Amazing Grace is a Christmas carol. And if you’ve ever wondered what’s so amazing about grace in the first place, this story will help.
On December 20, 1943, West Virginia farm boy Charles “Charlie” Brown was flying his very first mission over Germany, piloting a B-17 Flying Fortress with bombs meant for an aircraft factory. But on the way, the bomber was hit by anti-aircraft flak that damaged two engines, making it impossible for Brown to keep up with his formation and leaving him extremely vulnerable. He came under heavy attack.
The bomber’s tail gunner was killed and most of the crew was wounded, including Brown who was hit in the right shoulder. The ravaged plane was 250 miles from base. On the ground, veteran Luftwaffe pilot Franz Stigler spotted the American plane and scrambled his Messerschmitt to intercept. He easily caught up with Brown’s crippled bomber and tried twice to force a landing. Brown stubbornly refused, bracing for the worst.
But with the injured American crew clearly visible through their bomber’s shattered frame, the German flyer recalled the words of a commander during training in north Africa. “You’re fighter pilots first, last, always.” the officer had said. “If I ever hear of any of you shooting at someone in a parachute, I’ll shoot you myself.” Describing his encounter with the American bomber years later, Stigler said, “To me, it was just like they were in a parachute. I saw them and couldn’t shoot them down.”
So the German eased in beside Brown’s B-17 and escorted it to the safety of the North Sea then pulled away with a salute. The Flying Fortress limped safely back to England where Brown was ordered not to talk about the incident. For his part, Stigler said nothing to his commanders, knowing he could be executed for sparing the enemy in combat. Ironically, the ace had 22 kills at the time. Downing one more enemy aircraft would’ve qualified him for the much coveted Knight’s Cross.
In 1953, Stigler moved to Canada and had a successful business career. Brown became a foreign service officer but was haunted by his near-death experience. When he retired, he searched for his angel of mercy and finally met him again after 40 years. The two became fast friends and stayed close until their deaths just months apart in 2008, their history of respect and compassion an inspiration to countless others.
In many ways, the story of Charlie Brown and Franz Stigler illustrates a core Christmas message. As the Bible explains, sin separates us from God. “You were his enemies,” Paul says, “separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions.” (Col. 1:21). In our sinful state, we deserve punishment but, like every loving Father, God is more interested in mercy and reconciliation than coldly meting out justice.
That’s not to say He can ignore justice. But instead of making us pay for our sin, He sent Jesus to take the pain and punishment that rightfully belong to us. As Paul puts it, “He has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ” so that, when the blood of Jesus washes away our sin, we’re “brought into his presence and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.” (v. 22) Did you get that? When we accept the cleansing of God’s mercy, we’re perfect in his sight.
In other words, even when we sin, Jesus doesn’t want to shoot us down, He wants to guide us home. When Mary pours out her heart to God when told she’ll deliver the Chosen One, she says of God, “He shows mercy from generation to generation… We’ve been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live. Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven [will] guide us to the path of peace.” (Luke 1, 50, 74,75)
That’s the “good news of great joy” shouted by angels when Jesus was born. Peace on earth, not between nations, but between God and his sinful, injured creatures who would finally qualify for forgiveness because of the Gift from heaven.
“For God didn’t send his Son into the world to condemn it [you], but to save it [you], through him.” (John 3:17)
Once we truly get that, we’ll seek Him and serve Him. We’ll let a loving Father make us whole, holy and complete, knowing that — even at our worst — God wants to finish us, not finish us off.