Guess what? You've got more mystery mail! But it's not just you! As we saw last week, young Calvin has been receiving mystery mail as well! The mystery remains, who could it be from...?
Calvin: (as Hobbes walks up) Look, Hobbes, it's another letter from the secret insulter! Last
time he wrote that “Calvin is a porridge brain”! The nerve! Look, he's
used cut and pasted letters again! It's untraceable. It's diabolical!
It's.....
Hobbes:
Are you going to read it or milk it?
Calvin:
What?!
It says...: “You look like a baboon and you smell like one, too! Ha- ha.”
Hobbes:
The mystery deepens.
Calvin:
Who could be sending these?!
Hobbes:
Clearly, a reckless exaggerator. You don't look like a baboon. (Pinching
his nose...)
Calvin:Oh, you're a BIG help! (Hobbes smirks & walks over to the piano...., as Mom enters)
Mom: Calvin, the mail arrived. You got another letter. So, what do you write yourself?
Calvin:I don't write these! What are you talking about?
Mom: Oh, c'mon, Calvin. I know you've been putting these out for the mailman every day.
Calvin:Wait a minute! (checking the envelop) These are coming from our house?? Mom: Oh, and I want you to askbefore you cut up my magazines, ok? (while H cuts a mag)
Calvin:All right! Where's that miserable bunch of stripey orange flea bait?!? (M & H exit)
So..., as one mystery is solved, another deepens. But the mystery is not about the authorship of the letter in question. Paul clearly identified himself as the author, and the Greeks as the recipients, in his letter's opening: “This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy. I am writing to all of God's holy people in Greece.”
(2
Corinthians 1:1)
So, Paul is the author, Timothy is his partner and scribe, as Paul always dictates his letters, but that brings us to a third critical player in this letter's distribution. That's the mystery. Scholars have discussed and debated but most today agree, the carrier could only be one person.
Paul's mentioned him before. He's considered to be another apostle, one, one of the first to come from Greece, as a matter of fact. Scripture has further immortalized him as his name graces one of the inspired books of today's New Testament. He was a trusted and respected colleague of Paul and it's clear that among other responsibilities, such as preaching, Paul sends him to Corinth with this letter.
His name, is Titus. What he bears in delivering this letter to it's recipients in northern Greece, at least in this section we just read, is like a box of sweet perfume. Imagine it. As the Greeks open it, they find that this section from chapter two, contains four separate compartments, each containing an exotic fragrance. “For God uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.”
(2
Corinthians 2:14)
its contents: 1. A Call to Action; 2. A
Footnote; 3. A Metaphor, and
4. A Question.
So reads the tag on the outside of the box. Inside are the four compartments, each one with a corresponding note, identifying
Rather strange names for perfume, don't you think? Would you care to
sample one?
Consider the aroma of Paul's call to action. There's a guy in the community whose behavior has had a direct and negative impact on those around him. He's since confessed and repented!
-2-
How often does that happen that someone admits they were wrong? Scholars are divided on who he was. He could've been the man Paul referred to in an earlier letter, guilty of sexual immorality; or it could be one of the ringleaders who recently stirred up others against Paul and Timothy.
Either way, Paul reminds the church of what would produce a sweet-smelling aroma in their area in light of this recent turmoil of emotions. “I acknowledge that the person who caused all the trouble hurt all of you more than he hurt me..., but now it is time to forgive and comfort him.”
(2
Corinthians 2:5)
There's no more powerful perfume than that of forgiveness. Its musty scent is not familiar enough to our proverbial nostrils, and it was no less difficult to practice in Paul's day, than it is today, as seen in the series, The Chosen. In one scene, Jesus encourages Simon Peter to let go of his angst towards Matthew. Matthew is an odd, socially awkward former tax collector, a traitor to his people, & who's personally made life difficult for Peter and his family. Even though they're now fellow disciples of Jesus, Peter is still simmering. The two face off....in public. Seeing Matthew in a new light, seeing how much harder it's been for him, Peter walks over to him and embraces the former cheat in a bear hug. The public display of grace inspires the others, as the sweet fragrance of grace lingers in the air.
The second perfume in Paul's box is labeled, “Footnote”. It's a footnote, actually, from Paul's tragel log. As he does throughout the letter, Paul risks complete transparency in sharing of himself with his siblings in Christ. He writes: “When I came to the city of Troas to preach the Good News of Christ, the Lord opened a door of opportunity for me, but I had no peace of mind because my dear brother, Titus, hadn't yet arrived with a report from you.” (2 Corinthians 2:12-13)
Paul, an apostle sent by Jesus and led by his Holy Spirit, is admitting to those who came to faith through his witness that he's been so troubled by his inability to find his friend, Titus that he completely has lost his piece of mind. It's quite admission for a first century Jew. To be at peace, to be in shalom, is the desired state of mind of any Jew, what's more it's assumed your at peace simply because you are a Jew. Paul says he's not only lacking that peace but that he: 'had no peace of mind’ - at all!
