Spirit
The Chosen (Season Two, Episode Five)
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! :)
OLD HABITS DIE HARD
At the beginning of this episode, Mary Magdalene practices reciting Psalm 139:8 while picking persimmons. She immediately sees a Roman soldier riding on a horse towards her, and, being alone, she becomes frightened, dropping her basket and running to hide. She sees a second Roman soldier approach on another horse, but the two of them ride away, leaving Mary hidden and safe.
Meanwhile, Simon the (former) Zealot prays, trains, and starts a fire in the woods when he hears and sees a possessed man walking and struggling nearby. Simon slowly approaches him with his knife out and ready, but after a brief conversation, Simon, seemingly unfazed, leaves the possessed man by himself.
Mary returns to the camp and practices reading, writing, and memorizing Scripture with Ramah, but she is clearly still thinking about and bothered by the frightening incident earlier in the day. Eventually, Mary tells Ramah what had happened and confesses that seeing the Roman soldier triggered memories of her past life, and she realizes that she had completely ignored the prayers that she had been trying to memorize. Ramah says that the readings are hard to memorize but also hard to believe and live out.
While Ramah and Mary continue to learn Scripture and while Matthew and Thomas are preparing dinner for the disciples, they all hear the possessed man screech and groan as he approaches their camp. Mary slowly walks up to the man, who calls her “Lileth,” the name she formerly went by when she was possessed by demons. Mary’s eyes narrow, as she responds that she does not answer to that name anymore, thus renouncing her former life. The demon inside the man pesters Mary further, and Mary asks for his name. He says he is Belial, spawn of Oriax, Fifth Knight of Legion. According to Wikipedia, the name Belial appears in Scripture multiple times and is a Hebrew word to describe those who are “wicked or worthless,” and Oriax is a “Great Marquis of Hell,” who rules over thirty legions of demons.
Mary challenges the man to fight the demon by saying his real name, but it is clear that the demon has completely control over the man. He tries to attack Mary, but Simon the Zealot appears and defends her, throwing the man to the ground and threatening him with his knife. The two begin to fight, and just when Simon the Zealot is about to be choked to death, Jesus runs up with the others and casts the demon out of the man. The man collapses on the ground, and everyone just stands in silence and catches their breath after the intense incident that just occurred, except John the Baptist, who, after a few seconds, let’s out an excited “YEAH!” as he loves finally getting to see his cousin in action, fighting and conquering a demon.
Jesus walks over to the man, later revealed to be Caleb, and begins to comfort him, welcoming him back. He can see the sadness and exhaustion in the Caleb’s eyes, and Jesus fully sees and knows Caleb in that moment, saying, “I know. It seems like it would never end.” He continues to comfort Caleb, and Caleb rests in that embrace for a few seconds before letting Jesus help him up.
Simon the Zealot introduces himself to the group, looks directly at Jesus, and asks Him if He was the one who healed his brother in Jerusalem. He recognizes Jesus as the Messiah, and Jesus invites him to go on a walk so that they can talk. Meanwhile, Mary disappears from the camp, triggered by the encounter with the possessed man, and Jesus asks Ramah to go check on her.
Jesus explains to Simon the Zealot that he healed Jesse because of how long he suffered and also because it was part of His plan to get Simon’s attention. Jesus asks Simon to show Him his weapon, and after admiring it briefly, He throws it into the river and explains that He has a better weapon for Simon, which will be revealed in time. Simon feels helpless to Jesus without his dagger, and Jesus says that He has all that He needs but that He wanted Simon and that no one “buys” their way into the group because of special skills. This line reminded me of a phrase that says, “God doesn’t call the equipped but He equips the called.” Jesus clearly called Simon to be a part of His mission, and He plans on equipping Him in order to do so, whereas Simon is used to the opposite because of his decision to join the Zealots.
Mary heads into Jericho and descends down steps to a bar, where she asks for a man named “Thro” and says that she wants to win back her money. She removes her head covering when the bodyguard at the front door would not admit her or take her seriously. It is clear that Mary is starting to fall into her old habits, which have been triggered when she encountered the possessed man. I love the symbolism of her descending down the steps to enter the bar because it represents her returning to a low point in her life. I think this a great reminder and realization of the reality that we, because we are human, can sometimes fall back into old habits of sin. especially sins that have brought us to low points in our life. However, hopefully, we are able to overcome any temptation to fall into these sins by having accountability partners who can know our triggers and can help prevent us from falling. If and when we fall though, which we inevitably will, we, hopefully, have spiritual armor to fight and get out of our cycle of sin and return again to Jesus since He is always the only one who can every truly fulfill and satisfy us.
