The Chosen - Inspiring Modern Disciples

Scene from The Chosen: Jesus (Jonathan Roumie) meets with Nicodemus (Erick Avari)

The creativity of the Spirit is ever new! We can get very depressed when we see the state of the Church and the world but as Chiara Lubich, the founder of the Focolare Movement once said: "The Spirit is always working to create antidotes to the toxins we create".

One of these antidotes I believe is an American TV series called 'The Chosen' about the life and Ministry of Christ, seen through the eyes of his close followers. The first two programmes of the third season of what the producer/director Dallas Jenkins hopes will be seven season series, will be launched on 18th November 2022.

For the first time, the launch will be on the big screen at a selection of 200 Odeon and Vue cinemas round the country. See LINK to book tickets. Many Catholics in the UK are not even aware of this beautiful series despite its many devotees, (the first two seasons has been viewed 400 million times worldwide).

Up until now the series has only been available on You Tube, the Chosen mobile phone app and a streaming service in the US called appropriately VidAngel. For those who would like to view it via Vid Angel see link The Chosen Season 1 and Season 2. HERE

What makes it different from the other excellent or naff biblical epics that have been produced over the years? One of the keys is simply as it is a series there is time to explore and get to know the followers of Jesus as people. This makes well-known biblical scenes much more emotionally engaging and entertaining - whether it is the miraculous catch of fish, which brings about Simon Peter's conversion, or Matthew leaving his tax booth on the invitation of the Lord to follow him.

Likewise in the Scriptures while the encounter between Nicodemus and Jesus is very important theologically, it is difficult engage with Nicodemus as a person. In the Chosen, however, the writers have created a very clever back story for him. Nicodemus is shown to be an influential scholar, a man of prestige and comfort, with a wife who enjoys these things. He is a good man, however, and searching for truth. The films begins with him on a trip to see his students in Capernaum where we get a sense of the life of a small town synagogue and its rituals and teaching. While here he is ordered by the Romans to exorcise a possessed woman (Mary Magdalene played by Liz Tabish). He fails to do, running away in horror and failure at this encounter with the demonic. When he later sees Mary radiant and peaceful preparing for her first Shabbat, he wants to know how this has happened. This leads him to the meeting by night with Jesus as described in John 3. During this special encounter Nicodemus recognises that Jesus is the Messiah whom he has been waiting for all his life. Jesus invites Nicodemus to follow him. He wants to but we see how family pressures and attachments start weighing him down. In the end he lets the opportunity go. In a heart breaking scene, Nicodemus watches as the disciples gather in the market place getting ready to leave. Jesus looks around briefly to see if he is coming. But he doesn't and they set off.

This is all creative writing and not biblical! But it is anointed, truthful creative writing, seeking to serve the text and make it understandable and engaging to a contemporary audience who may or may not be biblically literate. It helps the viewer to understand why Nicodemus might defend Jesus in the Sanhedrin later on and also be there to claim Jesus' body after the crucifixion which are recorded biblical events.

For the Christian believer the story of Nicodemus has a deeper resonance and challenge. One is led to question how we too, like Nicodemus, might be too attached to our material possessions to follow Christ in the way he is inviting us to.

This mix of creative writing and biblical truth is highly effective. The writers (Dallas Jenkins, Tyler Thompson and Ryan Swanson) who are all strong Christian believers themselves, know how to tell a story. They are also served by some excellent acting, particularly by some of the lead characters - Erick Avari who plays Nicodemus and Liz Tabish who plays Mary Magdalene. Jonathan Roumie who plays Jesus is exceptional, combining masculinity and authority, with gentleness and humour. Pukka English or American accents jar in these biblical epics, but the Chosen has cleverly avoided this by choosing actors of Middle Eastern or Mediterranean descent, who not only look the part, but use an accented English from this region. Jonathan Roumie says he has based his accent on a Palestinian relative. All this helps to maintain the illusion that you really are there with the disciples and helps make it so addictive. So if you haven't seen it, give it a try and if you are devotee be sure to get cinema tickets for the launch. But be quick it won't be on screen for long.

LINKS

Cinema booking for Season 3 Episodes 1&2: www.fathomevents.com/events/The-Chosen-Season-3-Episode-1-2

Watch the first two seasons of The Chosen: https://watch.angelstudios.com/thechosen

Watch a clip from the scene in which Jesus meets Nicodemus: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p2XIUK9VgA