This sweet savor is actually a savor of rest. God the Father, having poured out the full cup of His wrath upon the Lord Jesus Christ for the sins of His people, now rests Himself in the accomplishment of His Son. His sacrifice was received and all of His works accepted. The Law that we have shattered in disobedience demanded punishment, and the Father was pleased to release His anger upon the Son. In the eternal covenant, the Son willingly made Himself responsible to present us "holy and unblamable and unreprovable in his sight."
Our inability to produce righteousness demanded that Christ obey God's Law for us, and our sins demanded that He would be utterly consumed by the Father's wrath. All the slain sacrifices in the Old Testament testify of Him. Many were violently torn apart and given over to the flame (Lev. 1:6-9). Their insides were removed, washed for purity, and made subject to the altar's fire. The message of the burnt sacrifice is that the confessing sinner needs Someone else to bear his blame. When the people brought the spotless animal to the priest for sacrifice, they were trusting God to deal with them entirely upon the life and death of Another. They would lay their hands upon the head of the animal to identify themselves with him, and by this identification it is reckoned that God saves sinners by a Substitute. "By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament (Heb. 7:22)."
Now, the work of atonement is accomplished, God is rightfully appeased towards His people, and He has received the Son back into glory as a Victor. His victory was complete, total, and absolute. The Psalmist speaks of His ascension saying, "For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head (Ps. 21:3)." I cannot describe the scene of heaven when the Lamb of God entered glory after His death, but the angels and saints above must have worshipped in absolute awe while the Father rose to receive His obedient Son saying, " Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool (Ps. 110:1)." The Father has delighted Himself in the sacrifice of His Son, and by Him He has magnified His own righteousness, holiness, and justice. But much more, He has given Christ the crown and throne as the One Mediator between God and man- the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Col. 2:9). The Father has put everything into His hands – "For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will (John 5:21)." "And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man (John 5:27)." And again we read, "For thou hast made him most blessed forever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance. For the king trusteth in the Lord, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved (Ps. 21:6-7)."
Have you ever warred with someone you loved? They wronged you and rightfully your anger was kindled? Yet, all the while you expressed anger, you were still immediately aware of your love for them. This often happens with parents and their children, or spouses of the most intimate union. O, how wonderful it is when reconciliation is made! Not only is justice satisfied, and you're no longer offended, but also now, you've received the object of your love back into fellowship. The offended husband has received the wife back into a blessed restoration of communion.
This, my brethren, is what God the Father has done with His Son. The Father never ceased to love the Son, even when He was made to be sin for us. All the while the penalty for our sins was beating upon the Only Begotten, the Father's heart was burning with love for Him. Figuratively, God's love for His Son waxed hottest while the Lord Jesus Christ faithfully, passionately, and obediently magnified His Law. The Father wasn't blind to His Son's obedience, but in a perfect mixture of wrath and love, He consumed the Lord Jesus Christ for us. In love for us, He spared not to give us His Son; and in wrath, He wouldn't even spare His Son when our sins were imputed to Him. But finally, justice found her end, and the ascension of Christ into glory is a loud testimony to us that the Father has accepted His offering as a sweet savor of rest.
When Christ entered glory, He did not enter for Himself only. When the Father accepted Christ, we were immediately accepted with Him and made joint-heirs of His accomplishment (Eph. 2:5-6). Atonement has been made, justice can demand no more, and the Father is delighted to receive us. We are a reconciled people, and His love for us has been publicly justified. In the death of Christ, He demonstrated HOW He can receive our prayers, give us grace to the obedience of faith, separate us from the perishing, and constantly look upon us in love. We with wicked hands crucified Christ, but God always determined His death would be for our salvation (Acts 2:23-24). The Psalmist writes concerning the Father's delight in the work of the Savior saying, "Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not witholden the request of his lips. Selah (Ps. 21:2)." Believers rejoice that the desire of His heart, and the request of His lips is "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me (John 17:24)."
We only understand a small portion of God's glory, but everything that God shall reveal is found by looking into the Cross. You search in vain to know God or serve Christ apart from His Cross, and you will never find rest in your soul until you bow to the rest God has found for Himself. Faith looks upon the Lord Jesus Christ and, in measure, sees Him the same way the Father sees Him: accepted. And bless God, faith allows you to see yourself the way God sees you through His Son – "To the praise of the glory of his grace, where he hath made us accepted in the beloved (Eph 1:6)."