The Chosen ~ "Shabbat" S01E02

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. 

This episode holds a sea of contrasts.  It shows the Jews preparing for Shabbat (The Sabbath).  Nicodemus decries the commercial and political value of Shabbat his wife insists on promoting.  Mary prepares to celebrate her first one in many years.  We also get to see the deep differences between the Jews and the Romans.  It becomes clear the Roman soldiers we see are going to be more than violent dangerous haters of Jews.  They are real people with thoughts, fears, and needs.  

We also see the evolution of Simon Peter’s story and the conflict he is in with Rome, debt, and his wife.  It is clear he is not a good man even though he thinks he is.  Keep in mind we have not really seen Jesus much yet.  Peter too gives us a view into attitudes about Shabbat as he chooses to work.  Worse, his work is spying for Rome on Jews fishing on Shabbat to avoid taxes.  He and Matthew will figure later in the deeper understanding of who is and is not worthy. 

When we see people gathering for the Shabbat meal there are two houses.  One is Nicodemus and the other is Mary’s.  Nicodemus has encountered the reclaimed Mary in the market and marvels at her change.  To his credit, he is not offended when she says it was not his ministrations that changed her.  She explains a man called her by name and freed her.  

The two houses celebrate very differently.  The contrast is so clear.  In the house of a Pharisee, all but Nicodemus see Shabbat as political and social.  In the house of Mary, there is humility, sincerity, and Jesus.  He comes as a guest to her meal and insists she lead it when she offers the privilege to him.  Even Matthew the tax collector is there, not knowing what life change is on his horizon,  The episode ends with Peter standing by the Sea of Galilee with Romans about to embark on a sea of conflict. 

I must remember the Shabbat and keep it holy.  Humility and gratitude are to be my position and pose.  Everything about the Shabbat is to remind us to love the Father, the Son, the Spirit, and their holiness.  It is supposed to remind me of the value of family.  We are to rest in the love of the Father.  I am no longer under the Law but the veneration of this day goes back to creation,  I do not have to keep the Law but there is nothing wrong with honoring the Father out of love. 

I have so much to learn about the mind of the Father in creating things the way he did.  A deeper understanding of Shabbat is helping.  We too treat our worship as commercial and social far too often, Dear Reader. 

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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“So redeemed you are even celebrating Shabbat!”