Shadows

"To Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel." -Hebrews 12:24

 This semester in our YDJ campus meetings we are talking about different people from the old testament and how they are shadows of Jesus. The first presentation was on Adam. We learned that through Adam sin entered the world and man became mortal. However, through Jesus, who is the last Adam, we received forgiveness of sins and life. I found it interesting to see the similarities and differences between Jesus and Adam. The second person that we talked about was Abel. I had the privilege to give a presentation this time, which was a great learning experience. I had never looked into the story of Cain and Abel with such detail. Here I saw God's love and mercy for all sinners, like Cain. He knew Cain's heart and warned him with these words, "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it" (Genesis 4:7)He gave him a chance to change his heart, but sadly the jealousy was stronger and in his anger he killed his brother Abel. We again looked at the similarities between Jesus' death and Abel's death. We could see how Jesus blood brought life, healing, and atonement, but Abel's blood brought death and hopelessness. This is why Jesus' blood speaks a better word than that of Abel. Abel's blood was poured out because of revenge and Jesus' blood was poured out because of our sins. It was God's plan to sacrifice his only son. He willing gave him up for us. However, when Abel's blood poured out into the ground it cried out to God (Genesis 4:10). God was sad when Abel was killed. He could rejoice in Jesus' death, though, because through Jesus he reconciled us with Him. No one else's blood could have saved us except for that of Jesus. He is the way, the truth, and the life.