Lesson for the Lord’s Day
And to Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel. Hebrews 12:24
Abel was a righteous man; we know this because of Scripture’s testimony regarding his excellent sacrifice. Abel is the first in line in Faith’s Hall of Fame as registered in Hebrews 11. Following Abel’s benchmark, all other Old Testament saints stepped into faith and established proof of their righteousness. When he died, it was the blood of a righteous man that flowed, and that cried out to God from the ground (Genesis 4:10). We will see Abel in Heaven one day. But he will not be there because of the value of his own blood, but by the value of the blood of the sacrifice. And the value of the blood of his excellent sacrifice was itself a proxy for the blood of the one great Sacrifice that would be made for sins forever. That is why our text speaks of blood that speaks better things than that of Abel.
Abel’s blood called for vengeance. Cain deserved and received punishment for his great crime, bearing punishment greater than he can bear for eternity. He was guilty of Abel’s blood. When the Jewish leaders and people cried for Jesus blood before Pilate, they were guilty of spilling greater blood than that of Abel. We recognize and accept our responsibility in that crime as well. And today, the blood that our Saviour shed on Calvary cries out. But unlike the vengeance that Abel’s blood sought, the blood of Christ cries out in grace and mercy. It is true that those who are guilty of shedding His blood must bear the punishment… but only if they fail to trust in that blood’s merit. The very blood that our Saviour shed was able to provide forgiveness and grace to those who shed it. And it continues to offer forgiveness and grace today to all who will trust.
Abel’s blood has no value for us today, nor does the blood of the sacrifice that he offered to God. That blood speaks to us today of Abel’s faithfulness, and of God’s provision for those in his day. But today, we need a better sacrifice, and God has provided it. God is satisfied with the blood of His son as the atonement for our sin. And so should we be. –Jim MacIntosh