The Speaking Blood

"The blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel" (Heb. 12: 24). 

There is something in the above scripture that entrances and enraptures the soul like a chime of evening bells. If there is anything in all the Bible which inspires hope and courage into a fainting, despairing, tempest-tossed soul, it is the "blood."

Well do we remember how our souls, bodies, and entire beings are awakened when some one strikes up that old immortal hymn of Cowper's-

"There is a fountain filled with blood

Drawn from Immanuel's veins;

And sinners plunged beneath that flood

Lose all their guilty stains." 

There is nothing we could say or do that would touch the heart of God, and bring immediate relief, as quickly as pleading the blood.

The question may arise here, In what sense does it speak better things than that of Abel In order to properly answer this question we must first see what was the plea of Abel's blood In Genesis 4: 10, we read as follows: "What hast thou done The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground." Here we find the blood of Abel crying for revenge. The Mosaic law was based on this same principle. Therefore it demanded "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." But, thank God, the blood of Jesus speaketh better things!

I now proceed to show in what sense it speaketh better things than that of Abel.

First, it speaketh pardon for the vilest sinner. Under the law men were to be stoned when they had committed certain classes of sin. But under grace the blood cries, "Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely!" (Rev. 22: 17). "Neither do I condemn thee; go, and sin no more."

The next sense in which it speaketh better things than that of Abel is, it says, "Forgive and accept the backslider and prodigal." The blood of Abel cried, "Stone the traitor, and burn him, and his house, and all of his goods, in the valley of Achor"; but the blood of Jesus Christ cries, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1: 9). Again it cries, "If ANY MAN SIN, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous" (1 John 2:1).

A third sense in which it speaketh better things than that of Abel is, it sanctifies the soul and makes it holy. "Wherefore Jesus also that he might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate" (Heb. 13: 12).

Fourth-The next sense in which it speaketh better things than that of Abel is, it is our armor when in conflict with doubts, fears, sin and the devil. It is said that in South America, where the snakes are numerous, the birds have discovered a poisonous leaf which, when placed in their nests, prevents it from being robbed by the snakes. The leaf is perfectly harmless to the birds, but the very smell of it is deadly poison to the snakes; hence they cannot stand to come about it. Is not this a beautiful description of how the blood protects the child of God Satan, the old serpent, cannot stand the blood. When we begin pleading the blood he has to run. God would roll aside an unfinished world to come to the relief of a soul who was sincerely pleading the blood.

A fifth sense in which it speaketh better things than that of Abel is, it prevails for our mistakes. Since we are all human and compassed about with many a mental and physical imperfection, we are all subject to making mistakes, and sometimes very grievous and hurtful ones. At such times Satan tries to discourage us over them; but God knows that they are not wilful, therefore He covers them with the blood.

Sixth-Another sense in which it speaketh better things than that of Abel is, it is the signet that makes our prayers payable at the bank of heaven. Jesus said, "If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it." When we attach the name of Jesus to our prayers and send them up to the throne, that sacred name brings all the cruel scene of Calvary fresh to the mind of the Father, and He readily grants the petition for Jesus' sake.

Seventh-The last sense in which it speaketh better things than that of Abel is, it is the Christian's passport at the gate of pearl. We will not be admitted into heaven because we were members of the Methodist, Baptist, or any other church, but it will be because we have the blood of Jesus Christ upon our hearts. 

"His blood atoned for all our race,

And sprinkles now the throne of grace."