Tag: The Chosen

• Fig Tree and The Temple

  Look At My Leaves 2/6/2026

  While watching The Chosen, this came to me. The fig tree showed leaves that gave the hope of bearing fruit. But it wasn’t in season. Jesus cursed the fig tree (Matthew 21:18-22, Mark 11:12-14; 19-25) as a metaphor to teach his disciples that their religious leaders may appear outwardly righteous, but without bearing good fruit, what good is the tree. “This tree gave the appearance of fruit, but lacked anything good,” Jesus said in The Chosen, and the fig tree is a metaphor of the Temple in Jerusalem where Jesus overturns tables, and wants to cleanse the wickedness from God’s House.

  We should not be like this fig tree without fruit, or as only producing good fruit for a brief season. Instead we should be known by our good fruits in all seasons. Jesus was on the way to cleanse the Temple (Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-18). Don’t be like a Pharisee. This reminds me of “wolf in sheep clothing” which we’ve all heard. The religious leaders in Jesus’s generation were dressed in costumes of the finest materials.
  

  Mark 11:13-14 (ESV)
  ¹³ And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. ¹⁴ And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.

  Jesus fulfilled another prophecy by making the leaves wither on the tree with no figs. The harvest is taken away:

  Jeremiah 8:13 (NIV)
  “‘I will take away their harvest,
  declares the Lord.
  There will be no grapes on the vine.
  There will be no figs on the tree,
  and their leaves will wither.
  What I have given them
  will be taken from them.’”

  “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:32–35).

  Got Questions says this:

  The presence of a fruitful fig tree was considered to be a symbol of blessing and prosperity for the nation of Israel. Likewise, the absence or death of a fig tree would symbolize judgment and rejection. Symbolically, the fig tree represented the spiritual deadness of Israel, who while very religious outwardly with all the sacrifices and ceremonies, were spiritually barren because of their sins. By cleansing the Temple and cursing the fig tree, causing it to wither and die, Jesus was pronouncing His coming judgment of Israel and demonstrating His power to carry it out. It also teaches the principle that religious profession and observance are not enough to guarantee salvation, unless there is the fruit of genuine salvation evidenced in the life of the person. James would later echo this truth when he wrote that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). The lesson of the fig tree is that we should bear spiritual fruit (Galatians 5:22-23), not just give an appearance of religiosity. God judges fruitlessness and expects that those who have a relationship with Him will “bear much fruit” (John 15:5-8). LINK to Got Questions.

  Roots, Fruits and Pruning 11/6/25

  John 15:2 (AMP)
  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that continues to bear fruit, He [repeatedly] prunes, so that it will bear more fruit [even richer and finer fruit].

  Ask yourself: Am I dragging around “dead branches” in my life?

  It would be nice if we could see what God sees and say, “Yes, God. Let’s get rid of that dead branch.” But many times we’re too afraid to give up what we know, what’s familiar, for something new that we just can’t see or understand.

  God wants us to be so rooted and grounded in His love that nothing can shake us—so we’re able to bear good fruit in even the hardest, most difficult seasons of life.

  Keep Your Eye on the Prize:
  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14).

  If we will totally give ourselves to God, He will give us His best for us. It may not be what we thought we wanted, but it will be exactly what we need. And it will be greater than anything we could have asked for!

  Link to a Joyce Meyer teaching.

  Sometimes the love of the father can be painful for us. Not spiritually, but to our flesh. There are things we don’t want pruned out of our lives but, in order to abide in Him, they can’t exist in us anymore. It can be people or things or habits that we hold dear to our lives. To our flesh. Sometimes, they’ve got to go, and it hurts. But it is part of the process of becoming what the Father created us to be. So don’t fight it. Let the Lord do His work, and trust that He knows what He’s doing. When you see the new growth that occurs, you’ll understand, and be a better, more fruitful disciple of Christ. The blackened, withered branches that couldn’t produce will bear witness to the work He has done in your life.

