Still as Sweet

But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. 2^nd Corinthians 2:14

When I first moved to my current town, one of the first things I did was look for employment.   A couple of local men I’d met suggested some companies to apply to.  “Just tell them I sent you,” both of these fellows said, adding with a wink, “and you’ll be in like the snap of the fingers.”

I did apply and after filling out the applications mentioned their names.  At both places the managers arched their eyebrows and said warily, “Yeah, I know him. I’ll be in touch.”  It’s been 30 years, and I’ve not heard a word back. I walked away from those experiences wondering if what Shakespeare meant was a rose by any other name just smells?

However, there’s one name that will always hold its fragrance. No one in history, great or small, can say they’ve even shared a smidgen of the Glory, Majesty, and Sweet Aroma this man’s name brings to us.  His birth name is Yehoshua, which means “God is Salvation.”  In the Greek, Iēsous, to us, Jesus.

The Apostle Paul wanted believers to understand how perfect and elect the name of Jesus is. To understand it is a name that bears all authority in heaven and on earth, for all will bow their knee and confess He is Lord to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10-11).  He is worthy of our praise, worship, and trust.

We will never be disappointed in that name.  He who bears it is blessed by our Heavenly Father Himself, in a very special way (Matthew 3:17, Mark 9:35).  It’s a name that’s as good as gold and its sweet odor spreads to us so that we might spread its sweetness to people everywhere. It is a name above every name. A name that, even Shakespeare would agree, will always smell as sweet as the rose.

Ken