Question of the week:
…to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel (Hebrews 12:24). WHAT DOES THE BLOOD OF CHRIST SPEAK AND WHAT DOES THE BLOOD OF ABEL SPEAK?
Once again, thanks for all the answers and some questions. It is a great blessing to me personally to know that you have spent time in the Word of God and have discussed the questions throughout the week with fellow believers.
Here is a summary of the answers given:
one person answered: “Christ’s blood speaks Salvation: John 6:54; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:20; Hebrews 9:12; 9:22; Romans 3:23; 5:9; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5;
The blood of Abel speaks Sin, it cries out to God Genesis 4:10-12; Matthew 23:25;
Another person answered: “Abel’s blood was taken and speaks revenge; Jesus blood was given. He laid down His life – speaks redemption, forgiveness, and complete salvation for all who hear His voice. Revelation 1:5, 5:9; John 10:11, 17-18.”
The story of Cain and Able is found in Genesis 4:10-11. First, let’s look at a few important things that do not show themselves in our English translations, which is the fact that the blood that cries out from the ground to God is in the plural form. What does that mean? It could be translated “your brother’s bloods are crying out to me from the ground.” As you already know, the Bible is supposed to interpret the Bible. We find this plural word translated blood in Isaiah 4:4, Isaiah 26:21 and Hosea 1:4. If you read those verses you can see that in all instances it stands for blood that must be avenged.
A second important thing would be the Hebrew word “tsa’aq”, translated in our text as CRY. It is always used in the Bible for human expressions of a desperate need.
Considering these two facts and looking at the rest of verse 10, someone once translated it: “The rivers of your brother’s blood desperately cry to me from the ground for revenge.” That says it all. God reinforces this truth in verse 11 when he actually curses the ground on behalf of Cain’s murderous act. In Genesis 9:5 we find that if someone murders another, God promises to “require a reckoning for” the blood of the slain. Can you imagine how the blood, the river of blood, is crying out to God that men have shed since Abel’s death? 6000 years have passed, and billions of people have been slain.
That’s where Jesus’ blood comes in. Without Him shedding His blood we all would be doomed to eternal damnation. The Bible declares that His blood cleanses us from all sins. This means that His blood provides the grace and mercy we need to be protected not just from the wrath of God but also from the consequences of our sins. According to Hebrews 12:24, Jesus blood speaks better things than that of Abel. Why? Because it speaks for grace, not of wrath. Jesus’ blood is our atonement, our purchase price, and the blood of the NEW COVENANT.