Summary
Atticus and Quintus start this episode with some wonderful dialogue as they spar back and forth, exchanging witty insults and clever comebacks. Eventually, Atticus reveals that he bears news about Jesus of Nazareth. I think this opening is the start of the new stage in this show where worlds truly begin to collide. We return from the credits to the Sons of Thunder and the sons of Jonah squaring off in a wager to see who has to fish, and who can return to Jesus. Andrew is very rattled from the recent arrest of John the Baptist and the anticipation of Jesus’s upcoming sermon. The Sons of Thunder return to Jesus as he is instructing some of the other disciples on his plans. He quickly concludes they won a contest to avoid having to fish.
Jesus emphasizes to his followers that the most critical part of the sermon coming up is the “why.” He needs to get His message to each of the people eager to hear him speak. Philip says that John’s personal touch is what makes people crave the Baptizer’s message, and Jesus wants to follow in that mold. Word is spreading because of the miracles Jesus has performed, but he wants them to hear the truth. Shmuel and Yanni return to Capernaum looking for additional evidence they can use to condemn Jesus’s actions. Yussif is very disturbed by Shmuel’s obsession with Jesus. Shmuel leaves to seek a meeting with Quintus, but learns that Rome is already ahead of them in identifying Jesus’s “crimes.” He is forced to leave, but not before getting more questions and few answers.
Simon and Andrew are arguing in the boat about some of Jesus’s turmoil. Andrew is worried that Jesus will be arrested just like John was. Atticus joins Gaius and his contingent of Roman soldiers as they seek Jesus. Atticus reveals that he is fascinated by any man able to heal a cripple, can disarm a Zealot, or clear a lunatic’s mind. As the soldiers approach, Andrew is already getting more worked up thinking that Jesus has lost any control over his image and the word of mouth. Simon sees the soldiers, and the two immediately return to shore. Gaius confronts Jesus, and, after some tense exchanges, Jesus peacefully leaves with the Romans and tells the others to continue the preparations. Simon and Andrew return too late, and Andrew loses his temper and storms off to pursue Jesus and Phillip follows. Further bickering continues at camp.
When Andrew and Phillip reach town, they cross paths with Tamar, the Ethiopian woman, and the paralytic man testifying to Jesus’s healing and teaching. Andrew requests to speak with them in private and asks them to lay low because of Jesus’s arrest. Meanwhile, Jesus is brought before Quintus. We are then treated to a wonderful, rambling line of inquiry as Quintus finally gets around to sending Jesus a warning not to cause him more trouble than he is worth. Jesus tells Quintus he is not able to promise him that He won’t cause any more issues for Rome. Quintus responds by saying he can’t promise Jesus will keep breathing.
Shmuel and Yanni close in on Tamar but are distracted when they encounter the religious leaders from Wadi Kelt, the small town where Jesus healed the withered hand. The episode ends with Jesus returning to the camp to learn that his disciples did not heed his request, and have been worrying about him all this time. They admit they can improve and ask Jesus to give them prayers that can help them. Jesus is happy and praises his students for wanting to learn, and teaches them the Lord’s Prayer. Finally, after all have gone to sleep, Jesus requests Matthew to accompany him as he begins to organize his sermon.
Megan’s Insight
After Jesus is taken into custody, the disciples argue about what they should do in response. Some trust in Jesus’s words to remain at camp and wait for His return while others think they should go to His rescue. Mary Magdalene, referring to her departure at the end of Episode 5, points out the dangers of relying on one's own observations and understanding. After Jesus returns and the disciples express their fear and worry, Jesus admonishes them for their lack of trust. He tells them that they must have faith, especially after He is gone.
As I lay in the MRI machine Friday evening I reflected on these two scenes. When I felt the space around me get tight and the clanking from the machine grow louder, I immediately felt panicked (I am claustrophobic). Why is panic such an easy reaction for us? After a deep breath, Jesus’s words from the end of this episode came back to me, “You can't just shut down when you're fearful.” And after John and big James ask Him to teach them to pray He says, “Now you're behaving like true students; this is what I like to see. Prayer is the first step in getting the mind and the heart right.” I prayed Simon Peter’s words, “teach me to pray.” In moments of fear, doubt, and anxiety, I remind myself to avoid getting overwhelmed by my observations and absorbed by my limited understanding of the situation. Instead, I try to ask God to calm my heart by revealing His faithfulness. Rather than run away as Mary did or rely on myself as Simon the Zealot petitioned to do, I will follow Simon Peter’s example and ask God to teach me how to pray.
Mitchell’s Insight
I am a person that frequently focuses on the divinity of Jesus and has only recently worked hard to try to appreciate Jesus’s humanity. The Chosen has been a big help in this effort through Jonathan Roumie’s tremendous portrayal so far. Orthodox Christian belief recognizes Jesus is fully God and fully man. Jesus has revealed glimpses of his divinity through miraculous acts. He has also emphasized his humanity like in this discussion with John in episode one of this season. In this episode, we get an eye-opening exchange that depicts how lost someone can become when we fail to recognize who Jesus is.
Jesus - “I won’t make you do anything, but My Father on the other hand. . .”
Quintus – “I don’t know what that means, but let’s leave on a high note.”
These two lines occur right at the tail end of Quintus’ questioning of Jesus. Quintus is the bad guy you can’t help but love. He is funny, witty, and captivating. He is also sinister, self-obsessed, and seemingly ruthless. He summons Jesus via shackles before him and treats the Incarnate God as a “repugnant and odious” person. How could someone have been in the presence of God himself and completely missed it?
We see several examples of people committing extreme conversions in their life in The Chosen but even more in the Bible. I have always believed this is because standing in Jesus’s presence had to have felt different. There had to have been something special about him. Yet, in this episode, we see Quintus oblivious to the reality before him similar to the way it must have been for Pontius Pilate. I look forward to the show continuing to illustrate the responses of the people who “get it” and choose to follow Jesus and those who miss the significance of the Incarnation entirely.
Michael’s Insight
Simon is really growing into his role as a leader in this episode. This is particularly evident in his conversation with Andrew. Andrew is convinced that it is their responsibility to keep Jesus under the radar. He believes that this is the only way that Jesus will be safe and the only way that they can continue their ministry. Andrew tells Simon that he is just being smart. He can’t understand why Simon and the others aren’t worried that the Romans and the Sanhedrin will arrest Jesus. In truth, Andrew is saying this not because he believes it is the smart thing to do, but because he is afraid. Since the arrest of his former teacher, John the Baptist, Andrew has let his faith be consumed by fear.
This is where Simon starts to show signs of leader who is steadfast in his trust of Jesus. Simon tells Andrew that if Jesus is invoking the title Son of Man, then He has good reason for doing so and Andrew needs to trust Jesus’ decisions. Simon again is the calming voice later when all of Jesus’s disciples are arguing over what to do about Jesus’s arrest. He also shows leadership when he tells Jesus that himself and the rest of the disciples can and will do better when they have to make decisions by themselves, and that they will trust in Jesus’s instructions.
Take to Prayer
Does your life reflect the fact that you are a follower of Jesus? Do you seem him throughout your day? When he instructs you like he instructed the disciples in this episode, do you obey, even if you may not understand, or do you twist the call into following what you think is best?
Bible Verses
Teach us to pray
Luke 11:1-4