Mark preached from 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 on the ‘fragrance of Christ’ this morning, opening with the provocative question ‘What do you smell of?’
Paul begins these verses ‘Thanks be to God’, reminding us that we should always start with thanksgiving. He is thankful for the triumph we have in God, reminiscent of the triumphal processions of the Romans, where the conquering army’s victory parade would be celebrated with burning spices – a pleasant smell for the conquerors but the ‘smell of death’ to the captives. In the same way, we have been given the ‘aroma of Christ’ and our role is to diffuse that fragrance gradually (rather as Mark did with his aftershave for us all to smell!)
We are not responsible for how others respond to the fragrance: some will respond to Christ; others will reject Him. But we are called to be diffusers, spreading the aroma of Christ wherever we go.