People settle back into their seats for what they anticipate would be a quick and uneventful trip. Some travelers have made the trip many times and had become accustom to the takeoff routine and had dozed off. There was no reason to be afraid and no indication of the terrifying event they were about to experience. And then suddenly—without warning—it happened. Several thousand years ago an obscure and unimposing man sat riding on a donkey headed for Jerusalem—the city of God. It was the annual feast of Unleavened Bread and Passover. Faithful Jews had been making this pilgrimage for hundreds and hundreds of years. It was one of three feasts Moses said in the Law they were to faithfully keep (Exodus 12; De 16:16). The pilgrims had no reason to suspect this year would be any different. They were following a tradition that began in the days of Moses and the Exodus from Egypt. From birth Jews are taught the Passover, the rituals, and the significance that go with it. By adulthood any Jew could recite the Passover ritual practically in their sleep with little if no forethought. But this year’s Passover celebration was going to be different. The travelers to this year’s Passover will never forget the events of that day! Yet the attendees had no way of knowing what was about to happen… Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass (Zechariah 9:9). Holding the reigns of the donkey in his hands was The King they had longed for and been promised. But did they know who was at the controls that day? Captain Robert Pearson and First Officer Maurice Quintal were in the cockpit that day. Both were seasoned airline pilots and until now it was a routine flight. But suddenly an engine failed. Pilots are trained to fly a plane on one engine. Commercial aircraft must be designed and certified to fly on one engine. While the failure of an engine in-flight is a serious matter a veteran pilot knows how to handle this situation and can land the plane safely. But then the unthinkable happened; the second engine failed. And suddenly the 264,000 pound jet aircraft is reduced to a 132 ton glider (about the weight of a typical train locomotive). Jet aircraft are not designed like a glider. They are designed for powered flight. Although any airplane will glide for a short period of time it has no forward powered thrust to generate lift (lift keeps the plane in the air). Sir Isaac Newton’s Law of Gravity immediately begins to work on the air frame and it begins its rapid descent toward the ground. Unlike a typical “powered” landing Captain Pearson knows that he will have only one opportunity to land the plane; he will not get a second chance or “go around.” To further complicate the situation the pilot has to make a split second decision where to put the plane down. He doesn’t have the luxury to continue flying until he locates the nearest airport—if there even is one close by. The plane is rapidly losing altitude and he has to put the plane down while he still has control of the aircraft. In other words he has to make his own runway.  Thousands of years prior to this day another day dawned with no indication this day would be any different either. A man and a woman awoke from their sleep surround by peace and tranquility. They were in a right relationship with God and with each other; harmonies like few people if any have ever experienced. Yet on this day danger was lurking right around the corner and the plan of God for the—entire human race—would be forever and irreversibly altered; Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made (Gen. 3:1 ). Alas they were oblivious to the peril partly because they had no reason to be afraid as they had never experienced fear, pain, and sorrow. Another man found himself in a similar situation thousands of years in the future from that day. He also was in a good relationship with his Lord…or though he thought. He had nothing to worry about because he was with the Master. But his Master was troubled and wanted his friend to be aware that danger was lurking in the shadows that day: Jesus said… Simon, Simon…Satan has desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat…But I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not: and when you are converted, strengthen your brethren…Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, before you have denied three times that you know me (Luke 22:31-34).
Why God warned Peter of the approaching danger and not Adam is a question that has befuddled and mystified theologians for thousands of years. Regardless of the reason the consequences of Adam’s failing is still felt to this day. But again thousands of years from Adam… another Adam appeared (1Cor 15:45 ). This Adam knew what was at stake. He had prepared for this day. He knew who His enemy was (and ours) and He was not going to be bamboozled like the first Adam! And when [Jesus] was…at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice...Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke your disciples. And [Jesus] answered and said to them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If you had [only] known, even you, at least in today, the things which belong unto your peace! but now they are hid from your eyes (Luke 19:37). The people had no clue what the significance of that day was (although they had been foretold) and why Jesus had come, and what significance his death would play in their relationship with God. The good news is—unbeknownst to the people that day— God had prepared a Passover lamb to take away their sins and save them: The next day John [the Baptist] seeing Jesus coming to him, says, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Even before Adam ate from the forbidden tree God had made preparations for Jesus to be …the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Re 13:8). The creation of God has NEVER been in jeopardy although many people believe it was and still is. No one or no event will ever catch God flat-footed, unprepared, or off guard. God’s worst day is better than our best day (if God could have such a day)… For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God (1Co 3:19).
Providence had boarded the plane that day because Captain Pearson was an experienced glider pilot, which gave him familiarity with some flying techniques almost never used by commercial pilots. Pearson knew he needed to fly at a speed known as the "best glide ratio speed." This would maximize the range he could fly. First Officer Maurice Quintal was “cool under pressure” and making some quick calculations (using his best guess of current speed and altitude and how far they could glide) he quickly calculated that they did not have sufficient altitude to make it to the nearest airport and runway. Pearson would have to set the plane down wherever he could. The engineers at Boeing (the builder of the airplane) never expected anyone to try and glide one of their jumbo jets; furthermore as Pearson began gliding the big bird, Quintal scanned the flight manuals looking for procedures for dealing with the loss of both engines—there were none! They were about to attempt something that had never been done. Captain Pearson said in a report that he was thinking at the time "I wonder how it's all going to turn out."  Jesus was about to do something no mortal had even been able to accomplish; live a sinless life and die. Did he enjoy the thought of his death? Did he look forward to it? Did he question the outcome? Jesus praying in the garden said…Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done…And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground (Luke 22:42-43). He knew he would be successful but at great personal courage, suffering, passion, humiliation, pain, and love…Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb 12:2). There was NEVER any doubt Jesus would triumph because he loved his Father, and the Father loved him, and he submitted his will to the Father’s will. Jesus knew why he was here (unlike many people who stumble around asking the question what is the meaning of life?)…Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour (John 12:27). Jesus knew everything that he had done from birth until that very moment was leading him to the cross. He had spent 33+ ye ars preparing for this final hour.
As you have probably guessed by now Captain Pearson and his crew safely landed the plane and everyone onboard survived with no serious injuries. As you read the story you probably thought about the recent “miracle” of US Airways Flight 1549 (an Airbus 320) that ditched in the Hudson River on January 15, 2009. It lost both of its engines shortly after takeoff from New York City's LaGuardia Airport due to striking a flock of Canada Geese. As providence would have it the pilot of Flight 1549 was Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, a seasoned glider pilot, who was able to bring the plane down safely in the river with no serious injuries. However I am writing about Air Canada Flight 143 (a Boeing 767-200 jet) which lost both engines because it ran completely out of fuel on 23 July  1983. The crew was able to glide the aircraft safely to an emergency landing at Gimli Industrial Park Airport (you can read more about this amazing “miracle” at http://www.wadenelson.com/gimli.html). All three stories have a happy ending because the Captains at the controls were prepared for that moment, and were in the right place at the right time—coincidence? Or is the hand of God and his fingerprints all over the events? You decide!
—God’s Peace and Blessing, 
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© 2009 Curtis
W. Bond All rights reserved
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It started out as any other day. People were excited in their travels. Some people were going home; some were traveling on business; and some were on vacation. Regardless of the reason for being there they were happy travelers. As people came on board, stowed away their carryon luggage, and settled into their seats, there was no indication something terrifying would soon happen and their very survival would be doubtful.