Reckoning
The Chosen (Season Two, Episode Seven)
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 NOT BE AFRAID
Jesus holds a small meeting with a few of the disciples to talk about His upcoming sermon, and He says the “why” of the sermon is important. He explains that it isn’t because of a need to make their presence known in the region, nor is it about the details of how they make it happen. But instead, what makes this particular sermon important is because of each person who will be there to hear it. Jesus asks Philip why John the Baptist’s sermons were so memorable, and Philip says that it is because he made it personable, speaking directly to each person there. Jesus says that thousands of people will be present for this particular sermon, and what He will say will be for each and every one of them. He will be giving them truth, which He says will define their whole ministry.
The Pharisees returns to Capernaum from Jerusalem, and they are greeted by other Pharisees, including Rabbi Shmuel’s colleague, Yussif. Shmuel fills Yussif in and shares how they are looking for an Ethiopian woman, named Tamar, who witnessed miracles that Jesus had performed. Yussif says that Tamar isn’t in Capernaum anymore, but that the last he had heard of her was from Yehuda, who encountered her sharing her testimony in the streets of Magdal. The Pharisees are frustrated and appalled and feel that “blasphemy” seems to follow Jesus everywhere He goes.
Simon and Andrew begin to argue while fishing because Andrew is worried that something bad will happen to Jesus like with John the Baptist. He doesn’t want them to make a scene everywhere they go. Andrew has a lot of built up anger around Mary of Magdala falling back into her old ways, delaying the group for two days, causing them to be hungry, leading Jesus to fight back against the Pharisees over letting the disciples eat grain on the Sabbath, and then eventually claiming the title of Son of Man and Lord of the Sabbath. Andrew is worried that word will reach Jerusalem about what happened and that they will hunt Jesus down and lock Him up, which will ruin the plans for the sermon and erase all of their momentum. Simon says that Andrew is letting fear consume him.
I think that Simon’s observation is something that a lot of people, myself included, often fall into. We let fear consume us. Not being afraid is almost easier said than done, even though it is addressed in different ways over 144 times throughout Scripture. Personally, when I let myself be consumed by fear, I only focus on that, leaving no room to trust in God. As seen in this scene, Andrew’s fear causes other emotions to increase within him as well, such as anger, frustration, doubt, impatience, etc. When moments that could provoke fear arise, we must keep our focus on God and trust in His plan for us. With God on our side, there is absolutely nothing to fear. Again, easier said than done, I know.
Atticus and several Roman guards eventually head to detain Jesus and question Him, and on the way, Atticus warns Gaius about the nature of the city of Jotapata. He says the Praetor there doesn’t have the same control over the city that Quintus has in Capernaum. Atticus’s former informants there were even tortured to death by the people there since they see Rome as the enemy. There are both Pharisees and Sadducees there, as well as other preachers, and Atticus tells Gaius that everyone in the town is “on a mission of protest.” Atticus eventually admits that he is intrigued by Jesus since he saw Him perform a few miracles but that Jesus doesn’t give off a vibe of being threatening, which, in and of itself, scares Atticus.
The disciples see several Romans approaching Jesus, and Jesus tells them not to be afraid and to keep planning because He’ll be back. The Romans surround Jesus, and Gaius announces that Jesus is sought for questioning by a Roman authority. He asks if He will surrender peacefully, and Jesus says yes. Jesus informs them that He isn’t armed but that some of His followers are and agrees to ask them to drop their weapons. He also asks permission to say goodbye to His mother, which is granted. He also tells her not to be afraid. As Jesus is being detained, which He does peacefully and humbly, Jesus tells Gaius that Matthew is safe and doing well. Gaius still doesn’t understand what Jesus could possibly have to offer Matthew that is better than the life he used to live.
After Jesus is taken away, the disciples gather together and struggle to figure out how to properly respond. Andrew, still afraid of what could happen to Jesus based on what was happening to John the Baptist, says that he is going to petition for His release. Mary of Magdala offers to come with Andrew because she feels responsible, and Andrew immediately blames her for everything. Mary, Jesus’s mother, says that it isn’t anyone’s fault, and Philip urges Mary of Magdala to stay. He offers to accompany Andrew, and Simon the Zealot wants to break Jesus out of jail. Nathanael reminds them that Jesus said that He would be back, but Simon the Zealot thinks it was only a hint and that they are supposed to be the fulfillment of those words. The disciples continue to argue with one another about what they should do, and Mary of Magdala finally apologizes to the group for the mistake she made, as she realizes that her mistake affected everyone and not just herself. She tells the group that she trusts that Jesus will be back since He said so.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’RE GETTING YOURSELF INTO?
