Hebrews 9:12 “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”

John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

On January 13, 1982, Air Florida Flight 90 crashed into the 14thStreet Bridge shortly after takeoff from Washington National Airport.  The pilots on that day failed to activate the engine anti-ice systems and neglected to use proper procedures in the icy conditions they faced.  All passengers and crew members were killed as a result, except for five fortunate ones.  In part, those who survived had a fellow passenger to thank – Arland D. Williams Jr.  

After the crash, six survivors clung to the floating tail section of the wreckage.  They had miraculously survived the force of the crash, and were now facing a frigid death prompted by the ice-cold water engulfing them.  The race was on to save them, and hope came in the form of a U.S. Park Police helicopter that scrambled to the scene to lower ropes and drag these survivors to safety. Repeatedly, Williams was the first one to reach the rope, and each time he passed it on to the others to be dragged to safety.  About the time when the fifth survivor reached the safety of the river bank, the tail sunk beneath the icy water and Williams perished.  His identity was only known a year later when each of the bodies was recovered from the river and all the autopsies were performed.  He was the only victim whose cause of death was drowning, not blunt force trauma.  Arland Williams had sacrificed himself to save others.  He passed the lifeline at his own expense.

As we move on from the miracle celebrated at Christmastime to begin our New Year, may we never forget that our Lord sacrificed himself to save us all.  He passed us a lifeline at His own expense.  Though he had all the prerogatives of heavenly regality, He came to this earth to drag us to safety.  PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD SHARE THE SAVING NEWS OF CHRIST WITH THE PERISHING WORLD AROUND US.  Our testimonies and our witness can pass the rope of salvation on to others so they too can be dragged to safety.