The Fragrance of Jesus

Song of Solomon 1:3, “Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes; Your Name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the maidens love You!”

Have you smelled the strong fragrance of a perfume or cologne? The scent fills the atmosphere.  My mom wore a perfume that I can smell even now, writing this. She would spray it and the room would be filled with the fragrance, and as she walked down the hallway to the kitchen, the scent would permeate the hall…everywhere she walked, her fragrance left a trail of a sweet scent.  Another scent that is strong in my recent experience is my son’s cologne~ as a young man, every time he leaves the house, he sprays his cologne on and his fragrance lingers. I know Jonathan has been here, because his “fragrance” remains.  This is the image that this verse is declaring about Jesus~ His Name is like a perfume poured out!  His essence affects the atmosphere!

The Bride declares in this verse that the Groom’s fragrance is pleasing.  As the Bride of Christ when we discover the beauty of Jesus, we will agree with this verse and make that declaration.

The fragrance of a perfume in inside the vessel/jar.  Jesus’ fragrance is what He is like on the inside~ His qualities. His beauty, kindness, love, humility, power, gentleness, mercy, authority, healer, strength, Savior, Redeemer, majesty, priest, Deliverer, Son, intercessor…….  He openly reveals His Name. This is who He is.

Jesus came to openly display the Name and nature of God as a perfume poured out. The reason was 2-fold.  First, so that the way God loves the Son (Jesus) would be the way God loves you and I!  Crazy love!!!! Jesus wants us to know how much love the Father loves us.  And second is Jesus’ desire that His fragrance would be in us, so as we pour out His Name, others would love Jesus!  “I have made You known to them, and will continue to make You known in order that the love You have for Me may be in them and that I Myself may be in them,” John 17:26.  

As you experience His love through the “kisses of His Word” and spending time with Him, His fragrance will pour out of you!  Study Jesus’ affection for you.  Let your heart be filled up with the knowledge of God!   2 Corinthians 2:14 tells us, “Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him….”

JI Packer says in his book, Knowing God, “What were we made for? To know God. What aim should we set ourselves in life? To know God. What is ‘eternal life’ that Jesus gives? Knowledge of God (John 17:3). What is the best thing in life, bringing more joy, delight and contentment than anything else? Knowledge of God,” (page 29). We are made to know God!  Paul said in Philippians 3:7-10, “But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”

To cultivate the knowledge of God:
1) Set your heart to walk in full obedience ~ Believe what God’s Word says and obey Him.
2) Meditate on God’s Word (treasuring His Words) ~ pray it back to Him and receive His affection for you. Declare the Truth!
3) Apply your heart to understanding (teachable spirit) ~ to apply means “to smear; spread over” so let understanding be smeared all over your heart!
4) Ask for more revelation ~ cry out and ask for more insight
5) Pursue God ~ be diligent in your pursuit; search as for treasure; consider everything a loss like Paul
 
The church (Bride) will be transformed when Jesus’ heart is revealed. Believers need to be filled up with the knowledge of God~ His Nature, His Name, His fragrance. 

In what ways do you pour out the fragrance of Jesus?
Declare:  “Pleasing is the fragrance of Your Name”

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