To say I am a Doctor Who fan is quite the understatement. I have a Tardis sticker on my car as well as a Doctor Who-themed license plate. My house shoes are Doctor Who. I have a Doctor Who ornament. I spend my free time going back and forth between the current doctor and my old favorites (10 especially). I really, really enjoy watching Doctor Who.

So imagine my sheer delight when yesterday, as I was watching the show, I heard a quote so profound that it made me stop the entire show and pause to write it down and reflect on it. It’s that quote that I want to share with you today (as well as a few of my own thoughts, of course). Here’s the quote:

“Do you think I care for you so little that betraying me would make a difference?”

In context, it is the Doctor talking to one of his traveling companions — a long-time companion who has just broken his trust and hurt him deeply. She is expecting him to banish her from his Tardis (spaceship), cast her out of his life and make her deal with the consequences of being so conniving and unfaithful. But he doesn’t. And, seeing her reaction to such love, the above quote is uttered.

It’s a beautiful quote, right? It’s beautiful because it is so perfectly our Savior. We— the ungodly (Romans 5:6), the hopeless (Eph. 2:12), the sinners (Romans 5:8)— we are the ones Christ died for. While we were without strength, Christ gave up His strength and died on the cruel cross of Calvary.  And if you asked Jesus why, wouldn’t the quote above be the sentiment of His heart? He loves us so much that even betraying Him couldn’t lessen His love. Spitting in His face (Mark 15:19), mocking Him (Mark 15:20), scourging Him (Mark 15:15), selling Him out (Matthew 26:14-15), forsaking Him (Luke 22:60, John 16:32)… these things couldn’t deter our loving Lord. He would still go to the cross for His creation that had failed Him so.

When we humbly submit to our Lord’s commands and die to our sinful selves in baptism (Romans 6:3-4), Christ’s blood completely washes us clean. We are wholly holy. Completely pure. But our sinless state won’t last. We’ll fail our Lord and Savior again. Our human frailty will overtake us. Sin will creep back into our lives. Satan will inch closer and closer in his prowl (1 Peter 5:8), seeking to devour the righteous. And will we give in. We will stumble. We will sin, even after drinking of the life-giving fountain.

Knowing all of this — knowing that we would fail Him time and time and time again (both before and after baptism), Christ still died on the cross for us. Why? Because He loves us so much that betraying Him doesn’t make a difference. He still wanted to die for us. He still wanted to give us the opportunity to live with Him forever. He wanted to give us a chance at redemption — freedom from the shackles of sin. He didn’t want to leave us behind, doomed to the hell we deserve. The hell we are owed for our sin (Romans 6:23). And so, despite the countless and seemingly endless betrayals, our Lord gave up His life for us. He suffered and bled and died for us. He endured excruciating agony and heartbreak for us. Oh how we should long to serve Him!

The Doctor’s companion didn’t feel she deserved to travel with the Doctor anymore, and yet she was forgiven of her betrayal and allowed to go on as though the transgression had never been committed. It’s a beautiful picture of what Jesus does for each and every one of us. We have betrayed Him time and time again. We have mocked Him and at times, turned up our nose at the blood that was shed. We have chosen temporal things and other people above Him. We have gone back on our word. We have failed Him, time and again. Yet He loves us an immeasurable amount, and He invites us to be washed in His ever-cleansing blood. He invites us to live with Him as if those things had never been done (Hebrews 10:17).

I am so thankful to be God’s child, yet thankful doesn’t even begin to cover it. I am indebted. I am astounded. I am overwhelmed at His love and grace. I am amazed at Christ’s sacrifice and ability to forgive. I can’t even comprehend how much God loves me, and I can’t put into words (because there aren’t enough!) how appreciative I am for all that Christ has done in pardoning me.

*If you have not found the peace associated with being God’s child — the freedom from guilt that only Christ can offer — please contact me. I would love to tell you more about how I became a disciple of Jesus.*