Come and see

Never before have I been stunned into stilled silence after watching a feature in a movie theatre. And it wasn’t just me. As the credits rolled, I did not notice anyone standing to stretch their legs or beginning to gather their belongings. It seemed to me that all of us were sitting in awe at what we had just witnessed on the big screen. Which feature caused such a profound reaction? The first three episodes from the fourth season of The Chosen.

The Chosen is a historical drama TV show depicting the life of Jesus and his followers. Season four was launched in theatres starting in February and I was invited to watch a pre-screening of the first two episodes. The added bonus? Two of the writers, Ryan Swanson and Tyler Thompson, would be there. I later found out that the first three episodes of the newest episode were playing in theatres, so I bought a ticket and watched all three. I won’t share any spoilers, but the third episode is a doozy.

Since the beginning of the series, I have appreciated the excellent performances on The Chosen. In addition to the acting, there are many more details that make it a memorable and exceptional series. The costumes, the sets, the music that sings to your soul and all the sights and sounds of the settings make for a truly incredible viewing experience. Some episodes almost convince me I can smell the scene and taste the food. I have watched each previous episode at least twice and been deeply moved. As I watch, I feel as if I’m right there in person witnessing the stories I have grown up with – stories I have heard time and again that I get to experience in a whole new way that gives me a greater understanding of the Bible and the people who lived in Jesus’ time.

As mentioned, I had the privilege of meeting the writers and heard firsthand how they are intentional in staying true to the Bible while writing the scripts. They then use their imaginations to create plausible characters and storylines that run alongside the gospel truth. One of the goals of the show is not to replace Bible reading, but to draw viewers into reading the Bible more. This has been true for me – I have a new lens to reread passages related to the stories that The Chosen tells.

“Come and see” are three words spoken by Philip to Nathanael (as recorded in John 1:46) during the second episode of the second season. Philip uses them in a scene during which he invites Nathanael to meet Jesus. I will use the same and invite you to watch The Chosen. Come and see.