The Chosen: Beautiful and moving

As Season 4 begins, Editorial Assistant Lyn Woods reviews The Chosen.

Last week saw the launch of Season 4 of The Chosen, with the first two episodes released in cinemas initially. With the first season recently made available to watch on Netflix, the series is continually reaching new audiences as the net is cast ever wider to catch the interest of those who already know of Jesus and his ministry and those who don’t, or until now have chosen not to.

Described for cinema-goers as ‘authentic and intimate’, The Chosen is a great way for anyone to learn about or be reminded of the life and works of Jesus – his teachings, his relationships with others and the challenges he faced during his short ministry. In interviews, producer Dallas Jenkins has maintained that his aim is to ‘accurately represent the character and intentions of Jesus’ and it so far feels like he’s succeeding.

If you are new to watching The Chosen, I would recommend viewing it from the first season due to its chronological retelling of events. Season 4 is set to take a darker turn than previous seasons, as Jesus’ disciples and close followers struggle to understand all that is happening and events unfold towards Jesus’ crucifixion in a later season. 

There are seven seasons planned altogether, which is quite a time commitment, but the show will always leave you wanting to see more.

One of the best things about The Chosen – the title refers to the chosen followers of Jesus – is that it’s still relatable today. It may be set 2,000 years ago, but the problems and difficulties of life and relationships remain surprisingly familiar. Its actors – including Jonathan Roumie as Jesus – are emotionally connected to the roles they play, bringing the narrative to life in a powerful and believable way. There’s something unique and special about how it is produced that resonates with audiences.

Who are the chosen? The parable of the great feast, in Matthew 22, concludes with Jesus saying: ‘Many are called but few are chosen.’ In Matthew 11:15 we read: ‘Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand’ an invitation also found in Revelation 3:22. To be truly chosen, there must be a response to that invitation, which is open to all.

Biblically, The Chosen is accurate in its portrayal. Artistically, it makes for beautiful, moving and highly recommended viewing. Given the state of the world today, let’s pray that through these new channels people will be encouraged to listen and learn, to turn to Scripture and seek Christ as their example for daily living, for the good of all creation and for their own salvation.