Who's Who--A Lenten Meditation

I'm geeking out here big time. Dr. Who is coming back April 3!Dr. Who is in the Guinness Book of World records as being the longest running show in history. Dr. Who is about a time traveler who is a Time Lord from the planet Gallifry (Gal-eh-free). He travels around time and space in a big blue British police box called the TARDIS. As it has been explained numerous times, the TARDIS has the capability to blend in with its surroundings. Sometime during an adventure in the 1960's, the TARDIS disguised itself as a blue police box and became stuck in that disguise. The Doctor is a lone traveler and tends to pick up people who travel with him from time to time. These are called his companions. It is a way for the writers to help give voice to the viewer, being amazed at these adventures in time and space.

After a run through almost three decades, Dr. Who went off the air in the 1980's. in 2004 the show was rebooted by the BBC with the 9th Doctor being played by Christopher Eccelson. Then there was the 10th Doctor played by the very talented David Tennant. And now, just last year, the 11th Doctor is beginning his second season as played by Matt Smith.

Now, to non sci-fi and Dr. Who fans this may not make sense. How one show last so long with the main character being played by multiple people. That just doesn't make sense. There are 11 Doctor Whos but only one Doctor Who throughout the whole series. As the 9th Doctor explained to his traveling companion Rose Tyler--Time Lords have a way of cheating death. They regenerate. They die and then come back to life in a new body. It is the same doctor with roughly the same personality, yet different.

Now, what does this have to do with Easter? It is Easter Sunday when we celebrate Jesus' resurrection. The Doctor regenerates. He dies. Yet he cheats death. He continually hides from death. Each time he is about to die, he changes his look, his personality, his appearance so that he may not truly die.

Jesus on the other hand truly did die. He was dead and buried for three days in the grace. And we celebrate Easter because he didn't cheat death he down right defeated it. Jesus wasn't just resurrected he is the resurrection.

Jesus says

I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. John 11:25-26

As much as I like the Doctor, he does cause problems. In fact, the British government created a fierce military command called The Unit which was created to specifically deal with Doctor related issues. After a run in with the Doctor, Queen Victoria creates an organization called Torchwood to deal with Doctor related issues. The Doctor has many times been the Earth's champion and savior and other times, unintentionally, it's worse enemy.

As we approach Easter, I think about this interesting comparison with Jesus and the Doctor. The Doctor dies to cheat death, Jesus dies to save us from death.

Jesus says

I lay down my life--only to take it up again. No one takes it form me, but I lay it down on my own accord. John 10:17-18

We celebrate Easter because Jesus did lay down his life for us. He laid it down so that we might rise up with him. With Jesus, you don't cheat death, you have victory over it.

Do you have this victory?