Rev. Mark Jasa, pastor of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Pasadena, CA joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study Genesis 4.

The story of Cain and Abel shows us the reality of this broken world: denial of faith, murder, death, curses, and covering up of sin. We see the work of humankind trying to gain their salvation by their work, like Cain’s offering, and it was the type of Christ, Abel, who was the innocent sacrifice. The blood of Abel was crying from the ground which points to the innocent shedding of blood of our Savior. Lamech’s proclaims a vengeance that is seventy-sevenfold toward those who oppose him, but Jesus proclaims that forgiveness is seventy-sevenfold to others who have wronged him. The love of God in Christ is blatantly different than the world as He loved the world and his blood cries out His forgiveness. “O Holy Spirit, by Your Word You call us righteous. Fill us with this righteousness and love so that we may find rest for our souls and a clear conscience in Christ. Lord have mercy. Amen”