What Does the Nose Know?

You know, when prompted to ponder the word “nose”, a Sunday School story rang through my brain:

“But Lord, He stinketh!!”

I don’t read the KJV, so I know I’ve not got it exactly right. You can read the story in John 11.

Lazarus had been dead for four days, but Jesus was getting ready to call him out of the tomb. Lazarus’ sister, Martha, knew what rotten flesh smelled like–her nose was well-acquainted with the odor! Once you smell it, you can’t unsmell it.

I wonder how many folks by the tomb shrank away, muttering “noes” under their breath.

If you know the story, you know that Jesus called him out and out he came, grave clothes and all! And wonder of wonders, he did not “stinketh”.

Before long, Lazarus’s good friend and rescuer from death would himself die and be placed in a tomb with 75-100 pounds of spices. Can you imagine how far that fragrance carried in the wind? Noses near and far would know that someone important was being buried with great honor.

But again, the smell of death itself was defeated!

“For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave” (Psalm 16:10 NLT).

Darkness fell, His friends scattered, hope seemed lost — But heaven just started counting to three.

Bob Goff, Twitter, 4/8/2014

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This post is part of SoCS: Stream of Consciousness Saturday: nose/noes/knows. Check it out and join in the fun!