Although “outside” is opening up somewhat, the “inside” still has plenty of entertainment options. Grown-ish is back for all the Chloe x Halle lovers, there’s Run the World for the ladies needing some #blackgirlmagic representation, Power Book III: Kanan for the Power diehards, and a new season of the never-ending fan favorite, The Bachelorette.
But during my time inside, I have discovered a TV series that surpasses them all. The cinematography is beautiful, the writing is pristine, and the story line’s impact goes beyond the screen.
It’s a story we’ve heard and read many times; however, now it’s being portrayed like we’ve never seen.
May I introduce you to The Chosen, an incredible series about the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. And before you roll your been-there-seen-that eyes, let me reassure you: you haven’t.
The Chosen isn’t just a series about Jesus’ life; it’s a movement to share him with the world. The creator, Dallas Jenkins, has a vision to spread the story of Christ to 1 billion people for free—unfiltered truth about who Jesus is and how he spent his time on earth. And with millions of people already watching, he is on the path to doing just that.
It’s unusual for a TV show to reach great levels of success without funding, resources, and support from Hollywood or other prominent media companies such as Netflix or Disney. Yet, one of the things that makes The Chosen so special is that it is truly for the people, by the people. With two of the planned 7 seasons completed, The Chosen series is the highest crowd-funded media project of all time. You read that correctly: people who have watched this show and seen its impact are the ones actually helping to create it.
But its incredible social impact isn’t the only reason I love this new series. Below are three more reasons why you should watch The Chosen (and hopefully love it too!):
- The Characters
It’s easy to remember “the basics” when it comes to the 12 disciples. Judas betrayed Jesus. Matthew was a tax collector. John definitely felt good about his standing with the Messiah (I mean, who else writes “the one whom Jesus loved” when talking about himself?), and Peter walked on water. But The Chosen really opens your eyes to these men (and many more people in the bible). It’s refreshing to see Peter’s zeal when following Christ, but he’s also very stubborn. The show lets us in on Matthew’s quirky habits and struggles with how others view his former occupation. The men are sweet to their wives, the single men have small crushes, they bicker and disagree on things, and just like us, the disciples get very confused when it comes to Jesus’ words and behavior.
The Chosen does a wonderful and very creative job of helping us relate to the people and places we often read about. The diverse characters and intentional dialogue truly help you better understand the experiences and perspectives of people living in biblical times. They show the characters’ weaknesses and uncertainties, which can be encouraging for us present-day believers who oftentimes struggle throughout our Christian journeys.
- The Humanity
Not only does The Chosen do a great job of representing those around Jesus, it reveals more of him. Specifically the human side.
We know Jesus prayed, and did miracles, and could run scripture circles around Satan any day. But do we ever think about Jesus humming a song? Or how his feet hurt after walking so much?
Can we see Jesus hugging his mother after a long day of serving crowds of people? Or the sadness in his eyes as he looks at his cousin, John the Baptist, knowing he will never physically see him again?
One of the things I love most about this series is that it shows us all these things and more. We get to see Jesus in ways we often neglect to envision him. He rehearsed his words before giving a big speech to make sure they were impactful. He asked for advice when he needed a second opinion. Jesus laughed, y’all! He made jokes and was actually funny! On more than one occasion when watching the show, I found myself laughing like, Awe . . . Jesus has a sense of humor.
Of course, the bible doesn’t spell out these daily details of Jesus’ life, but The Chosen includes these things to help us remember that although he was God, while on earth he was also a human—who ate, slept, and felt just like us. I can’t speak for everyone, but I really appreciate a more humanized visual of my savior because it helps me relate more to him as a person. Like, lowkey if I were alive back then, I think me and Jesus could’ve been friends!
- The Message
I mentioned earlier how the visuals are stunning and creative, and how the writing and dialogue are superb. But what happens as you watch those elements combined is when the real miracle occurs.
Whether it’s watching Simon Peter fall to his knees and bow his head in humility at the moment he realizes who Jesus is or the look on the paralytic man’s face the moment he realizes Jesus has healed him, The Chosen beautifully reminds us in each episode not only that Jesus Christ is indeed our true savior—but also how much we desperately needed to be saved.
There’s a scene in episode 1 where Nicodemus is shocked by Mary Magdalene’s transformation because he had unsuccessfully tried to heal her from demonic possession. He asks what happened to her, and although she explains that she too doesn’t understand it, she says this is what she can tell him:
I was one way, and now I am completely different. And the thing that happened in between was him.
When I tell you that I couldn’t keep the tears from welling in my eyes. What a message! And one that those of us who know Jesus can fully relate to.
The bible proclaims that whom the son sets free is free indeed, and The Chosen does a phenomenal job of revealing this son and his life-changing message of true freedom.
I am so excited about The Chosen and cannot wait for season 3 to begin! But while I am waiting, I plan to rewatch this series and I hope after reading this you’re persuaded to get caught up as well! If you’re not quite ready to venture back outside and need something to watch, why not Binge Jesus? I guarantee his story line will never stop entertaining.