The Blood of Jesus Speaks Better Things

“...and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.” (Hebrew 12:24)

This Scripture begins in the middle of a sentence. It’s part of the previous verse, “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,” (Hebrews 12:22) So verse 24 should read, “You have come to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.” The author of Hebrews is comparing how in the old covenant, it was a fearful thing to approach God, but in the New Covenant the shed blood of Jesus who is the negotiator of the New Covenant, tells us better things.

In the Old Testament, no one could come close to the mountain where God was. No one and no animal was to touch the mountain. It was so fearful that even Moses feared. “...and so fearful was the sight that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake).” (Hebrews 12:21) But we have been reconciled to God. Because of Jesus we have no sin. We can stand in the presence of the Father because of the shed blood which has cleansed us, purified us and made us holy.

Jesus is the Mediator of the New Covenant. Only He could have negotiated for our souls because He paid the price due for sin. It was death. His sacrifice is better than that of bulls and other animals. “But when Christ had become a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building nor by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered once for all into the Holies, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh,” (Hebrews 9:11-13). Their sacrifice only covered their sins for a year. But the sacrifice of Jesus gained eternal redemption for us. The sacrifice of animals did not change their nature or hearts. Only the resurrection of Jesus from among the dead could raise us up as new creatures, with God’s nature and a new heart. “So that if anyone is in Christ, that one is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2Corinthians 5:17)

And His blood has cleansed us. “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1John 1:7) The blood of the Lamb of God has justified us and has spared us from the wrath because of sin. We can stand before God without fear. “Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” (Romans 5:9) The blood has made us alive spiritually. “Then Jesus says to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood, you do not have life in yourselves.” (John 6:53) The blood gives us power over the enemy. “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony. And they did not love their soul until death.” (Revelation 12:11) We have redemption and forgiveness of our sin because of the blood. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace,” (Ephesians 1:7). We are brought near to God because of the blood. “But now in Christ Jesus you who were once afar off are made near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:13) The blood has washed our evil conscious. “...let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies having been washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:22) And we can overcome by the blood of the Lamb. “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony. And they did not love their soul until death.” (Revelation 12:11)

In short, the blood of Jesus speaks to us of victory, new life, reconciliation with the Father. This is so different from the blood of Abel which cried out for justice. (Genesis 4:10) The blood of Jesus cries out mercy, love and forgiveness.