” doesn’t
necessarily work for everyone, but it is available to everyone! The
“triumphal procession” goes from home to work and back again, past the shops
and into the cafes, thanking God for the school and the doctors and the
hospital, into worship and out again, off into our service club or committee
meeting, into each other’s homes and families, down to the market and around to
the football ground, back past the courthouse and by all of our neighbours.
Some will come to
join the “procession”. It’s only a matter of time! How do you smell??
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