Children’s Sermon

John 12:1-8

The Fragrance of Thanks

Check out these helpful resources
Biblical Commentary
Sermons
Children’s Sermons
Hymn Lists

John 12:1-8

The Fragrance of Thanks

Objects suggested: Items that have distinctive fragrances such as cocoa, crayons, familiar spices, etc.

Being able to smell is a wonderful, God-given gift. What are some of your favorite fragrances? I like the smell of bread baking in the oven or the way the sea smells like salt. And, new babies smell very sweet.

How we smell is rather complicated. Your nose is like an empty room. As you breathe, the air that comes in is moistened. Tiny hairs in your nose act like a broom and remove dust from the air. When smells come into your nose a message is sent to your brain and you are able to recognize at least 10,000 different smells. Isn’t that amazing?

Your nose is important. It can protect you, telling you there is a fire when you smell smoke, and it helps you enjoy the flavors of the food you eat.

Let’s have some fun and see if you can identify a few things with your nose while your eyes closed. (Use items listed above if appropriate to your situation.)

A story found in the Bible tells us about a woman named Mary who gave Jesus a wonderful, fragrant gift. Jesus was visiting in the home of his friend, Lazarus. While he was there Mary, the sister of Lazarus, poured expensive perfumed oil over his feet and then wiped his feet with her hair. The Bible tells us “The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment” (perfumed oil) (12:3).

Some found fault with Mary for using the expensive perfume in that way, but Jesus accepted what she had done as a gift and recognized that she was honoring him.

There are many ways to honor God. Enjoying all our senses; being able to see, feel, hear, taste, and smell and giving thanks for those gifts is a way to honor God. Let your thanks fill the house like the fragrance of perfume.

Scripture quotations from the World English Bible