144 | Holy Week Truths and the Quiet Witness: Reaching Others Right Where You Are

Find the full episode here: LivingOnPurposeInChrist.com/blog

What if the most powerful way you share the gospel isn’t through louder words, but through a life that leaves a holy aroma behind? In this Holy Week episode, we slow down with fresh eyes to notice the quiet moments that carry eternal significance. From Jesus entering Jerusalem in humility to the unseen faithfulness that can stir so many feelings when it seems like nothing is changing, we talk honestly about what it’s like to obey God without instant results and why God is still moving beneath the surface.

We linger over the costly beauty of spikenard and the anointing stories in the Gospels, including why these were not all the same event. Mary’s offering filled the house with fragrance and, in a very real way, stayed with Jesus for days. That beautiful detail becomes a living picture of the fragrance of Christ and the Greek word euōdia (εὐωδία), a fragrant offering rising to God as worship. If you’ve been longing for more meaningful devotions and a doable rhythm for quiet time, this conversation offers biblical encouragement to help you see surrender as something that carries lasting impact.

We also explore three Greek words for healing, iaomai (ἰάομαι), therapeuō (θεραπεύω), and sōzō (σῴζω), to reveal how Jesus restores instantly, over time, and into deep wholeness. Then we connect prayer, renewing the mind, and the Aroma Freedom Technique with the God-designed relationship between scent, memory, emotions, and feeling safe in His presence. You’ll also hear how aromatherapy and essential oils can serve as simple supports in your devotional life, helping create space to pause, pray, and process feelings with the Lord.

If you work from home, run a business, or ever wonder whether your daily environment really “counts” as ministry, this episode will remind you that your presence shapes the atmosphere. Your life is already speaking.

Save your spot for my free workshop, Partner with God in Your Workplace or Business, on March 31, 2026 at PaulaBehrens.com/workshop. And if this episode blesses you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review.

