Introduction

‘But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they answered. “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!” “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!’ Matthew 27:20-23

The Jews wanted the king of glory crucified. They asked Pilate to release a criminal, Barabbas, but to crucify the sinless and the righteous. He asked them what crime he committed to deserve crucifixion but rather than answer his question, they shouted more loudly, ‘crucify Him’.

Here, we see that the Jews wanted the Lord to be taken away, having been incited by the Pharisees, the chief priests and the elders of the people. Indeed, he was eventually crucified, but He claimed the victory over death and the grave, 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 / 1 Corinthians 15:55-57.

Considering the need to prevent apostasy, the writer of Hebrews persuaded God’s people to move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and grow to become mature, not laying again the foundation of repentance, of faith, etc, Hebrews 6:1-8.

He then went on to show the possibility of falling away from faith even after going far in the practice of Christianity. With reference to Hebrews 6:6, the terrible aspect of falling away is that people in this state are described as ‘crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to public disgrace’, just like the Jews in the days of Pilate.

This is what happens when Christians fall away. They simply take the Lord away (out of their lives) and their end becomes worse than their beginning. We need to constantly be prayerfully alert to this possibility, ever focusing on Christ, setting our affections on things above, and constantly growing in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

‘Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so.  It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. Hebrews 6:1-8

‘For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.’ Hebrews 10:37-39

Prayer

Father, we thank you for loving us so much that you gave us your only Son to die in our stead. Please help us to truly love you and constantly desire to know more about Jesus.