Betrayal & Grace: When Doctor Who Gets All “Jesus-ee”

God I love Doctor Who!  

And admittedly I love Doctor Who even more in the episodes where the Doctor gets all…well…um

Jesus-ee

Yes, like Aslan (and Willy Wonka) our beloved Time Lord Doctor Who tends to often say, do, and act in ways most associated with a certain Son of God I tend to write about a lot.

No more so than last week’s episode Dark Water which spoke unconditional love and grace as beautifully as I’ve ever seen it done on TV.

If you are not a Doctor Who fan (you should be) stick with me a moment. In the following scene the Doctor’s companion Clara is grief stricken over the senseless death of her finance Danny in a car accident.  In her mind she feels she is owed help by the Doctor and concocts a plan that involves threatening to destroy the TARDIS (the police box the Doctor travels in) if he doesn’t help her alter time to bring him back.

After one of the most tense scenes in Doctor Who history in which the Doctor reveals again he has everything under control he lets Clara know that despite her betrayal of his trust, he’s still going to help her find Danny :

Clara: Well, what do we do now?  You and me, what happens now? (Pause) Doctor?

The Doctor: (Calmly) Go to Hell

Clara: (Clearly hurting) Fair enough…absolutely fair enough…

Clara begins to walk towards the TARDIS exit.  The Doctor looks at her confused

The Doctor: Clara (Clara turns)  You asked me what we’re going to do.  I told you.  We’re going to hell or wherever it is people go when they die…if there is anywhere.  Wherever it is we are going to go there and find Danny.

Clara: (In disbelief) What?

Clara receiving grace!

The Doctor: And if it is anyway possible, we’re going to bring him home.

Clara: (Beginning to cry) You’re going to help me?

The Doctor: Well why wouldn’t I help you?

Clara: Because of what I just did because...

The Doctor: You betrayed me.  You betrayed my trust, you betrayed our friendship, you betrayed everything I ever stood for. (Angry) You let me down!

Clara: Then why are you helping me?

The Doctor: (In disbelief) Why?  (Walks toward Clara) Do you think I care for you so little that betraying me would make a difference?

(It was about here where my eyes welled up)

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Grace!

It’s why Jesus could still called Judas friend at the Last Supper despite his betrayal

It’s why Jesus could still commission Peter for ministry despite his denial

It’s why God can still consider us his children despite our (often) rejection of him

And of course the Doctor is willing to go even to hell to rescue Danny.  Isn’t Jesus all about descending even into the depths of hell itself in order to bring his loved ones home?

Interestingly after Clara’s betrayal she is insecure about her relationship with The Doctor.

She expects rejection and judgement…

Instead The Doctor gives her unconditional acceptance and friendship.

As Christians we often ask the question Clara did after her betrayal.  “What now Lord?  What about us?  Where do we go from here?”

Do we think the Maker of Heaven will be less gracious than a fictional character on TV?

I think not…