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October 14, 2009

Blood cried out for vengence

Today I stumbled upon a verse in Hebrews that while obviously profound it had escaped my investigation. It references the blood of Abel, in Genesis 4.  The similarity and contrast between  Abel’s death and Jesus’ death are striking. Both are murdered, the murderers are driven by jealousy, Abel makes a sacrifice pleasing to God and Jesus, through His death, makes the perfect sacrifice. The blood of Jesus should have cried out for venegence. The blood of Jesus infinitely more than the blood of Abel had the right to be avenged. He was the Son of God who had lived a life without sin, so how much more should His blood be avenged?

But the blood of Jesus is different.

It doesn’t cry out for vengence.

It forgives.

His blood was shed at the hands of men, but in reality it was God who killed His Son by pouring upon Him the wrath that was meant for us because of our sin.

Shane and Shane had a song on their first album called simply “The Blood.”  I am once again deeply humbled that His blood cries “Forgive them Father!”

Oh, to be washed in that blood…

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