Nothing But The Blood: A Better Word

| By Brother Bill In Letters from Bill |

But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. Hebrews 12:22-24 NIV

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I wrote recently about those Bible verses that contain words and phrases that seem to “jump out” at us when we read them because they’re contained in familiar songs of praise and worship.

Well, I had that experience just the other day when Hebrews 12:24 grabbed my attention. All at once I heard this song in my mind. Are you familiar with it?

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Your blood speaks a better word
Than all the empty claims I’ve heard upon this earth
Speaks righteousness for me
And stands in my defense
Jesus, it’s Your blood

What can wash away our sins?
What can make us whole again?
Nothing but the blood
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

What can wash us pure as snow
Welcomed as the friends of God?
Nothing but Your blood
Nothing but Your blood, King Jesus

Your cross testifies in grace
Tells of the Father’s heart to make a way for us
Now boldly we approach
Not earthly confidence
It’s only by Your blood

The wording of verse 24 in other translations is not the same as in the NIV. If I had been reading one of these perhaps I would not have recognized the “song lyric.” Perhaps, too, this is the way the Lord works with us.

At first, the words “speaks a better word” caused me to think of this song. Then, working as only the Lord does, He began to speak His “better word” to me.

He led me to read this verse in several other translations which gave me greater insight.

And to Jesus, the Mediator (Go-between, Agent) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood which speaks [of mercy], a better and nobler and more gracious message than the blood of Abel [which cried out for vengeance]. Amp

You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel. Heb 12:24 NLT

This, in turn led me to Genesis 4:10 — to which this verse refers.

But the LORD said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground!

And then He filled me with the realization—once again—of what Jesus did for us.

Abel’s blood cried out for vengeance and judgment. And God had to respond. But under the new covenant Jesus became our Mediator with the Father. His atoning blood does not cry out for judgment but secures our acceptance by God. As the song says, the blood of Jesus speaks righteousness for me and stands in my defense.

And what of all those “empty claims?”

Nothing will make me righteous in the eyes of God except the blood of Jesus.

I cannot work to attain it, I cannot perform religious exercises and rituals nor can I repeat this life over and over until my “karma” is right.

We are saved only by the blood of Jesus.

“But Bill,” you might say, “I know all this. What’s the big insight?”

Yes, we know all this; we talk to each other about it. We might even say, “Yes, Amen!”

But today, pause and think on it. Read the words to the song. Read Hebrews 12:12-29. Ask the Lord to fill you with the realization of these things–not just in your head, but in your heart.

Contemplate these things and you will be awed by them and, perhaps, more inclined to fulfill your calling to the greatest benefits our new covenant provides.

Jesus, it’s Your blood.

Love,
Brother Bill

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