ABEL AND JESUS

How Does Christ’s Blood Speak a Better Word than the Blood of Abel?

Not a single word from Abel is recorded in Scripture. Cain murdered him, and Cain has something to say. But the victim of violence? The recipient of hate? The righteous one? Not a syllable!

Cain has words, Abel none.

But Abel does speak in a different language. He utters crimson eloquence, red rhetoric so profound his speech pierces heaven’s veil to lodge in the ears of God.

How so? The Lord says, “The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground” (Gen. 4:10).

You see what’s happening?

1. Blood has a voice.

2. Blood cries out to God.

3. Blood is heard by heaven.

Far, far later, the author of Hebrews wrote about another crimson eloquence, about more red rhetoric. He says that the blood of Jesus “speaks better than the blood of Abel” (12:24).

Whatever Abel’s blood said to God, Christ’s blood said it better.

We hear on many occasions that Abel’s blood cried out, “Avenge me” and “Do justice,” but the Bible does not say that. All it says is, “The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground” Gen. 4:10. Crying for what? For justice, for clemency, for mercy, for revenge, for something else? We are not told.

The strongest hint of what Abel’s blood might be crying for is in the Hebrews 12 passage. It says that Christ’s blood speaks “a better word” than the blood of Abel. All through Hebrews, there is a comparison of angels, priests, sacrifices, etc. with the finished work of Christ. For instance, in these passages, the same Greek word is used, translated as “superior” or “better”:

Hebrews 1:4

Having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Hebrews 7:19

(for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

Hebrews 7:22

This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.

Hebrews 8:6

But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.

Hebrews 9:23

Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

Hebrews 11:40

Since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Hebrews 12:24

And to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Therefore, the angels are good but Christ is better; the law was good but in Christ we have a better hope; the old covenant was good but in Jesus we have a better covenant. Using this same logic, what the blood of Able spoke was good but what Christ’s blood speaks is better.

So rather than understanding a CONTRAST between these two bloods, I see an improvement. All of which leads me to hear in the blood of Abel not a cry for vengeance but mercy. Yet Abel’s cry for mercy is but a whisper in comparison with the louder cry for mercy in the blood of Jesus.

The voice of Jesus’s blood, crying out from the ground beneath the cross, piercing the heavens, lodging in the ears of God, speaks one and only one message: “Father, forgive them.”

That eloquent blood pronounces the absolution of the world, you included.

Believe it. It is for you.

Happy Sunday 🥂

The Good News That Almost Killed Old Jacob

When his sons informed him that Joseph, whom he had thought dead for the last 22 years, was not only alive but ruler of Egypt, “his heart became numb” (Gen. 45:26). The Hebrew verb "פוג" suggests that his heart shut down. Robert Alter translates it, “His heart stopped.”

Then, as the brothers spilled forth their astonishing story, “the spirit of their father Jacob revived” (45:27). “Dead” and alive again. A smile erupted on that wrinkled face. And taking a deep breath, he said, “It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die” (45:28).

All this time, the poor father thought his son was dead. BUT he was alive.

It reminds me of that other, better story about another Son, whom all his followers thought was dead. And, indeed, he was dead, for three days anyway. BUT, Christ is risen.

As we seek to follow Jesus in our lives and vocations, his resurrection becomes the universal “BUT” to every heartbroken fact of our existence.

-When we watch our beloved parent, or friend lowered into the grave, we say, “BUT, Christ is risen.”

-When we see our families or communities torn asunder and wonder if there is any hope for the future, we say, “BUT, Christ is risen.”

-When we stumble and fall, get up only to stumble yet again, limping our way along as mortal, weak, weary disciples, we say, “BUT, Christ is risen.”

And because of that “BUT,” because of that divine and joyful rebuttal, Julian of Norwich put it this way: “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.” Jesus is alive and well and reigning over us as King of kings and Lord of lords.

It’s no exaggeration to say that that makes all the difference in the world.

Happy Easter 🥂