Andrew and Philip run into Tamar and the formerly paralytic man, who are both sharing their testimony in the streets to a small crowd. Andrew asks to speak with them privately and chastises them for drawing attention to Jesus. Tamar is convicted that she should speak about what she saw, but Andrew and Philip reveal to them how the Romans detained Jesus to question Him since He is getting more attention. Tamar still says that she can’t keep what she knows inside, and Andrew is adamant that it is too dangerous. Yussif approaches them in disguise and warns Tamar that she is being sought for questioning for testimony about Jesus of Nazareth, which affirms Andrew’s reason for caution. Yussif warns Tamar that Shmuel will twist her testimony to make an argument about false prophecy. Andrew doesn’t trust Yussif not understands why he is helping them, but Yussif says that his Rabbi, Nicodemus, saw something remarkable in Jesus. He says that Shmuel is threatened by what he can’t comprehend. He urges them again to leave immediately.
In a way, Andrew is posing this question of “Do you know what you’re getting yourself into” to Tamar and the paralytic man, as they feel compelled to share about what they had witnessed. They are starting to realize the effects of their boldness to proclaim the truth, both positively and negatively. Although their intentions are pure and good, it is encouraging the Pharisees to quickly put an end to what they consider as “blasphemy” and the Romans to quickly make sure that peace and order is maintained. Jesus’ followers are beginning to stir up the water, whether they realize it or not.
Gaius brings Jesus to Quintus, who seems unimpressed with Jesus. Quintus says that the first time he encountered Jesus was because of the fish miracle that helped settle Simon’s debt. He asks Jesus if He has ever been to the Far East and says that the people there eat fish raw, eating the flesh and spitting out the bones. He uses this fish metaphor to describe what he labels as brilliant (“flesh”) and foolish (“bones”). Quintus says that Simon not settling his debts could’ve result in Quintus’s demotion and considers that “flesh”; however, he considers creating a public disruption that results in damage to property because of a stampede and harming Quintus’s personal reputation as “bones.” He is also bitter about Jesus “seducing” Matthew and causing the “single most brilliant and effective tax collector in the entire Upper Galilee” to quit, which he also considers as “bones.” However, he says that Atticus saw Jesus disarm a zealot, which he considers “flesh.” Quintus says he doesn’t know what to make of Jesus, but he warns Him that He doesn’t want to see any more “bones.” Jesus says He cannot promise anything, and Quintus says that he cannot promise that they won’t kill Him. Quintus releases Jesus, but right before He leaves, he asks Him if He knows what He is getting Himself into? Jesus doesn’t respond, but instead, tells Quintus that it was nice to meet him.
Jesus returns to the camp, and the disciples are relieved. Jesus tells them that the Romans don’t see Him as a threat. John asks Jesus what He was doing, and Jesus tells them that He was praying. Jesus warns them that things are only going to get more difficult, and they can’t just shut down when they’re fearful. The disciples ask Jesus to teach them the prayer that John the Baptist gave his followers to pray in addition to their daily traditional prayers, as they are eager to learn. Jesus affirms them for wanting to learn and says that prayer is the first step for aligning the mind and the heart. Jesus says to first start by acknowledging our Father in heaven and His greatness by saying, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed by Your name” (Matthew 6:9). He continues by saying that we always want to be sure to do God’s will and not our own, which we can do by saying, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).
The Lord’s Prayer is a beautiful reminder of what we have gotten ourselves into by saying “yes” to be disciples of Jesus. First, we acknowledge God and who He is. and then, we acknowledge our part in God’s plan by desiring to do His will. We ask for forgiveness and promise to forgive others, and then ask to be delivered from all evil. Just by these brief words, we recognize that we will do things that require us to ask for forgiveness and that others will do things to us that will require us to forgive them. We also recognize that the devil will do everything in his power to prevent us from pursuing holiness and that we need God’s help to fight him off. We can’t do anything without Him.
EPISODE SEVEN REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
~Have you let fear consume you in the past? What are ways that you can prevent this from happening in the future?
~The disciples each had their own idea of what they should do once Jesus was detained. Do you relate to any of their reactions? How would you have reacted? What would you have wanted to do?
~Did you know what you were getting yourself into when you said “yes” to follow Jesus? What are some of the graces that have come from that “yes”? What are some of the challenges?
~Reflect on the words of the Lord’s Prayer (AKA: Our Father), which Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6:9-15. What part of that prayer connects with you? What part challenges you?
