By: Pastor Daniel Ethridge
Have you ever caught a scent that instantly took you back to a memory? Maybe it was your grandmother’s perfume, the smell of a campfire, or cookies baking in the oven. That’s the power of smell, it’s tied to our memory, emotions, and even our mood. But have you ever considered that God designed our sense of smell not just for daily life, but to help us experience Him more deeply?
In our Easter series, we’re walking through how each of the five senses helps us encounter Jesus in a more personal and tangible way. This week, we’re focusing on smell—and you might be surprised at how much the Bible has to say about it.
The Fragrance of Sacrifice
The first time we see smell mentioned in Scripture is in Genesis 8, right after Noah steps off the ark. What does he do? He builds an altar and offers a sacrifice to God. And the Bible says, “The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma…” (Genesis 8:21). That phrase “pleasing aroma” shows up again and again throughout the Old Testament in reference to sacrifices.
From Leviticus to Exodus, God commands His people to offer sacrifices not only for forgiveness but as an act of worship. These sacrifices were meant to represent atonement, the idea that something had to die so we could be made right with God. The aroma rising from the altar symbolized God’s wrath being appeased and His favor being extended.
It was messy. It was costly. And it was deeply symbolic.
The Aroma of Christ
The entire Old Testament system pointed forward to one ultimate sacrifice, JESUS. Hebrews 10 tells us that the sacrifices of animals could never truly take away sin. But Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, offered Himself once for all.
Paul says in Ephesians 5:2, “Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Think about that, the cross was not just an act of obedience, it was a sweet aroma to the Father. From the hill of Calvary rose the only fragrance that could fully satisfy the justice of God and extend the mercy of God at the same time.
We Are the Aroma
Here’s where it gets personal. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 2:15, “We are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” When we follow Jesus, our lives take on the scent of His sacrifice. We carry His fragrance into our families, our workplaces, and our communities. To some, it’s the smell of life. To others, it’s a reminder of their need for grace. When we worship, when we pray, when we give, when we serve, it rises to God like incense (Psalm 141:2). Our lives become a living sacrifice, pleasing and acceptable to Him (Romans 12:1).
The Fragrance of Worship
One of the most powerful scenes in the Gospels involves a woman named Mary. In John 12, she pours out a jar of expensive perfume (worth a year’s wages) at the feet of Jesus. She anoints Him for burial, worshipping with everything she has. And Scripture says, “The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” When we live in response to the cross, when we surrender our resources, our reputation, and our future to Jesus, our lives become a sweet aroma to Him.
What Do You Smell Like?
This may sound like a strange question, but it’s an important one: What fragrance is your life putting off? Are you the aroma of Christ to those around you? Have you truly experienced the sacrifice Jesus made for you? Are you living your life in response to that kind of love? Mary gave extravagantly because she had received extravagantly. Her worship filled the room. Judas, on the other hand, criticized the gift and missed the Savior standing right in front of him. Which one are you?
Experience Jesus for Yourself
Taste and see. Hear His voice. Feel His presence. Smell the sweet fragrance of His love and grace. Faith is not just a concept—it’s an experience. And Jesus invites you to know Him personally. If you’ve never experienced His love, we’d love to help you take your next step. Plan your visit today at libertylive.church/visit or connect with us through libertylive.church/connect. Let us walk with you as you discover the beauty of a life fully surrendered to Jesus.
Let your life be a sweet aroma that rises to heaven. You were made for this.
