Their Blood Still Speaks
Blake Heffner May 28th, 2006
“Their Blood Still Speaks” May 28, 2006
Genesis 4:10-11 in the NET Bible(r)" rel="external">Genesis 4:10-11 Hebrews 11:4, 32-40; 12:1-3, 22-24
1. The notion of blood having a voice, [Abel]
Genesis 4:10 contains the strange notion that Abel’s blood actually had a voice which God heard from heaven. This is a metaphorical way of speaking, but this morning we’re going to let’s take that image and run with it. Abel was slain by his brother - an innocent victim - and God says that he heard Abel’s blood crying from the ground. What was it crying for? We get a clear picture in the Letter to the Hebrews when the author takes up the same metaphor and compares the blood of Jesus with the blood of Abel - each of which still “speaks.” Clearly the author is contrasting the two:
The blood of Abel cries out for vengeance and punishment
The blood of Jesus speaks of pardon and mercy
The blood of Abel screams for guilt and condemnation
The blood of Jesus speaks of grace and acquittal of the guilty
The blood of Abel speaks of alienation and permanent separation
The blood of Jesus of reconciliation and communion
The blood of Abel rails against hatred, bigotry and violence
The blood of Jesus proclaims love and peace
The blood of Abel calls for death and destruction
The blood of Jesus promises re-creation and eternal life
The blood of Abel cries of bondage and oppression
The blood of Jesus proclaims deliverance to captives and freedom
The list could go on, but you get the message. The blood of Abel speaks of the old covenant - an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, where revenge and retribution are the order of the day. You got what you paid for in those days. The blood of Jesus, on the other hand, has inaugurated a new covenant - a new relationship with the living God, wherein:
those who are guilty receive mercy,
those who are stained by sin receive cleansing,
those who are alienated from God and people are reconciled again,
those who deserve a death sentence inherit eternal life,
and those who suffered in bondage to the old nature are set free for a totally new life.
This is what we proclaim every time we come to the font of baptism. This is what we stand for whenever we come to the Lord’s Table for Holy Communion. There really is a difference between BC and AD - that is, life before Christ, and life after we receive Christ. Too many folks in our society, even in our churches, still live in BC. The Church’s mission is to invite everyone to experience AD - life in Christ, a new life powered by his Holy Spirit! Friends, if this is not your present reality, if you are not sure what will happen to you when your days on earth are done, then I urge you to stop right now - in the middle of this message - and have a conversation with the living God. Don’t leave here this morning in BC. Don’t leave here without beginning a personal relationship with Jesus Christ…
2. The blood of those who have died for this nation still speaks
It’s curious that the word in Genesis 4 for blood is actually plural, meaning “bloods.” What could it mean that Abel’s bloods cry out? Could it be that the blood of everyone who dies as a victim of violence cries out to God?
Tomorrow is Memorial Day, when we as a nation are to remember those who have died for this country. This afternoon many people will gather in the cemetery across the road for this very thing, and to dedicate a new veterans’ memorial down by the municipal building. You are cordially invited to join us. For the moment, let’s ponder how the blood of these heroes might still be speaking to us.
A. Their blood speaks of love - love of country.
These men and women were willing to put the greater good of their nation before their own agenda. Their blood speaks of sacrifice. Jesus said: “There is no greater love [in all the world] than to put your life on the line for your friends” (Jn. 5:13). Such love is in rather short supply these days. You can see this in the world of sports. People are making a big deal about Aaron Rowand, who plays for the Philadelphia Phillies. He recently crashed into the centerfield wall making a great catch - and broke his nose in the process. He sacrificed his body for the team. He is being hailed as a hero - and rightfully so! By contrast, years ago, the Eagles had a running back named Ricky Watters, who was criticized for not catching a pass over the middle because he knew he would be creamed by hard-hitting defenders. “For who? For what?” he protested.
Friends, there are too many folks living by the creed “For who? For what?” these days. “Self-centeredness” is rampant in our day, and many think they’re entitled to feel that way. How appalling this would look to those who paid the ultimate price for our country. Their blood cries out to us to be willing to make sacrifices for our communities and our nation, even costly ones. Patriotism is not about waving the flag; it’s about stepping up to the plate and serving wherever we can - out of love.
B. Their blood speaks of liberty and justice for all people!
Yesterday, I had the privilege to officiate at a wedding of two second-generation Taiwanese people. I met their parents and aunts and uncles - many of whom have Ph.D.s and teach at our finest institutions of learning. The wedding participants included a variety of people from the world’s great religions: Judaism, Hinduism, Bahai, and Presbyterianism. It was a sight to behold: There was such affection and mutual respect among these young people. I think that some of our heroes died for the idea of religious freedom and toleration. Their blood still speaks to us of liberty for all, in a world of intolerance, where millions continue to be persecuted for their faith.
Think about this: every one of us is descended from an immigrant. We are here because the United States of America was founded upon the principle that all people are equally worthy of respect and economic opportunity. The Statue of Liberty welcomes newcomers from all over the world with these words:
“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
I believe that the blood of our heroes cries out for us to live up to such noble hospitality. It wasn’t long ago that the Taiwanese people I just mentioned faced terrible prejudice. Today, they are more accepted, for they have excelled. Now, folks aim at others who are poor, homeless, and tempest-tossed - from places like Haiti or Cuba or Mexico. They are the current “wretched refuse,” the huddled masses yearning to breathe free. There is no simple solution to the complicated situation of illegal immigrants. But, would you not agree that the blood of our heroes compels us to stand for “liberty and justice and opportunity for all decent people?”
We, as Christians, have to bring it down to a personal level - to be open and hospitable to people who do not look like us, dress like us, or even speak like us - because we were once such people.
3. Jesus’ blood: speaks of freedom and hope, eternal life
We could go on and on considering what the blood of those who have died in serving our country is saying to us - and we should tell their stories. Surely their blood speaks of bravery and courage, loyalty and commitment, obedience to authority, perseverance and the hope that truth and goodness will ultimately triumph. Ah, that brings us back to our scripture lesson. It is a beautiful picture to imagine: those who have gone before us are still alive. They surround us like the fans in a stadium at an Olympic track meet. They are cheering for us now to run toward the goal. It is only because of that sprinkled blood of Jesus that we can be sure that they are living. His blood promises that death has no more sting; it speaks to us of eternal life, the ultimate victory of good over evil and truth over falsehood. It is the blood of Jesus that enables us to throw off everything that hinders us, even sin that entangles us. His blood liberates us to run with perseverance and hope the race God has set before us. Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus - and we will not grow weary or lose heart. We will not fail those who have paved the way for us with their precious blood.
Silent reflection on the list of fallen heroes…
Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. We bless you for the men and women who have loved this country enough to sacrifice their very lives to perpetuate our way of life. Their blood still speaks loudly of freedom of speech and religion, equality of opportunity and justice for all people. Make us worthy of their legacy. Help us to keep it alive in our own time and pass it along to our children. In the name of Jesus Christ, whose blood has opened the door to your eternal kingdom for all. Amen.
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