If you’ve never heard of The Chosen, it’s is a first-ever, multi-season TV show about the life of Jesus. No matter where you are in your journey with Jesus Christ, The Chosen TV series has something to offer for everyone. Imagine if you could see the life of Jesus through the eyes of the people that walked on earth with him (Mary, his mother, the disciples, the Pharisees, those he healed, etc.): now you can!
What to expect when watching
The Chosen series stays faithful to the Gospels and at the same time tells us a story that’s in between the lines of scripture. While I can’t say that everything in The Chosen is in the Bible, I don’t think it was made with that intention. This T. series was intended to give the people mentioned in the Bible life using historical context at the time of Jesus. It doesn’t contradict scripture but instead gives context to the life around it so that we can picture what was life was like with Jesus.
So, will this TV series replace your Bible study? No. Will it entertain you while being thought-provoking and remind you of truths in scripture? Absolutely.
I loved the series and enjoyed watching it after the kids went to bed in the evening. I also loved the fact that I could take it with me on my phone and watch via The Chosen app or cast it to my TV when I was in the living room!
Season 1 Recap
The season begins by introducing some of the disciples and Mary Magdalene, getting to know who they are before meeting Jesus. The Pharisee Nicodemus attempts to exorcise a demon-possessed woman in Capernaum’s Red Quarter named Lilith but is unsuccessful, causing him to question his faith. The brothers Simon and Andrew, fishermen, both struggle with their tax and gambling debts worrying for their future and lives.
After a failed suicide attempt, Lilith returns to her father, who is unable to help. But as she’s leaving, she encounters Jesus Christ, who identifies himself as the Creator of humanity and calls her by her true name, Mary Magdalene.
We see what it was like to watch Jesus perform miracles that the other religious leaders cannot. We also get more background on the difficulties of being Jewish and living under Roman rule. There are glimpses into how Jesus viewed children, who were naturally captivated by his kindness and gentleness with them and learn a lot from His simple message of love and grace. Some episodes intentionally show very little action and are all about Jesus and connecting with those who wish to be close to him.
In The Chosen, we also see Jesus faced with very real, everyday concerns, like worrying about the state of the government or wondering how bills are going to get paid. In these instances, Jesus teaches what it means to be fishers of men all the while trusting that God will take care of our needs.
Throughout the series, there are flashbacks to the old testament. There are hints about God’s long-standing plan and promise to bring a redeemer to his people while reminding us that struggling to have faith, even when it doesn’t seem to make sense at the time, is a common theme for believers throughout history.
Throughout the season, Jesus heals and urges people to remember to be vigilant with their faith, recognizing that no one person is greater than any other. While the following of Jesus increases, His enemies also grow in number.
The Takeaway
The Chosen is a fresh take on the pre-ministry of Christ, which is intriguing and insightful to an audience of Christians or everyday TV bingers. In my experience, it’s been one of the most engaging and thought-provoking Bible-inspired productions I’ve seen, and it’s an incredible adaptation of the biblical story. It’s surprisingly funny and relatable and, as a result, delivers a wholesome and enjoyable retelling of Jesus’ story.
This series shows that Jesus was fully man and is fully God and depicts the 12 he chose as relatable, flawed human beings, like you and me, The season allows viewers to see the ways in which Jesus was indeed a man and, therefore, knows exactly what we go through in life. It’s a great story of the redemption of the unredeemable and love for the unlovable – just as it should be. In my opinion, The Chosen is definitely one to see!
Want to watch the next season of The Chosen? Download The Chosen app (available on iTunes and Google Play) and watch both season 1 and season 2 from your phone, or cast it to your TV!