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Transcript

A Life That Lingers

Paula Behrens 0:00

What if the way you live your everyday life, your quiet time, your work from home routine, your conversations, even the atmosphere in your home could carry the fragrance of Christ in such a way that it reaches people long after you've left the room? What if your obedience to God could linger in someone's life the same way a beautiful perfume lingers in the air? Today we are walking through the first Holy Week in a way that will open your eyes to how deeply personal, intentional, and powerful it really was and what it means for you as a modern-day believer who wants to reach others for Christ. And stay with me until the end because I'm going to invite you to a very special free workshop happening March 31st, where I'll show you how to partner with God in your workplace or business in a practical, spirit-led way. In my personal faith walk, I've wrestled with the challenge of carving out consistent time for God. Some days, the line blurred between hearing his voice and my own thoughts echoing back at me. But through life's ups and downs, I've discovered an amazing truth. Spiritual disciplines paired with the God-given gift of natural aromas or what we call essential oils today can create a profound space for clarity and connection. They help us slow down and tune in to God's quiet whispers. Let's talk about what this podcast has to offer. Each week, we delve into meaningful scripture, highlighting memory verses enriched with Greek word studies. If your spirit needs refreshing, you can start with daily devotionals that accompany your morning prayer, and you'll find that many of our episodes are infused with essential oil tips to enhance your focus so you can hear God's voice more clearly as you seek to clarify your unique calling. Hey friend, I know how exhausting it can be to chase after a devotional routine that's just not working for you, constantly restarting with good intentions while fighting through distractions that keep pulling you away from God. I've walked that path myself, that cycle of trying my best but falling short. That's precisely why I created the Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour. It's a sacred space where we work together to develop a peace reset utilizing a complementary essential oil sampler that I'll send to you ahead of our session. This unique approach will bring emotional alignment and clarity to your spiritual journey. Imagine stepping into a rhythm that truly refreshes your soul, anchoring you in God's presence for that lasting sense of calm you've been craving. This is your invitation to make it doable today. Turn your quiet time into a source of thriving faith. Save your seat now for an Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour plus peace reset at PaulaBehrens.com /coaching. That's Paula Behrens B E H R E N S .com /coaching (no spaces). It's time to start breathing peace into your walk with Jesus. All right, let's get started. Grab your Bible, dust off your journal, and cozy up to your favorite beverage and let's dive in. Today we're stepping into something sacred. We're walking slowly and prayerfully through the first Holy Week, the final days leading up to the crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus. But we're not just looking at it as a moment in history. We're asking a deeper question. What does Holy Week mean for us today, especially for those of us who want to genuinely reach others for Christ in our everyday lives? Because if you're listening, there's something in your heart that longs for that. You don't just want to go through the motions of faith. You want your life to matter. You want your relationship with Jesus to overflow into the lives of others in a real and authentic way. And the beautiful truth is this, Holy Week shows us exactly how that happens. When we think about Holy Week, we often focus on the major events like Palm Sunday, the Last Supper, the crucifixion, and the Resurrection. But what we sometimes miss are the quiet, deeply personal moments in between, the moments that didn't draw crowds or applause, but carried eternal significance. Jesus entered Jerusalem not as a conquering king, but as a humble servant. People laid down palm branches, shouting praises, yet many of those same voices would later fall silent. Some would even turn against him. And isn't that how it often feels today? You may be living your faith quietly, faithfully, but not always seeing immediate fruit. You may wonder, is what I'm doing really making a difference? Holy Week gently reminds us that God is always working beneath the surface. The most powerful moments are often the ones that look the smallest from the outside. Let me share something deeply meaningful about an anointing oil that played a powerful role in the life of Jesus. Most people immediately think of frankincense or myrrh, but today I want to draw your attention to spike nard. Do you remember the woman who anointed Jesus with costly perfume? In Luke chapter 7, verses 36 through 38, we see a woman described simply as a sinner. She enters the home of a Pharisee, stands behind Jesus, weeping, and begins to wash his feet with her tears, drying them with her hair, and anointing them with ointment. In John chapter 12, verses 1 through 3, we see Mary, the sister of Lazarus, pouring a pound of pure nard onto Jesus' feet. Scripture tells us that the house was filled with the fragrance. Then in Matthew chapter 26, verses 6 through 7, and Mark chapter 14, verse 3, we see yet another moment. This time the oil is poured over his head. When we look closely, we begin to understand that these are not all the same event. There were actually three separate anointings. One earlier in his ministry by a woman known as a sinner, one six days before Passover by Mary in Bethany, and a third two days before Passover in the house of Simon the leper. Each moment was intentional, each one carried meaning. And the oil itself, spike nard, likely blended with myrrh, was incredibly valuable, about a year's wages. And this was not a casual offering, this was a complete pouring out. When Mary anointed Jesus, Judas criticized her. He called it wasteful. But Jesus said something profound. He said, Leave her alone. She has kept it for the day of my burial. Mary understood something others didn't. She recognized the moment. She responded with devotion. She held nothing back. And here's what's so powerful. Her act didn't just bless Jesus in that moment. It stayed with him. Because of the amount of oil used, the fragrance would have lingered in his hair and on his body for days. That means as Jesus walked through betrayal, arrest, trial, and crucifixion, that fragrance remained. When everything else was stripped away, the fragrance remained. Mary couldn't go with him to the cross, but her offering did. And Jesus said that wherever the gospel is preached, what she did would be remembered. Think about that. A single act of obedience, a single act of surrender, a single act of love, and it still speaks today. There's a beautiful Greek word used in the New Testament that ties directly to this idea of fragrance. The word is euōdia (εὐωδία) . It means a sweet smell, a pleasant aroma, or a fragrant offering. The Apostle Paul uses this word in places like Philippians chapter 4, verse 18, where he describes an offering given in love as a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice pleasing to God. It's not just about scent, though, it's about something that rises up to God as worship. In Ephesians chapter 5, verse 2, Paul tells us to walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. That same word, euōdia (εὐωδία), is used again. It connects love, sacrifice, and aroma into one powerful picture. So when Mary poured out that costly oil, she wasn't just performing a cultural act, she was offering a euōdia (εὐωδία), a fragrant sacrifice that reflected the very heart of Christ Himself. Her act mirrored the ultimate sacrifice Jesus was about to make. And in the same way, when we live surrendered lives, when we love, serve, and obey God in our everyday moments, our lives become a euōdia (εὐωδία) too, a fragrance that rises to God and touches the lives of others. Now there's another layer to this that is incredibly powerful, especially when we consider the oils that were used, spikenard and myrrh. Both of these oils were known for their healing properties, especially for wounds and skin. And this leads us into something so rich and meaningful in Scripture. In the New Testament, there are actually three different Greek words that are translated as healing, and each one reveals a different way that Jesus restores us. The first is iaomai (ἰάομαι), which refers to an instantaneous supernatural healing. This is the kind of healing that happens suddenly, where something is completely restored in a moment by the power of God. We see this in many of Jesus' miracles, and it's also reflected in his own Resurrected body. Though he bore the scars as evidence, the wounds were no longer open. They were healed, whole, restored. The second word is therapeuō (θεραπεύω). This is where we get the word therapy. It speaks of a process of healing over time. Care that is intentional, steady, and unfolding. This kind of healing often takes place in our emotions, our thought patterns, and our daily lives as we walk with God. It is a renewing of the mind. It is learning to replace fear with truth. It is allowing God to gently restore places that have been wounded over time. And then there's the third word, sōzō (σῴζω). This word means to save, to deliver, to heal, and to make completely whole. It is the deepest level of restoration, mind, body, and spirit. When Jesus speaks of someone being made well through faith, this is often the word being used. It's not just about physical healing, it's about total transformation and reconnection to God. So when we look at Holy Week, we begin to see something extraordinary. At the cross and through the Resurrection, Jesus made a way for every kind of healing we could ever need. There are times when he may heal instantly. There are seasons where he heals us over time, and there is the ultimate healing where he restores us completely. And the same Jesus who carried the fragrance of that anointing carried the power to heal in every one of those ways. This is where something practical and beautiful comes in. You know, God designed our bodies in such an intentional way. It's just amazing. The sense of smell is also amazing. It is directly connected to the part of the brain that processes memory and emotion. That's why a scent can instantly take us back to a moment from years ago. The aroma freedom technique works with this God-designed connection. It combines intentional prayer, truth, and the use of pure essential oils to help identify and release negative thought patterns. In simple terms, it helps you recognize lies you may be believing, fear, doubt, unworthiness, and replace them with God's truth. From a neuroscience perspective, you are interrupting old thought patterns and creating new ones. But more importantly, you are inviting the Holy Spirit into that process. This aligns beautifully with the therapeuō (θεραπεύω) kind of healing, the kind that unfolds over time as God gently restores your heart and mind. And as that happens, something begins to shift. Your presence changes, your responses change, your atmosphere changes. The spiritual fragrance of your life begins to change. So what does all of this mean for you, especially if you want to reach others for Christ? Well, it means that your life is already speaking. People don't just hear the gospel, they experience it. They experience it through your peace, through your kindness, through your consistency, through the atmosphere you carry. If you work from home, run a business, or spend a lot of your time in everyday environments that don't really feel like ministry, listen in closely. Your life is your ministry. Just as that fragrance filled the house where Jesus sat, your presence fills every space you walk into, your home, your workplace, your conversations, your relationships. You are already influencing the people around you. The question is, what are you releasing? This is exactly what I want to help you step into more fully. That's why I'm inviting you to a free workshop called "Partner With God In Your Workplace or Business," happening on March 31st, 2026. In this workshop, I'm going to gently guide you into recognizing how God is already moving in your everyday environment, how to partner with him in real and practical ways, and how to create an atmosphere that invites his presence. If you're able to join live, you'll also have the opportunity to win a free bottle of Young Living Essential Oil. And if you can't attend live, you'll still receive the full seven-day replay along with a workbook to help you apply what you learn. You can sign up now at PaulaBehrens.com/workshop. That's Paula Behrens B-E-H R E N S .com/workshop (no spaces). As we reflect on Holy Week, I want you to hold on to this truth deep in your heart. You do not have to strive to reach people. You do not have to force impact. You do not have to chase significance. Your first calling is simply to stay close to Jesus, abide in him, walk with him, sit at his feet, listen for his voice, and let your heart be softened in his presence. Because when you stay near Jesus, your life will naturally carry his fragrance. His peace begins to settle in you, his love begins to flow through you, his light begins to shine from places you may not even realize. What is formed in private devotion will be felt in public spaces. What is cultivated in surrender will overflow into the lives of others. Holy Week reminds us that the most powerful offerings are often the ones poured out in love, humility, and obedience. Just like the precious oil poured out in those sacred final days of Jesus' life, what you offer to Him today is never wasted. Your prayers are not wasted. Your obedience is not wasted. Your quiet faithfulness is not wasted. Your tears, your worship, your surrender, your yes to Jesus all carry eternal weight. Even when no one applauds it, even when no one seems to notice, even when you cannot yet see the fruit. The aroma of a life surrendered to Christ lingers. It reaches hearts, it marks moments, it makes room for God's presence in ways far beyond what you can measure. So this Holy Week, give yourself room to breathe. Come close again. Let love be your offering. Let obedience be your worship, and trust that what is poured out before Jesus will leave a fragrance that lingers far beyond what you could ever hope or imagine. Thank you for tuning in today. And remember, just like setting biblical boundaries, it's okay to say no to things that don't serve you well. Like that third piece of cake at the church pot luck. If you were blessed by this episode, be sure to share it with a friend and leave a review so that we can reach even more listeners like you. Check the show notes for all the links. Join us next week as we continue to discover how to live on purpose in Christ. Until then, keep leaning into Him and walking in His Wisdom. See you next time.