Let's Roll

On September 11, 2001 a scene played out in the skies over Pennsylvania.  Having heard of the plane crashes in New York and Washington, a group of passengers on flight 93 decide to take back control of their plane.  One passenger, Todd Beamer, who was talking on the phone with a customer service representative, was over heard saying to his fellow passengers "Let's Roll".  Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania.  Who knows where it would have crashed and how many would have otherwise died.

I wonder if the passengers of Flight 93 knew that they would likely die, or if they believed that they could save the plane.  It really doesn't matter because the risk was obvious and yet they stood up and did what needed to be done.  

There are countless stories of soldiers stepping up and putting themselves on the line.  The soldier that draws the enemy fire, goes back for an injured comrade, throw them self on a grenade.  They say, "Let's Roll"and get at it.

In the book, "The Knight", author Gene Wolfe tells the story of a man who awakes to find himself in a medieval world.  He is learning from a Knight who tells him that a knight must do as honor demands and never count his foes.  I have thought of that phrase over the years.  Never counting your foes means that just because the consequences are dire, does not mean that a wrong decision becomes a right one.  

Sometimes a job needs doing.  Such was the case with Jesus' return to Jerusalem.  It was ill advised and wrought with peril.  His closest friends were telling Him it was a bad idea,  But there was a job that needed to be done.  Humanity needed to be reconciled and Jesus was the one to do it.  

Watch this clip from Pastor Lowell.

There was a task that needed doing.  Humanity had a case of spiritual leprosy that was causing a separation with God.  There was only one person who could do the job.  It required the ultimate sacrifice and Jesus looked at his disciples and said, "Let's Roll."