FAMILIAL LOVE
Jesus, Simon, Andrew, and Philip walk along a river and talk about how John the Baptist is never where you expect him to be when, all of a sudden, John jumps out of the bushes and scares them. He says hello and tells Jesus how much he loved hearing about the “scandal at the Pool.” John tells them that he has to go to Jerusalem since Herod divorced Phasaelis and is marrying Herodias, his brother’s ex-wife, and John feels like he needs to take a stand on the immorality of their actions. Jesus asks to speak with his cousin alone.
John the Baptist tries to justify why he must go fight against Herod’s recent choices, quoting from the Book of Moses (Leviticus 20:21). Jesus says that He knows it is against the law of Moses but that He is there for “bigger purposes than the breaking of rules.” However, John seems convicted that he needs to tell Herod “straight to his face” that what he is doing is unlawful, even despite the consequences and punishment that would occur after such a bold and radical statement. The two cousins go back and forth about the nature and timing of Jesus’ plan, as John doesn’t understand why Jesus “runs away” after He performs miracles and goes off to desolate places. Jesus tells John that He needs solitude because He is working on something -- a big sermon. John recognizes that Jesus is a planner, whereas John says the first thing that comes to his mind, in preaching and in life. Jesus reminisces that He heard about how that was the case from the time John started talking, but then, He warns him to be careful. John says that “now is not the time to be careful,” and he confesses that he is eager for Jesus to get to the point. Jesus tells his cousin that he is going to tell stories that make sense to some people but not others, and John sighs because he knows that Jesus is right. They both realize that everything they have prepared for is becoming real, and John says that it is easy to preach about but heavy to actually live. John asks Jesus if He feels ready, and Jesus responds that He is “always ready to do His Father’s will” but that it doesn’t make it easy.
John apologizes to Jesus because he felt that he was rude to him earlier in their conversation. He recognizes the familial love between the two of them and knows that he can tease a bit because of this. However, he reminds him that his heart and his life belongs to Jesus and that the sole reason he was miraculously conceived by two old people was to pave the way for Him. Jesus affirms John by saying that he is grateful for him and that he has “done God’s work,” even if in a unique way.
What I love about the conversation between Jesus and John the Baptist is that it seems so easy for John to talk to Jesus openly, honestly, and without a filter. He is able to be very open with him about how he is eager to see Jesus’ plan and also impatient because he wants to see it soon. He also eventually apologizes for being rude to Him, which shows that he is still reverent and respectful towards Jesus, even though they are family, because he recognizes who He truly is. This conversation inspires me to engage in prayer the same way, as Jesus desires us to be open and honest with Him. He wants us to share our full hearts and unfiltered thoughts with Him. However, like John, I have to remember that He is God, and I am not. His plan will always be revealed in His perfect way and in His perfect timing, and I must remain patient and trust in that.
After spending time with Jesus and disciples and witnessing Jesus cast out the demon from Caleb, John the Baptist decides to leave to face Herod. Jesus tells John that He loves him, and the two cousins hug each other goodbye. Jesus reminds John to listen to God’s voice as he does what he is supposed to do. Jesus gets a little emotional as He sees John leave, perhaps because He recognizes John’s fate and future beheading (Matthew 14:10).
EPISODE FIVE REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
~What are some triggers that cause you to fall into sin? What spiritual armor do you have to fight against future temptation and to help you get out of the cycle of sin?
~If God doesn’t call the equipped but equips the called, then what do you feel like He has equipped you with? What more do you feel like you need from God in order to fully live out your calling as one of His disciples?
~Are you able to be open and honest with Jesus when you pray like John the Baptist was in his conversation with his cousin/the Messiah? What are ways that you can open your heart to Him, while also remaining reverent?
~Jesus says that He is always ready to do His Father’s will, even if it isn’t easy. Do you feel the same way? What would it look like in your own life to be ready to do the Father’s will? What makes you excited about it? What about it brings you anxiety or fear?
