“The Chosen” is a TV series that follows the lives of Jesus and His disciples during their time on earth. With seven seasons total, Season Five will be released this spring. While it is scripture-based, writers use embellishments to enhance well-known Bible stories and characters. It is not a replacement for the Bible, and its creators make sure to convey that fact.
The embellishments are not taken lightly. The show consults with a panel of biblical scholars from different denominations, ensuring accuracy regarding cultural and historical details for the time period. Efforts made to certify the probability factor are both sincere and remarkable. Roundtable discussions after each episode with the diverse panel are quite impressive and thought-provoking.
I wanted to watch the show as soon as I heard about it in 2022. But it was available only on streaming stations, which I knew nothing about then. Bible and Jesus stories have always fascinated me, so I was thrilled when I saw them broadcast on TV on Easter weekend in April 2023. I had it on in the background Easter afternoon while I cooked and then on a small TV while my husband watched football. That night, I binged episodes that continued til I went to bed. I was mid-story but intrigued. When Easter weekend was over, so was the show.
I learned how to access it through an app a month later and began watching Season One with my husband. We wanted to catch up so that we would be up to date when Season Three episodes dropped over the summer.
The first thing I have to say is, for us, watching the show sucks you in. You feel like you are actually there with Jesus. Jonathan Roumie's portrayal of Jesus Christ cannot be accurately described; it’s so…….real.
For the first time, we see Jesus and the disciples as regular “people.” They are normal individuals with the same day-to-day issues you and I have. They struggle with marriage, insecurities, jobs, and pridefulness. They laugh and goof off with each other. We see them navigate relationships and day-to-day decisions. Character developments and relationships are intimate and relatable. They become friends and people you connect to quickly.
The show lets you see what it must have been like when Jesus walked the earth among people. You feel the words He preached. The love He demonstrates is palpable through the screen as if it is happening WITH you and TO you, right there, right now. I didn’t expect it to be as intense as it felt. It made me want to be there, with Jesus, now.
That was my experience from the get-go. My husband was impressed by the depth of the characters and fullness of the stories, and he is not a “Jesus guy.” While he still does not quite “believe,” he appreciates and is captivated by the series and looks forward to watching each new episode. The powerful stories have him hooked.
In the first episode of Season 1, we see the story of Mary Magdalene and her traumatic and troubled life before encountering Jesus. Her story is quite relatable and struck a chord within me personally. Flashbacks to her distressing past, seeing her hopelessness, and watching her journey unfold from desperation to redemption was transformative. That first episode, especially the bar scene, profoundly touched and moved my heart. The impact was powerful and permanent.
Not an episode goes by without something—a scene, a line, or a story—that resonates on some level, opens my eyes to awareness, or speaks personally to me.
Those stories from thousands of years ago are still relevant today. Heartache. Joy.
Not much has changed.
Except God is not walking among us as He did back then.
In the beginning, it provoked me to do a ton of googling for clarity and answers.
“Did that really happen?”
“Is this in the Bible?”
“Is that person real?”
“Did He really say that?” and so on.
It prompted me to read my Bible, investigate religious history, and research different people and leaders of faith. Hearing Jonathan Roumie’s journey and his powerful testimony provoked me to explore other faith-filled people—people like Father Mike Schmitz, Bishop Barron, Maria Vargo, and Jeff Cavins, to name a few. Even more popular converts, like Russell Brand and Mark Wahlberg, have hugely impactful stories.
So many beautiful people are committed to knowing Jesus, sharing God’s word, and working for His kingdom here on earth. Exploring, listening to, and studying others who live their lives for God has impressed me in a way I could not have predicted.
All of this has inspired me to practice daily prayer and study more scripture. It has led me back to Jesus in a real way. Truthfully, my life has been changed—incredibly and surprisingly, I may add, for the better.
Jesus was always an important, historic, spiritual being for me.
But The Chosen has made me see His humanity. They make it easier to understand Him, to accept His “realness” in a way neither I nor my husband ever expected. Interactions with His disciples and other characters on the show make Him relatable on a basic human level. He’s no longer a fixture on a wall, in a church ceiling, or up in the sky. He’s a real guy, a real man. He walked this earth, had friends and family, and lived among regular people like all of us. He just happened to be the Son of God at the same time.
It's crazy good to watch it play out on TV in such an authentic way. If you are a believer, you can’t help but see that God’s hand is on this show.
It seems foolish that a TV show can have such a powerful effect. But it does, which is why it is reported to have 200 million viewers worldwide.
Yes, you read that right.
200 million worldwide viewers.
If you’re interested in fueling your existing faith, learning what faith is all about, discovering where Christianity originated, or just being curious about this Jesus guy, check out The Chosen. It is a beacon of light and hope in a world that gets darker every day.
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