Hebrews 12:24–The Voice of the Blood And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. The Epistle to the Hebrews is full of comparisons, including this chapter. In exhorting his readers to hold fast to the faith of Christ and to resist the temptation to return to Judaism, the apostle contrasts the two dispensations of God’s one covenant of grace, which are often spoken of as the Old and New Testaments. The law dispensation he covers in verses 18-21 and the gospel dispensation in verses 22-24. He is showing us that believers now have many advantages compared with former saints. In demonstrating the better arrangement we are now under he indicates seven things that we have come to by the grace of God. The last he mentions are Jesus and His atoning blood, because it is through Him and His sacrifice that we have access to all the rest. The new covenant is ever fresh, vital and effectual because of its great Mediator and High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ and His precious blood. Under the Old Testament Moses took animal blood and sprinkled it on the people, giving them lawful access to God (Exod.24:8). This rendered the worshippers ceremonially clean and able to take part in religious ordinances. In our text “the blood of sprinkling” represents the obedience to death of the Son of God. Christ’s death actually takes away sin and really brings sinners to God. The comparison Paul makes in the text is between Christ and Abel. Abel was a righteous man and the first believer to enter glory. Christ and Abel were alike in that they were both martyred and their blood shed by wicked men. Yet their blood speaks with very different voices. Firstly we see where their blood speaks. Abel’s blood speaks from the earth. The Lord said to Abel’s murderer Cain, “the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground” (Gen.4:10). It was the blood of man. The blood of Christ speaks in heaven. “By his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us” (Heb.9:12). It was the blood of a divine person who by His suffering, dying and rising again has opened the way to heaven to all believers. Secondly we see how their blood speaks. Abel’s blood speaks in Scripture. There we learn of his godly life and tragic death. “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh” (Heb.11:4). It is a good example for us of how we should be faithful to the will of God at all costs. The blood of Christ speaks directly to our soul. It concerns our greatest need. Christ’s death is more than an example for us; it is salvation. Shed once for sin, Christ’s blood is now sprinkled upon believing sinners. It purges the conscience from guilt: “How much more shall the blood of Christ...purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Heb.9:14). It purifies the heart from sin: “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified” (Heb.10:14). Finally we see what their blood speaks. Abel’s blood speaks of justice. It cries for vengeance upon the offender. Cain is driven out to become “a fugitive and a vagabond” in the earth (Gen.4:12). He is a type of the guilty, unrepentant soul. Abel’s blood has a warning voice for the unbeliever. The blood of Christ speaks of peace. It pleads for mercy. Divine justice has been satisfied and the wrath of God pacified by our Saviour. Therefore a full and free pardon is extended to all who will receive it, however great their sin. “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Col.1:14). Our guilt being removed, fellowship with God is restored. “Having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself” (Col.1:20). Mercy, pardon, reconciliation, salvation – these are the “better things” which Christ’s blood speaks to us. Christ’s blood has a most comforting voice for the believer. Have we heard its voice? Have we turned from our sins? “See that ye refuse not him that speaketh” (v.25).