Devotion

After Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden they had two sons, Cain and Abel. Abel was a shepherd and Cain was a farmer (Gen. 4:2). They both sacrificed their offerings to God. God accepted Abel’s offering. But he did not accept Cain’s. Heb.11:4 tells us, “Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did.” We do not know what made Cain’s offering inferior. Perhaps he did not sacrifice to God the best of his crops. Or maybe his heart was not right, and he offered his sacrifice reluctantly. In any case, God accepted the offering of Abel but not that of Cain. Cain could have repented, but instead his heart was filled with a jealous rage. God warned him (Gen. 4:6-7). But Cain did not heed God’s Word.

In a fit of jealous rage, Cain “attacked his brother and killed him” (Gen. 4:8). Abel did not deserve to die. He did nothing wrong. Yet, he was the victim who suffered at the hands of a sinful man. Innocent blood was shed. Later, the Lord came to Cain and said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground” (Gen. 4:10).

So it is with Jesus. He was as innocent as Abel. Jesus had done nothing wrong. He was guilty of no crime. He was completely without sin (1 Pet. 2:22). Yet, his innocent blood was shed on the cross. By whom? By His brothers! You and I—we are His brothers and sisters in our humanity. His death is our fault. It is not the Father’s fault, although He sent Jesus into the world to die (Is. 53: 6-7). It is not Satan’s fault even though he convinced Judas to betray Him (Luke 22:3). It is the fault of sinful humanity. Our sins nailed Jesus to the cross. Our sins made His innocent death necessary (1 Pet. 2:24). We are as guilty of Jesus’ death as Cain was of Abel’s.

Yet there is a vital difference. Abel’s blood cried out for vengeance. Abel’s blood caused Cain to be cursed (Gen. 4:10-11); whereas, the blood of Jesus, “speaks a better word than the blood of Abel” (Heb. 12:24). The blood of Jesus causes us to be blessed. The blood of Jesus “purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:7), and reconciles us to God (Col. 1:19-20). Jesus died on the cross and shed His innocent blood for you.

Glory be to Jesus, Who in bitter pains

Poured for me the life-blood from His sacred veins.

Abel’s blood for vengeance pleaded to the skies

But the blood of Jesus for our pardon cries. (Glory Be to Jesus, stanza 1, 4)

Prayer: Dear Jesus, I thank You that You did not hold my sins against me. But You loved me so much You were willing to go to the cross and have Your innocent blood shed for me so that I could have the forgiveness of all my sins and be reconciled to our heavenly Father. Help me to trust in your work always. Amen.

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Updated: Friday February 08, 2008