2. Abel: A Type of Christ.

1. Shepherd

Abel was a keeper of sheep or a shepherd. Genesis 4:2. “Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.” Scriptures tell Jesus is the Shepherd according to Psalm 23 and John 10:11-14. It was also prophesied that He would be the Shepherd. “Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, against the Man who is My Companion,” says the Lord of hosts. “Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; then I will turn My hand against the little ones.” The Lord quoted this same verse when He told the disciples that they would forsake Him. Peter denied it, but we know the Scriptures cannot be broken. (Matt 26:31).

2. Sacrifice

Both men’s sacrifice was pleasing to God. Genesis 4:4 says, “Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering.” God respected Jesus and His offering. Eph 5:2 says, “And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” 1 Peter 1:3-4 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.” 

3. Murder

Both men were killed by their brethren. Abel was killed by his brother Genesis 4:8. “Now Cain talked with Abel, his brother, and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel, his brother and killed him. His own brethren killed Jesus. Matthew 27:22, “Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!” John 19:6 “Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.”

4. Blood Speak.

The blood of both men spoke. Genesis 4:10, “And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.” Hebrew 12:24, “to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

5. Both Walked In Faith.

Both men had faith in God. Abel acted on his faith by sacrificing the firstborns to God. Numbers 3:13, “Because all the firstborn are Mine. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They shall be Mine: I am the Lord.” The first always belongs to God, which is littered in the Scriptures. There are five kinds of fruit fruits in the Bible and all point to God. For example, Exodus 4:22 says, “Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Israel is My son, My firstborn.” Hebrews 11:4. “By faith, Abel offered God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts, and through it he being dead still speaks. We had Jesus when we were still sinning. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God gave Jesus to us, believing that we will turn to Him for salvation.

6. Killers Were Cursed.

“When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth.” (Gen 4:12). A vagabond is a wanderer, and a fugitive means escapee. Matthew 27:24-25 “When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.”” In March 70AD, the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the second temple. We know about the Holocaust in World War II, when 6million Jews were killed and gassed. These people said they wanted the blood on them and their children. 

7. Envy

Abel’s brother killed him due to envy. Genesis 4:5, “But He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.” Cain was envious because God did not accept his offering. The Pharisees handed over Jesus to the Romans due to envy. Matthew 27:18-18. “Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.”

8. Lamb Without Blemish.

Abel offered the firstborn lamb without blemish. Genesis 4:4 in the NLT says, “Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The LORD accepted Abel and his gift.” Jesus Christ offered himself as a lamb without blemish. “The next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” ( John 1:29). For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21). “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” (Rev 12:11). Abel gave a lamb; Jesus is the Lamb.

9. Righteous

Both men were righteous. Hebrews 11:4, “By faith, Abel offered God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it, he being dead still speaks. Luke 23:47, “So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous Man!”

10. Public Acceptance.

God accepted Abel’s offering in front of Cain. Genesis 4:4-7. God accepted Jesus Christ as His Beloved in front of people. (Matthew 17:5, Mark 9:7, Luke 9:35, Matthew 3:17).