My husband and I recently started viewing the Bible show The Chosen—the historical drama based on the life of Jesus Christ. It was created by Dallas Jenkins, whose father Jerry Jenkins wrote the Left Behind books with Tim LaHaye. If you haven’t seen it, I encourage you to do so. I can’t say it’s Biblically accurate, but the writers do an amazing job of weaving Biblical truths and red-letter quotes into the stories of Jesus and His disciples. For example, the apostle James (the son of Alphaeus, not John’s brother) has a disability which makes it painful for him to walk. It might seem strange, (this is where Biblically inaccurate comes in), but in the last episode we viewed, a heartfelt (and very emotional) discussion between him and Jesus proves the reason for this creative-license decision by the writers.
Jesus has just encouraged His disciples to go out and heal in His name. They’ve seen Him give sight to the blind, make the lame walk, cure leprosy, and restore the shriveled hand of a man. Now it was to be their turn. As Jesus leaves them, James comes limping out of the room they’d been in and calls to out to Him. He’s hesitant (as I’d be) because he has a bit of a bone to pick with the Rabbi. He feels like a burden to the others because he’s so slow. “How can I have the power to heal the lame when I’m lame myself?” The real question he was asking Jesus was, “You’ve healed many people, but You’re not healing me. Why?”
James asks the question with tears in his eyes (my husband and I shed a few of our own watching this scene). It’s so heartfelt and real because it is a common question with many unbelieving people. If God is good, then why doesn’t He heal me? If God is good, why does He allow bad things to happen to me? If God is real, and I’ve been faithful to Him, why did He allow my child to be sexually abused? Why? Why? Why?
Oh, what grace and love Jesus poured out as He answered James. The disciple’s affliction is his strength—and the Lord will use it for His good. Like Paul with the thorn in his flesh, we need to know that it’s not our strength in which we overcome, it’s the Lord’s grace. He assured James that he would be healed in time. That could mean while the man was still serving the Lord on this side of heaven, or not.
A family member of ours told Chris that he’d prayed for years for his wife’s ailments to be healed, but God doesn’t do it, so he doesn’t believe in Him. It’s that bargaining mindset of ours that trips us up all the time. “Prove You’re real, Lord, then I’ll believe.” But God has already proven Himself in His Word. And if the Bible isn’t enough, He proves His sovereign grace every day!
I was reading Psalm 104 this morning—Praise the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. Everywhere we look, the Lord proves His greatness. In Paul David Tripp’s New Morning Mercies, the author lists only a few of God’s pleasant gifts to us (December 28th):
The sound of the birds in spring
The delicate beauty of a rose
The multihued display of a sunset
The pristine blanket of new-fallen snow
The tenderness of a kiss
The glory of a wonderful piece of music
The bright colors of leaves in the fall
The sweet voice of a child…
It goes on, but you get the idea.
The longer I walk this earth, the more I come to truly know that I am not my own. I was created by a loving, gracious, merciful God. I was called to be His child—predestined and so incredibly blessed—and I am to be used for His glory. What He chooses to do with me, in me, or through me is His up to Him. What He gives in return is eternal life with the King of the World. Isn’t that enough?
If you haven’t watched The Chosen, I encourage you to do so. The first few episodes are a little slow, but each one gets better and better. Season 3 just recently started, and all of the episodes are available to stream from Angel Studios.
Comments 4
I very much enjoy this show! Though tv shows or even book may not be Bibically accurate, I think if the principal behind it is then it is good for thought. It gives us something to look at and study out for ourselves. Isn’t that what we’re to do anyway? Love this ❤️
Author
Absolutely! I also believe that the use of creative license in the show fills in gaps that are still truth-bearing principles.
great post today. my husband and I are also watching this show. we are enjoying it. yes there are inaccuracies, I agree here. but I think that some of these will not be noticed by non believers. the story of Christ on earth and His attitude and presence I believe is what will be remembered.
Author
I absolutely agree with you about what the takeaway of The Chosen is. I think the storyline gives viewers a realistic view of what it might’ve been like. And I love to be able to see the humanity of Jesus–his sense of humor, his compassion, his connection to the disciples on a different level.