  Link to Evan Hanson’s facebook post · October 28, 2025

  February 18, 2026

  bible study, inspiration, The Chosen

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• The Chosen Spirit

  S2E4 “The Perfect Opportunity,” is about the healing of the paralytic by the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-14). In The Chosen, the invalid is named Jesse. This episode introduces Jesse and his brother Simon the Zealot. We see Jesus go to Jerusalem to visit Jesse who has been at the pool the longest.

  After Jesus heals Jesse at the pool, Jesse picks up his bed and walks.

  What does this one miracle do?

  Jesse believes and is obedient to Jesus’s command: to pick up his mat and walk. He immediately receives persecution and condemnation from the pharisee, but steps (pun intended) anyway and goes as the Lord commands.

  Jesse’s brother, Simon Z, knows and believes that the Messiah has come when he sees Jesse walking. Everything changes for him in that instant and he is delivered. A true Kairos moment: at the same moment Z puts his hand on his weapon to draw it out and commit murder, he sees Jesse walking by and takes his hand off the weapon. He doesn’t go through with the planned murder.

  “When Jesse can walk, they would know the Messiah was here.” This is the promise these brothers Simon and Jesse had held all of their lives and were faithful to. When this miracle happens, it is perfect timing and they had the faith to believe.

  Atticus is dismayed and a little sad because he was looking forward to the knife fight with Z in the middle of the street, but knows something significant has happened. Shmuel has a look of revelation when his pharisee friend comes running to give testimony, and maybe begins to believe a little more while being convinced of false prophesy because man’s tradition says healing may not happen on the Sabbath.

  What does this one miracle do?

  In the next episode, S2E5 “Spirit,” Z meets Jesus and witnesses Jesus cast a demon out of Caleb. He asks, “Did you heal my brother in Jerusalem?”

  “Simon, son of Zebulon,” is called by name and follows Jesus.

  Atticus witnesses Jesus disarming Z and surrendering his sica (dagger) to the Jordan River. Later, when Atticus tracks down Z on a rooftop, he could be thinking about killing him or arresting him. Z, as a zealot, is an enemy of Rome. But he doesn’t, Atticus just wants to talk because he is curious about Jesus and maybe begins to believe.

  In S3E5 “Clean, Part 2,” Veronica, the woman of blood, hears about the miracle at the pool from Jesse. She believes and travels to seek Jesus until she finds him in Capernaum and is healed when she touches the fringe of his garment. Her faith has made her well (Luke 8:43-48). She wasn’t hidden any longer. Later in season 5, Jesse and Veronica are preaching the gospel of Jesus on the streets of Jerusalem to anyone with ears.

  In S3E6 “Intensity in Tent City” when Z is tracked down by Barabbus (we learn his name in Season 5) from his former order for dereliction of duty, they intend to kill him. Z is now an enemy of the Zealots. The three Zealots are bounty hunters in a sense and have him surrounded with three daggers in the hands of these lethal combatants. They delay in carrying out their orders to witness miracles at Jesus’s hand. They hear Jesus’s preaching, and Jesus speaks directly to Barabbus.

  What does this one miracle do?

  Z is surrounded by murderers, and by faith steps into his calling. He leans on his faith. The trust and confidence in the Lord. He begins preaching to these men that intend to kill him. He shares the good news, gives them the truth of his testimony, and invites them to join him in following Christ. Barabbus sees the truth, knows the truth and we hope is also beginning to believe. Z is saved by his faith and Jesus’s words. Instead of fighting and relying on his own strength. Instead of cowering in fear or running away. He stands firm and delivers the truth. He decrees the good news, “the kingdom of heaven is at hand, brothers.”

