Blood Can Talk?

Hebrews 12:24

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

As Christians, especially living in America, we often treat or view others in light of the old covenant, rather than the new. What do I mean by this?

We know Jesus to be, as Hebrews 12:24 states, the “mediator of a new covenant”, with the word ‘covenant’ to mean an agreement. Thanks to Jesus, our agreement with God is now on good terms. We can now stand before God innocent and blameless, not because of our ability to live out our end of the bargain in the old covenant (keeping the law) but because of this new covenant that Jesus has mediated for us.

A covenant signed in blood—His blood.

I love the language the author of Hebrews uses to personify “the sprinkled blood that /speaks/ a better word than the blood of Abel.” However, it isn’t new language. It’s a reference that points the reader back to Genesis 4:10-11.

Here we find Cain murders his brother Abel, and his blood speaks a message: “The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground.”

What word is it saying? Judgment.

Here was the bad news, ”And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.”

What message does this word speak for then?

’If someone does you wrong, they deserve judgment from God and payback in full.’ This is how the old covenant operated.

But here’s the good news, “Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks A BETTER WORD than the blood of Abel.”

Just as Abel’s blood spoke, so does Jesus’, but this time, it is “a better word.”

What word is it saying? Redemption.

What message does this word speak for now?

‘If someone does you wrong, they deserve forgiveness from God and redemption in full.’

Why? Because Jesus’ blood speaks “a better word.”

Now that is good news…

…because we no longer live in a covenant that seeks vengeance and judgment, but rather a covenant that seeks forgiveness and redemption, we should live in this light…

…for you AND for everyone else.

So what message will your life speak?

Judgement or Redemption?