Dear Readers,
After a long, busy month-- and an unannounced, unintended hiatus-- I'm back to writing! I have some exciting developments in the works as Mary&Marie heads into its second(!) year. Thank you to those who have continued checking this page- and apologies for the lack of content over the last few weeks!
If I haven't mentioned it before, I'm a huge Doctor Who fan. And, as I have been with my blogging recently, I'm behind on watching... by about a season. Today, I'm getting a bit of time to finish off Season 8's last few episodes in hopes of catching up on 9 this winter break.
I am 15 minutes into Dark Water (S8, E11). I had to stop. I had to write this.
I had to write this because, taken out of context (which, is mostly-spoiler-free if you're even less caught up than I am), at around 14 minutes in, the following conversation takes place:
I am 15 minutes into Dark Water (S8, E11). I had to stop. I had to write this.
I had to write this because, taken out of context (which, is mostly-spoiler-free if you're even less caught up than I am), at around 14 minutes in, the following conversation takes place:
Clara: You’re going to help me?
Doctor: Well, why wouldn’t I help you?
Clara: Because of what I just did- I just-
Doctor: You betrayed me. You betrayed my trust. You betrayed our friendship. You betrayed- everything that I've ever stood for. You let me down!
Clara: Then why are you helping me?
Doctor: Why? Do you think I care for you so little that betraying me would make a difference?
I'm not the first person to see Jesus while watching Doctor Who, and I won't be the last. But watching this, Christmas tree lit right next to the screen-- it just hit home.
This is what Christmas is all about, afterall. This is the Gospel.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son..."
Gave. To who?
"For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given..."
To us.
Why?
"that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
"while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
While we were still sinners. He came. While we were still sinners. He died. While we were still sinners. He saved. He helped. He healed.
While we were still sinners.
Despite all our betrayal. After the snake and the fruit in the garden. That time with the golden calf. That time the people stopped following God. And again. And again. And again...
We have betrayed Him. We have betrayed His trust. We have betrayed His friendship. We have betrayed everything He's ever stood for. We have let Him down.
But still...
But still an angel appeared announcing good news of great joy: the announcement of a Savior.
The good news is, in fact, this: that there exists Love so deep that it is bigger than betrayal. A love that is powerful enough to help, heal, forgive-- even when logic says it probably shouldn't. The gospel-- and Christmas-- is, in fact, the celebration of a paradox.
No, He didn't look like what we'd expected. But He never does, does He?
Taking away sin required spending time with sinners; healing required time with the sick. But, as Jesus himself said, that is what He came to do. That is precisely the job of a Doctor.
May we know this Christmas season that the hope we find in Jesus is that His care for us is just that great-- that all of our betrayals can't even make a difference.
This is what Christmas is all about, afterall. This is the Gospel.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son..."
Gave. To who?
"For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given..."
To us.
Why?
"that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
"while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
While we were still sinners. He came. While we were still sinners. He died. While we were still sinners. He saved. He helped. He healed.
While we were still sinners.
Despite all our betrayal. After the snake and the fruit in the garden. That time with the golden calf. That time the people stopped following God. And again. And again. And again...
We have betrayed Him. We have betrayed His trust. We have betrayed His friendship. We have betrayed everything He's ever stood for. We have let Him down.
But still...
But still an angel appeared announcing good news of great joy: the announcement of a Savior.
The good news is, in fact, this: that there exists Love so deep that it is bigger than betrayal. A love that is powerful enough to help, heal, forgive-- even when logic says it probably shouldn't. The gospel-- and Christmas-- is, in fact, the celebration of a paradox.
No, He didn't look like what we'd expected. But He never does, does He?
Taking away sin required spending time with sinners; healing required time with the sick. But, as Jesus himself said, that is what He came to do. That is precisely the job of a Doctor.
May we know this Christmas season that the hope we find in Jesus is that His care for us is just that great-- that all of our betrayals can't even make a difference.