“Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there’s just something about that name.

Master, Savior, Jesus, like the fragrance after the rain.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, let all heaven and earth proclaim;

Kings and kingdoms may all pass away

But there’s something about that name.”

Many years ago, when I lived in Connecticut and was attending a small, country church, I remember stepping out onto the porch of the church after an evening service and it had just stopped raining. I was surrounded by trees and the rain was still dripping and it smelled wonderful. And this song came immediately to mind: “like the fragrance after the rain.” That small moment seemed so significant to me that it’s still what I think of every time I sing this song. The name Jesus, and a fragrance so sweet.

There is another time in Connecticut that I often think about as well, but this memory doesn’t start out so sweet. God didn’t answer a prayer in the way I was sure that He would and I was angry. I was very angry with Him. I drove out to this special I’d found where I knew I could be alone and I lifted up my fisted hand to God and told him just how angry I was. I told him I didn’t want this to be some lesson he would teach me. I told him, “I don’t want to learn from this.”

In the Old Testament when God is telling Israel about the sacrifices they are to make, time and again He calls the burnt offerings a “pleasing aroma.” And I got to thinking that Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for our sins must always be a pleasing aroma before the Lord. Jesus is always making intercession for us and he must be like the incense that burned before the Holy Place. A pleasing aroma. A sweet fragrance.

Why would these two memories be so connected in my mind? Yes, they were both when I was living in Connecticut, but it’s more than that. I’ve repented many times for my anger and I’ve been forgiven a long time ago. But God is still teaching me many lessons from that day, in spite of the fact that I told him not to. Because his love and his grace are greater than all my sin, He has taken that bitter moment and brought from it the sweet fragrance of his love.

He taught me that I can come to him with anything in any mood and He will be there. And He will care. And He will listen. And His presence will be a sweet fragrance, a pleasing aroma, to my soul.

“Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there’s just something about that name.

Master, Savior, Jesus, like the fragrance after the rain.”