The Blood That Speaks

SCRIPTURE

Hebrews 12:18–24 NKJV

18 For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, 19 and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. 20 (For they could not endure what was commanded: “And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow.” 21 And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”) 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

EXEGESIS

The main point is found in Verse 24 where the author declares that the blood of the new covenant in Jesus Christ speaks better things than that of the blood of Abel.

What is significant about the blood of Abel? Well, in order to answer that question, we have to start with who was Abel? And in order to answer that we have to start with the first man and woman, Adam and Eve.

Genesis 2:7 KJV 1900

7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

God formed Adam from the dust. Then God took a rib from Adam and formed Eve. And God placed Adam and Even in the Garden of Eden: paradise on earth. But they sinned by eating of the forbidden fruit. As a result, sin and death entered into the world and they were kicked out of the Garden.

Then the Bible says that they had two sons. Cain was the first born and was a tiller of the ground. Abel was the second born and was a keeper of the sheep. One day they both came to present an offering to the Lord. Cain brought some vegetables from his garden. And Abel brought one of the first born from his flock and the best portions of it. God accepted Abel’s offering, but rejected Cain’s.

Why? Because God knew their hearts. Also, because God had already demonstrated to them the only sacrifice for sins. The life of the body is in the blood. And without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins.

After Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden, they tried to cover their nakedness by sewing fig leaves together. This represented them trying to cover their sins by their own works. But it was insufficient. So God provided them clothing made from animal skins. What had to happen for the animal skins to be turned into clothing? An animal had to die. Blood had to be shed. God was demonstrating to them that the only way to cover sin was through the shedding of blood.

Back to the offerings of Cain and Abel. Cain got jealous of Abel because God accepted his brothers offering, but did not accept his. And the sin of jealously led to the sin of anger which then led to the sin of murder. Cain killed his brother Abel in cold blood. And the earth opened its mouth to receive Abel’s blood.

Genesis 4:10–11 NKJV

10 And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. 11 So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.

So when we try to answer the question: what is significant about the blood of Abel and why does the blood of Jesus speak better things than that of Abel’s we can look at it in two main ways:

We could also say that the blood of Jesus is better than the blood of Abel.

The sacrifice of Jesus is better than the sacrifice that Abel provided. In other words, the new covenant in Jesus’ blood is better than the old covenant animal sacrifices. It speaks better things.

The blood of Abel cried out for vengeance. The blood of Jesus, on the other hand, cries out for mercy.

The blood of Abel cried out “death.” The blood of Jesus cries out “eternal life.”

The blood of Abel cried out “we are under the power of sin.” The blood of Jesus cries out “we now have power over sin.”

And this seems to be the author’s point in this section, because he uses the comparison of Mt. Sinai and Mt. Zion to represent the Old and the New Covenants. Mt. Sinai represents the Old Covenant because it is where Moses was given the 10 Commandments. Mt. Zion represents the New Covenant because it is Jerusalem, Mt. Calvary, where Jesus was nailed to the Cross.

Let’s think about the difference between these two mountains:

Mt. Sinai was a place of avoid out of fear. Mt. Zion is a place to approach with boldness.

Mt. Sinai was a place only Moses could approach. Mt. Zion is a place where whosoever will can come.

Mt. Sinai was a place of bondage. Mt. Zion is a place of freedom.

Mt. Sinai represented the law. Mt. Zion represents grace.

Mt. Sinai was a place where Moses was the mediator between man and God. Mt. Zion is a place where Jesus is the mediator.

Mt. Sinai was about exclusion. Mt. Sinai is about inclusion.

Mt. Sinai was about the blood of animal sacrifices that were incomplete and temporary. Mt. Sinai is about the blood of Jesus that is complete and eternal.

MESSAGE

10 Things that the Blood Says:

You Are Saved

1 Peter 1:18–19 NKJV

18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

Sin Will Tell You:

You’re lost.

You’re beyond saving.

You’ll never get it together.

The Blood of Jesus Speaks a Better Word:

You Are Forgiven

You Are Redeemed

You Are Justified

You Are Reconciled

You Are Healed

Isaiah 53:4–5 NKJV

4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

Sickness Will Tell You:

You’ll never get better.

You’ve just got to live with it.

The Blood of Jesus Speaks a Better Word:

By His stripes you are healed.

His blood heals us body, soul, and spirit.

You Are Protected

Exodus 12:13 NKJV

13 Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

Fear Will Tell You:

You’re not good enough to make it to heaven.

Jesus would never save someone like you.

The Blood of Jesus Speaks a Better Word:

When the blood is applied to the doorpost of your heart, destruction will pass over you.

You can plead the blood of Jesus over you and and your family.

You Are His

Hebrews 10:19 NKJV

19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,

Condemnation Will Tell You:

You are not good enough to approach God.

God doesn’t want you to draw near to Him.

The Blood of Jesus Speaks a Better Word:

You can come boldly to the Throne of Grace.

You can come to God directly.

You Are Victorious

Revelation 12:11 NKJV

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

The Enemy Will Tell You:

You’re defeated.

You’ll never win.

The Blood of Jesus Speaks a Better Word:

You can overcome all the power of the enemy.

You are more than a conqueror.