On September 11, 2001, United Airlines flight 93 was hijacked, apparently headed for an unknown destination in Washington D.C. The passengers on board had learned via cell phones that two other hijacked flights had been deliberately flown into the World Trade Center towers in New York. One of the men on board is quoted as saying to his wife on the cell phone, “I know we’re all going to die. There’s three of us who are going to do something about it.”
The brave passengers on board did just that, and flight 93 crashed into the ground in Pennsylvania. Although forty-five people lost their lives in that crash, who can tell how many hundreds or even thousands of lives their heroic act may have saved?
We would not detract from the bravery of those on flight 93, but we must say that they were in a situation beyond their control. They knew that more than likely they would die, so they acted according to the dictates of those circumstances.
But it was not so with our blessed Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ! He was not a victim of circumstance. He was fully in control and perfectly knew what must be done.
He willingly put Himself in harm’s way, though none could take His life from Him. He laid it down of Himself, having power to lay it down and power to take it again (John 10:1818No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. (John 10:18)). The Son came from God’s eternal counsels (before earth’s foundations were laid) to suffer and die that we—sinners—might live.
What a God and Saviour! Because of what the Lord Jesus Christ did, each believer can say, “I am forgiven. His blood has washed my sins, with all their terrible guilt, away.” We now have a new life fit for heaven and a blessed hope for the future!
How can we express gratitude for such infinite love and grace? How can our thoughts or words tell out the value or plumb the depths of who He is and what He has accomplished? Though beyond our abilities, He has provided a way—simple, yet profound: a loaf and a cup on a table—His table—and a request that we remember Him in His death (Luke 22:14-2014And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. 15And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: 16For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 17And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: 18For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. 19And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. (Luke 22:14‑20)). What wonderful provision!
D. Martens