So I've been watching a lot of Doctor Who lately. Over the summer I watched much of the classic Who available on Netflix, including quite a bit of the "Key to Time" storyline. Lately I've been watching "Nu Who".
Today I watched both "The End of Time" which is our last storyline with Mr. Tennant (apart from "The Time of the Doctor" 50th Ann. Special) and also "Into the Dalek"; our second full experience with Mr. Capaldi on Doctor Who.
What has been amazing to watch is how both these story-lines show an attempt to win over a mortal enemy. In "The End of Time" the Doctor takes on the Master. The Master has implanted himself into all humans around the world through a device that was part of a space ship that fell. He intends, as always, to take over the universe.
"You are so brilliant. So beautiful" Says the Doctor. "Come with me. You don't need to own the whole universe; just see it!" He tries so hard to get the Master to change. Of course, the Master refuses and the Doctor has to run away for a time while he figures out what to do.
Jesus said the following about enemies:
"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. "If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. "If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount." Luke 6:32-34
In "Into the Dalek" we have this weird experience of a Dalek that has seen that Dalek's must be stopped. He is damaged and the Doctor and a few people actually miniaturize to go inside the Dalek to find what is wrong and fix it. The Dalek, who was named Rusty by the Doctor, talks of seeing the birth of a star. "Resistance is futile" he says, trying to explain to the Doctor that as much as Daleks try to destroy life, it will always be rebuilding itself.
After repairing the Dalek, it starts back into normal "dalekism". Rusty starts attacking the rest of the ship's crew and then sends out a signal to a large Dalek ship which brings more Daleks on board. While the Doctor starts to point out how evil Daleks always are, Clara looks at him. "Is that what we've learned here today?" she asks him. No. It isn't.
What we learned is that even Daleks can be reached; at least to a point. As Clara climbs around in a Dalek's memory center to bring back the image of a star being born; the Doctor goes to be face to face with Rusty and gives him a link to his mind.
After seeing the beauty of a star being born and seeing more beauty in the Doctor's mind; he starts a change of mind. Now, the Dalek doesn't quite take the lesson as the Doctor wants him to...but he does change. He stops the Dalek attack on the Aristotle and changes to a new trajectory in life. Unfortunately the most impacting find in the Doctor's mind was his hatred of Daleks.
Jesus told us to pray for those who persecute us and love those who hate us. This is hard to live out. As the song "Jesus, Friend of Sinners" by Casting Crowns says:
"No one knows what we're for only against when we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like you did"
You don't have to start big. You can start small, like saying "hi" or getting someone a cup of coffee or water. But Jesus calls us to start somewhere.
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| Announcing that the Master will be in "The End of Time". |
Today I watched both "The End of Time" which is our last storyline with Mr. Tennant (apart from "The Time of the Doctor" 50th Ann. Special) and also "Into the Dalek"; our second full experience with Mr. Capaldi on Doctor Who.
What has been amazing to watch is how both these story-lines show an attempt to win over a mortal enemy. In "The End of Time" the Doctor takes on the Master. The Master has implanted himself into all humans around the world through a device that was part of a space ship that fell. He intends, as always, to take over the universe.
"You are so brilliant. So beautiful" Says the Doctor. "Come with me. You don't need to own the whole universe; just see it!" He tries so hard to get the Master to change. Of course, the Master refuses and the Doctor has to run away for a time while he figures out what to do.
Jesus said the following about enemies:
"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. "If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. "If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount." Luke 6:32-34
In "Into the Dalek" we have this weird experience of a Dalek that has seen that Dalek's must be stopped. He is damaged and the Doctor and a few people actually miniaturize to go inside the Dalek to find what is wrong and fix it. The Dalek, who was named Rusty by the Doctor, talks of seeing the birth of a star. "Resistance is futile" he says, trying to explain to the Doctor that as much as Daleks try to destroy life, it will always be rebuilding itself.
After repairing the Dalek, it starts back into normal "dalekism". Rusty starts attacking the rest of the ship's crew and then sends out a signal to a large Dalek ship which brings more Daleks on board. While the Doctor starts to point out how evil Daleks always are, Clara looks at him. "Is that what we've learned here today?" she asks him. No. It isn't.
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| Found on Denofgeek.com |
What we learned is that even Daleks can be reached; at least to a point. As Clara climbs around in a Dalek's memory center to bring back the image of a star being born; the Doctor goes to be face to face with Rusty and gives him a link to his mind.
After seeing the beauty of a star being born and seeing more beauty in the Doctor's mind; he starts a change of mind. Now, the Dalek doesn't quite take the lesson as the Doctor wants him to...but he does change. He stops the Dalek attack on the Aristotle and changes to a new trajectory in life. Unfortunately the most impacting find in the Doctor's mind was his hatred of Daleks.
Jesus told us to pray for those who persecute us and love those who hate us. This is hard to live out. As the song "Jesus, Friend of Sinners" by Casting Crowns says:
"No one knows what we're for only against when we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like you did"
You don't have to start big. You can start small, like saying "hi" or getting someone a cup of coffee or water. But Jesus calls us to start somewhere.
Looking at the heart of The Doctor, the Dalek saw beauty and hatred. This truly points out what dwells in the heart of mortals. The divine imago Dei as well as that sinful human nature.
ReplyDeleteIt was The Doctor's hatred which kept the Dalek from seeing the full beauty offered in redemption. This shows us we can only glimpse a glimmer of divinity in humanity because we are marred by sin.
However, if we glimpse into the heart of Jesus we see true beauty, full humanity, and perfect love. The Doctor, like all of us, us fallen.
May we look into the heart if Jesus and see true beauty and holiness which will lead us away from hatred and help us bring redemption to all those others who have "fallen short of the glory of God."
Great thoughts Derek. Thanks for sharing and point us toward Jesus!
DeleteWow!
ReplyDelete