  Once Adonai calls you, redeems you and you are forgiven, grace becomes your new lifestyle. Everyone treats you differently, including sworn enemies. When God puts his hand on you, the path he has for you and his will keep you safe. Atticus and Barabbus are each transformed from hunting Z to kill him, to giving him grace and the understanding that Z’s old lifestyle was dead. They willingly disobey orders to preserve  Z’s new life pursuing Jesus with redemption and a heart transformed is evident to those around him. Mercy, love and grace prevail in Z’s path as he encounters his former enemies.

  The healing of the man at the pool was the catalyst for all of this happen. When asked by his disciple why he healed on the Sabbath, which the pharisees consider to be a sin, Jesus proclaims, “sometimes you have to stir the waters.”

  December 19, 2025

  inspiration, The Chosen

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• Not Mine

  The olive garden to prepare.
  With Zebedee’s sons and Peter

  He prayed for the cup to pass,
  Your will be done

  Not mine.

  Take this cup from me?
  Yet not my will, but yours be done.

  Point of death, the hour is here.
  Fast asleep under the trees.

  Vision of Isaac being prepared,
  On his knees to be spared.

  Sorrow in his soul was deep,
  While his followers did sleep.

  Hallowed be your name,
  Your will be done

  Not mine.

  Without sin to confess.
  Spirit is willing, but the flesh…

  Visitation from angels,
  Strengthening his agony.

  Came to a place of trust.
  Fully willing, he must.

  Great drops of blood fallen.
  Sleep on now unto rest.

  Betrayed into hands of sinners,
  Chief priests of the rest.

  Shall kiss, that same is he.
  My friend.

  (by ScottM 7/11/2025, a poem inspired by Jesus in the garden in “The Chosen” S5E8 and scriptures about the garden)

  July 16, 2025

  poetry, The Chosen

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• Jesus Loves the Little Children

  Jesus Loves the Little Children
  The Chosen: Season 1, Episode 3

  One truth is evident, Jesus loves the little children and all of us very much.

  After watching four seasons of The Chosen quite a few times, I have seen something new in almost every episode. Today, watching S1E3 where the prologue features Jesus camping alone in the wilderness. The thing that caught my attention was his mood while he was praying, “Father, glorify me with yourself.” He appeared weeping and sad. “Father, speak through me,” is audible. He seemed pained, anguished, sorrowful and just highly emotional. He appeared sweaty and disheveled with the state he was in.

  Seeing his mood and mental state, I first thought maybe God had revealed his plan or destiny to Jesus about his inevitable torture and death, but then I knew that was just silly because “…No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son…” (Matthew 11:27 NIV). He has always known these details. Throughout the series, even His mother, Mary, knows. She knows what the end will be. Mary doesn’t like it, but understands that God’s will be done. She does not know when, but Jesus lets her know that it will be “soon” and that “his time has come.”

  God’s will be done

  So that took me to my next thought: foreshadowing of Gethsemane. “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done,” (Luke 22:42 NIV) where this emotional scene in Season One is foreshadowing the truth that will come in Season Five perhaps.

  As a (previously) filmmaker and screenwriter, I do usually make sense of these elements that we see and hear. S1E3 went a long way to show us what life is like in the setting of the show. Establishing the technology, daily life and general era of the setting. You actually have to make fire and carry your cargo. Jesus toils in the dust as “just a man” with blood, sweat and tears. There are a few instances in the series where he says to another, “I’m just a man.”

  An example for us all

  I think my final answer about the prologue for S1E3 is this… Jesus is a man on the earth, and He prays to His Father in Heaven continually.  In the “Invitations” episode S1E7, Mary of Magdala says: “Where are you going?”and Jesus replies: “To be alone. I need to think. And to pray.”In seemingly every episode, he does excuse himself from present company and wishes to be alone, to pray. We don’t get to see a lot of what that looks like. So, this opening scene is a glimpse that we, the audience, can carry with us throughout the series that might be what it looks like when he prays. This scene is intense with emotion, so most likely also a foreshadowing of Gethsemane “…sorrowful and very heavy.” (Matthew 26:37 KJV)

   

  December 3, 2024

  The Chosen

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