Christ in Abel (1)

Genesis Ch 4 tells the story of the first family. It is a sad story of disobedience, deception, death, and discipline. Cain and Abel were the first brothers, but their relationship is certainly not the template to follow! Cain was "of that wicked one, and slew his brother" (1 John 3.12). 

However, alongside the hatred and murder, the rebellion and judgment of Cain, the character of Abel shines brightly, and we cannot help but see that he illustrates some of the features of the Lord Jesus Christ. We will consider three subjects as follows:

1. Abel's Shepherding

2. Abel's Sacrifice

3. Abel's Slaughter 

In this post, the first of these will be considered. 

Abel's Shepherding 

Abel was a shepherd, a "keeper of sheep" (Gen 4.2). This occupation was shared by many of the great Old Testament worthies: Abraham, Joseph, Moses, and David to name but a few. 

The shepherd must guide his sheep, guard his sheep and graze his sheep. Abel directed his sheep according what was best for them, he protected them in what had become a hostile environment, and he provided the necessary diet for them.

The title "shepherd" is lifted to sublime heights by King David who wrote the well known words of Psalm 23: "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want". In that Psalm he shows how he was guided by the LORD, "He leadeth me beside still waters ... He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake"; guarded by the LORD, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me"; and how he grazed upon the LORD's provision, "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures ...He restoreth my soul ... Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies: thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over". With such care and attention lavished upon him by the LORD, David concludes "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever" (Psalm 23.1-6)

In the New Testament, this Shepherd is revealed to be none other than the Lord Jesus Himself! While, as we noted, many Old Testament saints were shepherds, the One for whom the title "good shepherd" was reserved was the Lord Jesus. In John Ch 10 He states, "I am the good shepherd, the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep" (v11) and, "I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine" (v14).  

Being the good shepherd, the Lord demonstrated sacrificial love for His sheep, being willing to give His life for them (v11). He also has intimate knowledge of His sheep, and they know Him (v14).

Truly blessed are those who can say honestly, as David did in Psalm 23.1, "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want". To own Jesus as Lord, and to trust Him as Saviour, is to be assured of His shepherd care through life. Is He your Shepherd? If so, you can trust Him for the plan of your life, you can rest in His protection, and delight in His provision. He has promised that every one of His sheep are eternally secure in His hand (John 10.27-30)

 

"The King of Love my Shepherd is,

Whose goodness faileth never;

I nothing lack if I am His,

And He is mine forever."

(Henry W Baker. 1821-77)

Christ and His Bride

In Genesis 1 "God created man" and "male and female created He them" (v27). In Genesis 2, the Man and Woman are mentioned, and distinguished (v23). I would like to consider the relationship between man and woman, or more specifically, husband and wife, and draw some brief lessons about Christ and the Church. 

"And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him...And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.  And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man" (Gen 2.18, 21-22)

Notice: 

The Woman for the Man

It was God who saw that it was "not good that the man should be alone" and thus promised "I will make him an help meet for him". 

The woman was intended to be man's companion and complement. In Ephesians 1.22-23 we read that God has "put all things under [Christ's] feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him that fills all in all". The word "fulness" here can have the idea of completing and filling up. 

Thus, the Church, consisting of every believer of the present age who has trusted alone in Christ for salvation, is the Bride of Christ. We are "for" Him and are intended to be His companions, enjoying His company and fellowship.  "Christ is the head of the Church ..." (Eph 5.23), as such He has authority, and we should acknowledge this by obeying His Word. 

The Woman of the Man

"And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman". 

The woman was the product of man. Adam, having been put to sleep by God, produced by the power of God, his own bride, Eve. 

So Christ has produced His Bride, at the expense of His wounded side! He "hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us ..." (Eph 5.2). He "loved the church, and gave Himself for it ... " (Eph 5.25). 

The Woman unto the Man

He "brought her unto the man". Having been put to sleep, Adam was awakened to see the fruit of that sleep, his bride. So Christ will one day have presented to Himself His bride. He is going to present to Himself "a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing but ... holy and without blemish" (Eph 5.27). What a wonder for those who are saved. One day we will be face to face with the One who loved us and died for us. 

In the past, Christ died to purchase and produce His bride. In the future, He intends to present us to Himself. In the present He requires our fidelity to Him in His absence. He will soon come 'and receive us unto Himself, that where He is, there we shall be also' (see John 14). 

Christ - Perfect Man (Gen 1)

The 6th day of the Creation narrative includes God's words "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion ..." (Gen 1.26). 

This section reveals many truths about man as God intended him to be. He was to be God's Representative (image), he was to be God's Revealer (likeness). He was to Rule for God (have dominion). He had Responsibility to be "fruitful, and multiply" (1.28). 

These features of the 'ideal' man are seen perfectly in "the man Christ Jesus". 

As the Representative, He is the "image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation". 

The term "firstborn" refers to His rank, not His origin. He is ranked above Creation as being it's Creator (see Col 1.15-16). He represented God in His creation work. 

As the Revealer of God, the scriptures confirm that "no one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him" (John 1.18 NKJV). To see Him was to see the Father (John 14.9).

As the Ruler for God, we "see not yet all things put under him, but we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour" (Heb 2.9) and the assurance of God's Word is that "He must reign until He has put all enemies under His feet" (1 Corinthians 15.25). 

What about his Responsibility? Has He been fruitful for God? 

As to natural posterity, Isaiah records "who shall declare His generation? for He was cut off out of the land of the living" (Isaiah 53.8), but as to His spiritual progeny "He shall see His seed ... He shall see of the travail of His soul and shall be satisfied" (Isaiah 53.10-11). 

The fruitfulness of the Lord will be seen in a filled heaven. The "travail of His soul" was His suffering for our sins upon the Cross.

The human family has failed in most of these responsibilities, but One Man has been what God intended. He is "Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God" (Acts 2.22). 

Christ as Creator

The opening verse of Gods Word states that "God created the heavens and the earth" (Gen 1.1). 

In the New Testament, this creative act is linked with the Son of God. "All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made" (John 1.3).  We take a telescope and view the immensity of creation - "All things were made by Him". We take a microscope and view the intricacy of creation - "without Him was not even one thing made, that was made". 

The apostle Paul agrees. "For [in] Him were all things created ... all things were created [through] Him and for Him" (Col 1.16). Here the Son of God is viewed as the Architect ("in Him"), as the Agent ("through Him"), and as the Aim ("for Him") of creation. 

So, the Creator is the Christ, the Son of God. May we bow and worship Him. 

Christ in all the Scriptures

This blog is intended for the glory of God and the magnification of His Son Jesus Christ.

The goal is to expound "in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself" (Luke 24.27). Blog posts should be frequent but not daily.

My prayer is that, as Christians, our hearts will "burn within us" as we consider Christ in all the Scriptures.

May the Lord be pleased to use this for His own eternal glory.

David