The Fragrance of Love

Pastor Mark South explores John 12:1-19, examining the different "fragrances" people perceived when encountering Jesus in the days before his crucifixion. Through Mary's extravagant anointing of Jesus with costly nard worth a year's wages, we see what true worship looks like: excessive, sacrificial, humble, and personal. In contrast, Judas smelled only wasted resources, the crowds smelled hope based on signs rather than Christ himself, and the religious leaders smelled a threat to their control. Mark challenges us to consider what fragrance fills our lives—are we like Mary, pouring out everything in worship of the One who is the resurrection and the life, or are we justifying our withholding under the guise of responsibility?

00:00 Scripture Reading – John 12:1–19

03:16 Introduction

08:37 Six Days Before Passover

12:52 Mary Smells Love Poured Out

27:36 Judas Smells Wasted Worship

40:37 The Poor You Will Always Have

47:37 The Crowd Smells Hope

54:10 The Religious Smell a Threat

55:30 Application: What Is Your Fragrance?

56:16 Closing Prayer