I Saw You
The Chosen (Season Two, Episode Two)
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be writing some thoughts and reflection questions for each episode of the TV show, The Chosen. I hope you’ll join me for this spiritual journey and pray that you’ll be open to hear what God might be wanting to communicate to you through this show! :)
DO YOU SEE ME?
We are introduced to a few new disciples in this episode. First, we see a man named Nathanael, who has been told that all of the materials for his construction project would not come for three more days. It is very obvious right away that he is very passionate about his work as an architect. However, as he is conversing with his boss about how he needs those materials as soon as possible in order to move forward with the project, a structure falls apart, injuring a few of the workers, and the foreman tells Nathanael that his is “ruined” and that his career is over.
Nathanael visits a bar and asks for the strongest and cheapest drink. The bartender asks him if something is wrong and if someone had died since he could tell that Nathanael was clearly upset about something. Nathanael responds “yes,” saying that the death was “a long time coming,” and he reveals that the person who had “died” was an architect. He explains that this architect had a dream of building a synagogue in which every detail of it would worship and point towards God. Nathanael finally reveals to the bartender that the one who had died has died of “hubris,” essentially revealing that he was talking about the “death” of his career and his purpose.
Nathanael goes to a fig tree out in the middle of a field with the designs and blueprints of his dream synagogue. He looks to the sky and says, “This was done for you.” He breaks down crying but still quotes Scripture as he prays, “Blessed are you.” He sets the plans on fire, as he continues to cry out to God and thinks that God isn’t listening or seeing him (“Do you see me?”).
Dallas Jenkins, the director of The Chosen, once did an interview about this particular scene and episode because it was inspired by his own personal life. Dallas had poured his heart into a directing project, and one that he felt was glorifying the Lord. However, it completely flopped and nearly destroyed his directing career (or so he thought). He often talks about how it was one of his lowest points in his life and how he didn’t understand why since he thought it was God’s plan for him. And yet, God did see Dallas in that moment and had so much in store for him in the future, especially through this tv series. This scene touched me as well because there have certainly been moments in my life where I did not feel like God was seeing or listening to me. I would cry out to Him in prayer, desperately looking for Him to make his presence known. In those “low” moments or moments of desolation, it can be easy to believe that God isn’t actually there or cares, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. It is in those moments that He is closer than ever, seeing us and accompanying us because He knows that He has great plans in store for us in the future.
COME AND SEE
The second (soon-to-be) disciple we meet approaches some of the other disciples as they are out collecting firewood for their camp. Simon is on edge about the stranger, who says he has a message for Jesus but that he can only give it to him directly. The stranger, who we learn is named Philip, reveals that he knows Andrew, which is confirmed when they see each other and greet one another with a hug. While they are catching up, Simon makes fun of Matthew, who was looking for firewood near a ravine, where only wet wood would be found, but Philip affirms him instead. Philip offers to help Matthew go find dry wood, and he tells the others to “keep the fire going” while they are gone.
As Philip and Matthew are collecting firewood, he asks Matthew about the tension between the two of them. He reminds Matthew that people tend to define others by their sins but that they shouldn’t let them. Matthew confides in Philip and shares with him about his desire to know more Scripture and also about his frustration with how everyone “speaks in riddles,” which makes him feel outside of the world. Philip tells Matthew that the teachings are “simple ideas for complicated people.”
Philip and Matthew return to the camp with the firewood they collected and prepped, and Jesus greets eventually Philip, who is tending to the fire while everyone sleeps. Jesus says that He is glad to see him before Philip even says who he is. Jesus says that He remembers seeing him with Andrew when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. Eventually, Jesus asks Phillip to follow Him, but as He is saying it, Philip is already saying, “I will.” The two engage in conversation with one another for a while, as Philip tries to gain answers from Jesus about His plan, mission, and intentions. Philip asks Jesus if he can stop to see a friend (who is revealed to be an architect) when they pass through Caesarea. Jesus says it is ok and responds, “If we don’t make time for friends, we won’t have any.”
Philip visits his friend, Nathanael, but finds him asleep in his dark house, even though it is the middle of the day. Philip is concerned about his friend, asking him if he is sick and why he is in bed. He recognizes that something is wrong and offers to get him some water. Nathanael lets Philip know what had happened, and Philip says that he is still proud of him, even despite everything that happened. He says that he was a little jealous at times that Nathanael had “physical evidence of his efforts” when he was building things with his own hands. Philip tells Nathanael that he “does not know what his impact was or will be.”
This line struck me because, in the same way, we sometimes don’t know the impact of our efforts to share Jesus with others, and I especially see this through my job in ministry. I just plant seeds and then the Holy Spirit helps them grow. I may never get to see those seeds grow, but it is perfectly ok. We may never know what our impact may be on people’s lives, but we should strive to make that impact meaningful by living out virtue and being the best version of ourselves that we can possibly be.
Philip tells Nathanael that John the Baptist sent Philip to the man “who the baptizer has been preparing them for -- The One.” He tells him that The One is Jesus of Nazareth, son of Joseph. Nathanael responds, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (John 1:46). Philip simply responds, “Come and see.” He repeats it multiple times until finally, Nathanael agrees. Philip brings Nathanael to Jesus, who speaks as if He already knows him. Jesus tells him that He has known him for longer than Philip told him to “come and see.” Nathanael looks at Philip, but Jesus tells him to look at Him. This was a beautiful line in the show because it reminds us of how we often look to other people or things when we are lost, confused, or afraid instead of looking directly at Jesus. Jesus informs Nathanael that when he was in his lowest moment and alone, that He did not turn his face from him. He says, “I saw you, under the fig tree” (John 1:48). Tears well up in Nathanael’s eyes because he realizes that Jesus is actually The One and actually did see him in that low moment.
EPISODE TWO REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
~Have you ever reached a low point in your life like Nathanael did with the “death” of his career? Was your spiritual life strengthened or challenged during that time? Who (if anyone) was there to support you?
~When have you felt “seen” by others? by the Lord? How did it make you feel? How can you help others feel “seen”?
~Have you ever invited a friend or family member to “come and see” Jesus, such as attending a church service, a Bible study, a small group, an event at your church, etc.? Why is it difficult to extend that invitation to others? How do others usually respond?
~What are practical ways that you can continue to invite others to “come and see” Jesus? What would that look like to a family member? a friend? a coworker or classmate? a stranger?
