The Chosen S4E3 – a quick round-up
Links to some of the things I've written – and some of the interviews I've done – about Jesus' confrontation with the Pharisees and the big shocking plot twist that follows.
The Chosen Season 4 Episode 3 starts streaming tonight, so here’s a quick round-up of some of the things I’ve already written about this episode.
In January, I analyzed a scene from this episode that was released on Christmas Day—a scene that we now know led right into what could be the show’s most shocking plot twist to date. I went over the dialogue line-by-line.
I interviewed some of the makers of this series in January. I spoke to series creator Dallas Jenkins and actors Yasmine Al-Bustami and Brandon Potter about this episode’s plot twist and how soon they knew it was going to happen… and whether Jesus knew it was going to happen…
I wrote some brief notes on Episodes 1-3 in February.
Jenkins hosted a livestream in February to talk about the big shocking plot twist, and I rounded up some relevant clips ’n things.
And, that about covers it for now.
You can watch a new trailer for the episode here:
The episode itself will be livestreamed tonight at 4pm PT / 7pm ET, here:
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The Chosen interviews:
Season 1: Dallas Jenkins, co-writer/director (Dec 2019)
Season 2: Dallas Jenkins, co-writer/director (May 2021) | Derral Eves, producer, on Christmas with The Chosen: The Messengers (Nov 2021) | Dallas Jenkins on the ‘The Chosen Is Not Good’ marketing campaign (Apr 2022)
Season 3: Jordan Walker Ross, Little James (Oct 2022) | Vanessa Benavente, Mother Mary (Nov 2022) | Kirk B.R. Woller, Gaius (Nov 2022)
Season 4: Dallas Jenkins, Jonathan Roumie, Abe Bueno-Jallad, Vanessa Benavente, Yasmine Al-Bustami, and Brandon Potter at the press junket; Reza Diako, Alaa Safi, and Elijah Alexander on the teal carpet (Feb 2024) | Paras Patel and Noah James at the press junket; producers Chad Gundersen and Chris Juen on the teal carpet (Feb 2024)
The Chosen recaps:
Season 1: review | scripture index
Episode recaps: The Shepherd | one | two | three | four | five | six | seven | eightSeason 2: The Messengers review | scripture index
Episode recaps: one | two | three | four | five | six | seven | eight | The MessengersSeason 3: Episodes 1 & 2 notes | Episodes 7 & 8 notes | scripture index
Episode recaps: one | episodes two to eight are still in the worksSeason 4: Episodes 1-3 notes
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The Chosen can be streamed via the show’s official app (Android | Apple).
I’ve now streamed a few more episodes. Comments on Episode 3:
(SPOILERS)
The Significance of Thomas gift to Ramah - a sundial? Wondering if that will show up later?
The Significance of Ramah’s (unheard) talk with Thomas - given that Ramah notices a pregnant woman, looks disturbed, and then tells Thomas she has something to say, I would guess it might involve Thomas’ need to be free from a family burden while following Jesus? Another “we shall see” I guess…
The bid one:
Jesus coming back to witness Ramah’s death without healing / resurrecting her - sensing what was happening, but stopping.
Apparently, the producers received a lot of blowback from Christians saying He would have healed her, but given my own experience, that seems rather shallow argument. Ive heard some of the producers counter arguments, e.g. all believing and faithful followers of Jesus have lost, or will lose, dearly loved people; resurrection is less common and more “drastic” (if that’s the right word) than healing.
But something I haven’t heard anyone mention was how this was death by a violent act of human will.
Are there any records in the Gospels of Jesus healing acts of violence? Or more pointedly, were there miracles where Jesus directly contravened the results of human will? Most healings are bodily disease, spiritual possessions, but not result of violent actions
The only 2 exceptions that come to mind are healing of priest’s servant which Peter cut ear off, which notably wasn’t fatal would, and, interestingly, the violent act was committed by Jesus’ own follower- so perhaps he felt some sense of “responsibility”? and of course Jesus’ own resurrection - which might be considered something beyond a simple “healing”. after all he still had his wounds, I.e. he wasn’t “healed” of them in that his flesh wasn’t “altered” in the way say a lame man or blind man or lepers would have been.
Perhaps I am missing other examples, but even in the OT the miracles didn’t seem to involved violent wounds.
On one of your points, I agree Jesus’ line about stirring up controversy - “this will be fun” - does indeed seem a bit flippant after you realize Ramah is killed because of the disturbance that results. So this seems out of place to me.