Karl Wilhelm Otto Lilienthal (born in... - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.
Psalm 41:9

Karl Wilhelm Otto Lilienthal (born in Anklam in 1848) was able to fly successfully and repeatedly with a glider he designed and constructed himself. Lilienthal investigated the aerodynamic properties of wings, repeatedly undertook flight tests, and from 1891 developed the concept of the airfoil. No one doubts Lilienthal’s achievements. The situation is different, however, with a photograph showing the pioneer flying over Spandau in 1894. A scientist unmasked the photograph as a montage a few years ago. The photo shows Lilienthal flying his hang-glider over a town with a church tower and houses.

It is believed that the photographer produced it with a second exposure over a large-format paper print. The original image was taken at an airfield that Lilienthal used frequently. Fortunately, the photo was never published and therefore did not cast the photographer in a negative light afterwards. The photograph was only found in his estate – perhaps it was merely a gift given as a kind of joke from the photographer to the aviator.

Many of us probably know the uneasy feeling of being deceived, betrayed or cheated. And if it isn’t just a joke, it really hurts. This is how Jesus Christ must have felt when He was betrayed by Judas Iscariot, one of his twelve closest disciples. Unlike us, however, the Lord Jesus, as the Son of God, knew in advance that Judas would betray Him. And yet He deliberately chose to endure this betrayal. He allowed Himself to be innocently imprisoned and finally crucified on the shameful cross on the hill of Golgotha. He did this out of love to save those who were lost.

Today’s reading: Amos 5:14-27 · Proverbs 24:1-10