Adam and Eve had two sons, Cain the older, and Abel the younger. Outside of Eden, Cain was a shepherd while Abel was a farmer (Genesis 4:2).
The two boys, raised in the same household, were given the same training. Doubtless, their education included the stories of unhindered communion with the Living God, the tragedy of the first sin and innocence-lost, their attempt to appease God and cover their shame and sin, and God gracious intervention with the miraculous coats of fur. Surely, Adam and Eve explained to their sons the fruitlessness of fig-leaf, works-based religion and the powerful grace of His substitutionary sacrifice.
In the course of time, the boys went to worship. Cain rebelled in three ways. First, Cain didn’t follow God’s pattern. His offering was bloodless. “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22). Second, he offered the product of his own efforts. “A person is not justified by … works” (Galatians 2:16). And third, his offering came from the cursed ground (Genesis 3:17)
The younger brother, Abel, was obedient to God’s unrecorded instructions. Following the divine pattern, an innocent, sinless lamb was sacrificed to atone for sin. “By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts” (Hebrews 11:4). “The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but he did not have regard for Cain and his offering” (Genesis 4:4-5).
“Cain was furious” (Genesis 4:5). With jealousy and pride, Cain murdered his brother (Genesis 4:8). Cain treated his brother much like the religious leaders treated Jesus. With jealousy and pride, they murdered him by nailing Him to a cross. In this way, Abel foreshadows Jesus.
The writer to the Hebrews concludes, “even though (Abel) is dead, he still speaks through his faith” (Hebrews 11:4). His “blood cries out” (Genesis 4:10).
“Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant … says better things than the blood of Abel” (Hebrews 12:24). How is Jesus better?
Abel died, a righteous man.
Jesus died, a perfect man.
Abel died, and his blood cries out for mercy.
Jesus died, and His Royal blood covers our sin and cries out in victory.
Abel died.
Jesus died, overcame death, and lives forever.
“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).
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