THE FRAGRANCE OF MASHIACH

2 Corinthians 2:16

… a fragrance from life to life.

Three offices in the Torah require oil anointing: that of priest, king, and of prophet. The Hebrew word ‘Mashiach”, from where we derive the English ‘Messiah’ and the Greek anglicized word ‘christ’ simply means: ‘anointed one; ‘one upon whom oil has been poured’. Yeshua is the ‘Messiah’, the ‘Anointed One’; ‘He upon whom oil has been poured’, and He fulfills the three offices which require anointing. He first came as the promised prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15); He performed the function of High-Priest (Hebrews 9:11); and He returns as the King of kings (Revelations 19:16). 

Whereas the priests were simply sprinkled with the fragrant oil, the precious ointment was poured upon the head of the High-Priest head; it anointed him from head to toes thus the High-Priest emanated of the special oil’s sweet fragrance. In those days oil, especially olive oil, was used for washing, and perfume. It provided a shine and a shining sweet fragrance to the bearer.

Hear David’s poetic description of the anointing of Aaron: Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes (Psalms 133:1-2)! Jewish sages saw Aaron as the quintessential man of peace. He would go to two enemies and say to one, “Would you agree that in spite of all his faults, _ (his enemy) is a good carpenter?” When the man agreed, Aaron would go to his enemy and say, “Hey do you know what _ (first man) said about you? (”I can imagine …!” he would reply) He said that you were a good carpenter. I know you don’t like him too much but you can agree that he is a good cook!” When the second man heartily agreed, Aaron would take the precious statement back to the first man. When the two met each other next, they were able to have a positive rapport. It is because of this reputation of Aaron that in the Psalms, David compared the sweet fragrance of Aaron’s anointing to brethren united and in peace together (Psalms 133:1).

Hear now Paul’s praise, about the fragrance of Messiah, But thanks be to God, who in Messiah always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Messiah to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life (2 Corinthians 2:14-16).

Let us spread this sweet fragrance of peace throughout the whole world. Let us be example of the sweet fragrance of the peace of Messiah because really, if our application of Torah doesn’t bring us to the nitty-gritty of being at peace between each other as families, communities, and congregations, we are totally missing the point.

May our heads, faces, hands and feet be filled with the radiant fragrance of Messiah, the prince of Peace. May we be part of those whom the Master called ‘peace-makers’ that we in turn may be called the ‘Children of our God’ (Matthew 5:9).