Acts 13:26-41, The Fragrance of His Death

Since Jesus’ anointing at Bethany has caused us to consider His burial, let’s consider other passages that speak of His burial. 

And they made His grave with the wicked—But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth. (Isa. 53:9)

Here is a passage I love because it speaks of a “carved out tomb” like the Garden Tomb.  That was a rich man’s tomb.  Shebna, in Isa. 22:15-16, was a rich man who made such a tomb. Crucified people were not normally buried; their bodies were burned.  I consider this burial to be the beginning of Jesus’ exaltation.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. 10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. (Ps. 16:9-10)

This is the passage quoted by both Peter (Ac. 2) and Paul (Ac. 13) when they anchor His burial in the OT. 

My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death. (Ps. 22:15)

This is the point of burial in the amazing prophecy of “crucifixion.”  He was truly dead, brought to the “dust of death.”  I also find it interesting how often the burial “spices” are mentioned in Scripture.

All Your garments are scented with myrrh and aloes and cassia, Out of the ivory palaces, by which they have made You glad. (Ps. 45:8)

And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Mt. 2:11)

And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. (John 19:39)

Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.  (Mark 16:1)

What is important about this?  His friends wanted to be sure His shame did not continue, even in death.  So they brought the spices.  The way we live our lives should present Jesus’ death as a “fragrant” event!

14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? (2 Cor. 2:14-16)