The Chosen ~ “Invitations” S01E07

Greetings Dear Reader, 

There will be spoilers.  This is your only warning.  This BLOG series will walk through each episode of the first two seasons of the amazing show The Chosen available free to watch at the link.  If you have not seen it, I encourage you to do so.  It is by far the best adaptation of the Gospels to film I have ever encountered. 

The focus of this episode on those invited by Jesus to follow him breaks me.  The way in which he gently asks people to have faith and follow him seems in such sharp contrast to most of what we hear about contemporary Christianity.   Even the opening, with Moses fashioning the bronze serpent, so people can look in faith and live, foreshadows the faith necessary for us all to be born of the Spirit. 

We get deeper views of who Matthew is and the conflict he has with his parents.  We see how he is treated by strangers and those who are supposed to love him.  His rejection by people for being a tax collector gives us a platform to understand why Jesus approaches him. 

We also get to see the intimate conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus.   The Pharisee wishes so much to believe and to follow Jesus.  His fear holds him back.  Still, he understands and believes.  Jesus makes it clear it is not about politics, taxes, or rebellion.  It is about faith and following. 

For me, it is the constant calling.  It is the idea of Jesus words, “And when I am lifted up, I will draw all men unto myself.”  When he stops at the tax booth and calls Matthew, the response is instant.  Peter objects to Jesus including Matthew.  The Roman Centurion, Gaius, thinks he is foolish.  When Peter says, “I don’t get it,” Jesus responds with “You didn’t get it when I chose you either.” 

Peter tries to object further with, “But this is different.”  Jesus' response is one of the key lines for me of the entire series, “Get used to different.”  The simplicity of this is what makes us all equal.  The government wishes to tax us and rule us.  Religion asks us to pay and obey.  Jesus asks us to abandon everything else and follow in faith.  He asks it of us all.  

Faith demands us to simply believe.  Following demands we leave behind everything and have Jesus as our only possession.  Then we are free to give him away.  The beauty is, Dear Reader, no matter how much we give him to others, we have no less of him for ourselves.  I must always look to him in faith and use the faith to follow.  There really is no cost because nothing else matters.  This is the difference we must get used to. 

Wishing you joy in the journey, 

Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a homeowner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”
(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) 

Every human story is part of the great story that leads to the Father getting everything back to Good. 

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“Get used to different.”