Paul has never gotten so personal, so transparent, as this. He's in effect, baring his soul to them, and through them, to us! He's modeling for them another sweet perfume – humility. And specifically, transparency, a willingness to let others see us when we're vulnerable and at risk. That's what Paul does here, and again later in this letter. He lets them in, in the hope, that it'll help them grow.
It's the opposite of a classic Hollywood line. You've heard it. The man stands aloof. His girl is distraught. And in her anguish, she unleashes that classic line: 'Why won't you let me in?'
Think of Anakin Skywalker... If Paul was such a man, he is no longer. He let's them know many things have been weighing on his heart. A repentant man stands alone in their midst. The man's heart is broken for what he's done. Paul urges them, let it go! Welcome him home!
His church is upset that he delayed his third visit to them. Tears have been shed, by both sides. He's clear: “I didn't want to grieve you; I just wanted you to know how much love I have for you!”
(2
Corinthians 2:4)
Now he desperately seeks to hear that peace is returning to their faith family, that they've let it go and let him in. Titus knows but he's missing in action. Paul is anxious and he let's them share in it.
-3-
And the sweet fragrance of forgiveness is coupled with the sublime scent of
transparency, an openness that encourages others to be open, for it was by such an “opening”, that the entire nation of Greece came to first hear the Good News of Jesus
Christ. As Paul noted: “When I came to the city of Troas to preach the Good News of
Christ, the Lord opened a door of opportunity for me.”
(2
Corinthians 2:12)
The third perfume in Paul's chapter two box is marked with a metaphor within a metaphor.
“(God) uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are like a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. To those being saved, we're a life-giving perfume.”
(2 Corinthians
2:14-16)
But the metaphor of perfume is not a product of Channel, or anything like it. It's an image that comes to us specifically from Imperial Rome. The perfume of which Paul speaks is connected to the pageantry of a Roman procession called a “Triumph”. These were held upon the successful conquest of another country. The booty and the defeated were presented in a long parade that included dancers, musicians, the conquering army led by their celebrated general, with priests burning incense and maid-ens scattering fragrant flowers everywhere. It's this event that Paul is drawing on here: “God has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ's triumphal procession.” (2
Cor 2:14)
By the time Paul wrote this, numerous emperors had been celebrated with such a triumph. Paul points out that while the Romans took in those experiences with great celebration, a celebration of their power and prestige, of victory on the battlefield, the aroma in the air would have become synonymous with those triumphant feelings, and the aroma was strong! But for others there that day, those same fragrances meant their public dishonor and shame, and for a great many of them, it smelled of death.
Aroma is a powerful memory trigger. Some fragrances take you right back. Lightning charged rain (Illinois summers growing up); or burnt marshmallows, or wine and bread... Paul points to that reality but suggesting we should be like that. Our attitude and behavior should take people back to Jesus! The way we put others first, or are quick to forgive one another, as well as our eagerness to share why worship is central to our lives, to invite and witness to the disconnected - puts Jesus center stage!
But then we find ourselves at the fourth compartment in Paul's little travel bag of perfumes. It's marked with a big question mark. And the question in question? “Who is adequate for this?”
(2
Corinthians 2:16)
His words are convicting, somehow. What's more, Paul has used the above metaphor to make the point that some, by no fault of our own, are adamantly opposed to our witness to God's love in Christ Jesus because of their painful memories. Church talk and language is like an abhorrent odor in their nose. For some it is entirely offensive because they are still carrying past offenses.
Who is adequate to this task? Not a soul, on our own, but we have not been left on our own. Jesus assured us we'll always have help. After all, it's the Holy Spirit who sends us and equips us. “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere.” (Acts 1:8) “So don't worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time, for it will be the Spirit...speaking through you.”
(Matthew 10:19-20)
Who's adequate for such a task? You are! Pray and it'll be the Spirit speaking thru you!
-4-
It brings to mind a mongoloid teenager by the name of Joey. Joey wanted a job but no one would hire him. Finally, his father pulled some strings and Joey landed a job at the local grocery store. At first people responded with polite indifference to his slow and slurred ways, but that led to an awkwardness and angry stares, and pretty soon folks were avoiding his line where he served as a bagger. Joey didn't seem to notice. But one thing Joey did notice was how unhappy so many people seemed to be. Inspired by something he heard at church; Joey decided to take his job to the next level.
One day Joey began putting encouraging notes in people's grocery bags. It could be something as simple as, “Hope you have a nice day” or as profound as John 3:16: “For God so loved the world...” Once Joey had handed them all out, he made a bunch of new notes. Everyone got one. The mom with the fussy toddler, the busy businessman, the clerk from across the street, kids, adults, everyone.
It didn't take long for the manager to notice a difference in his store. People seemed to be more patient and kinder with each other. He heard the staff laughing more...and occasionally someone doing something nice, like letting another customer go first, or picking up something dropped. But one difference in the store was unmistakable – everyone wanted to have their groceries bagged by Joey!
Such a sweet perfume it is, when our words and actions fill one's senses with the love of Jesus!