Military Devotion – MAYDAY. MAYDAY. MAYDAY. – March 27, 2026

The call comes through on VHF Channel 16, “MAYDAY. MAYDAY. MAYDAY.” Help me! The vessel is taking on water. There is a medical emergency. The vessel is on fire. Help me!  

When that distress signal comes in, the U.S. Coast Guard gathers the critical information, broadcasts an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast to nearby vessels and then dispatches rescue assets like a boat or helicopter. A rescue swimmer is often a member of the MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew deployed to respond to a distress call.  

Last month off the coast of Washington state, Petty Officer 2nd Class Tyler Jaggers was that rescue swimmer, deployed to help a distressed mariner aboard a large vessel. As Coast Guard aircrews and rescue swimmers have done thousands of times before, Tyler put his life in danger so that others may live. Unfortunately, Tyler gave the ultimate sacrifice and died in the line of duty. Someone called out, “Mayday. Help me.” and he responded.   

For over 1,000 years God’s people cried out, “Help me.” The word they used wasn’t “Mayday” but “Hosanna”, which means, “Save!” On a Sunday around 30AD people lined the road that led down the Mount of Olives into the city of Jerusalem and issued a distress signal, “Hosanna! Save us!” They were already drowning… in all that they had failed to do right and in all they had done wrong in God’s sight. They needed someone to rescue them and they saw their rescuer. His name was Jesus. He came riding into the city, not on an aircraft or maritime vessel, but on a donkey. He had come to save knowing the dangers to his own life, knowing he would die in this rescue operation, but others would live.   

2,000 years later we send that same ancient distress signal on that same radio frequency, “Hosanna! Come and save us!” Jesus answers that call every single time. For all that we have not done and all we have done wrong in God’s sight that makes us feel as if we are drowning in the sorrow over our sins, Jesus comes riding in through his words, “He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8) to save you. Every single time we issue the Mayday distress signal, “Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Matthew 21:9).  Jesus comes riding in – in a very real way – through body and blood in bread and wine so that you may live.  

When you feel overwhelmed by your sin and guilt, send out the distress signal, “MAYDAY. MAYDAY. MAYDAY.” “Hosanna! Come and save me, Lord Jesus!” and he will respond with free and full forgiveness so that you may live.