The Rescue Basket (Part 1)

Bible Reading: John 3:14-17

“Wow!” Kurt said as he scrambled aboard the helicopter. “This is so cool!”

He and his friend Jesse were taking a helicopter ride with Jesse’s Uncle Tyler, who was a pilot for an emergency helicopter service.

Kurt sat down in one of the seats. “I never thought I’d get a chance to ride in one of these!”

Uncle Tyler chuckled. “I always have eager passengers. Take my last one, for example. A couple of young guys were mountain climbing near here, and one of them fell over the edge of a cliff and landed on a ledge. He was trapped in an odd spot where no one could climb down to help him, so my partner and I had to fly in to rescue him. Now there was an eager passenger!”

“How did you get him out?” Kurt asked. “Was there room to land?”

“No,” replied Uncle Tyler, “but this helicopter has a lot of special equipment, like that rescue basket you see over there.” He pointed to a long wire mesh basket attached to a rope. “While I hovered the helicopter over the spot, one of my partners went down in the basket to the man on the ledge. He got him into the basket and brought him back up into the helicopter. That man was even more happy to be on board than you are.”

The boys strapped themselves into their seats. “You know, we’re something like that mountain climber,” Uncle Tyler said as he flipped some switches on the instrument panel. “He was helpless to save himself, and we’re helpless sinners who aren’t able to save ourselves either.”

“Yeah,” said Jesse. “That rescue basket was the only thing that could save him that day, and Jesus is the only one who can save us, right?”

“Exactly,” said Uncle Tyler. “He came down to earth and died on the cross so we could be saved. He’s the only one who can rescue us from sin and bring us into the safety of His family.”

“So we should be even more thankful than that mountain climber was,” Kurt replied. “His life on earth was saved for a while, but Jesus saves us for all eternity.”

“That’s right,” said Uncle Tyler. He revved up the helicopter’s engines. “Now prepare for takeoff!” – Harry C. Trover

How About You?

Did you know that Jesus came to earth to rescue you from sin and death? He paid the penalty for your sins on the cross so you could be saved and have eternal life. He is the only one who can rescue you from death and bring you into the safety of God’s family. Trust Him as your Savior, and thank Him for His gift of salvation. (To learn more, click the “Good News!” button in the right column of this page.)

Today’s Key Verse:
John 3:15 Everyone who believes in [Jesus] will have eternal life. (NLT)

Today’s Key Thought:

Only Jesus can rescue us from sin