So you've watched season 1, episode 1 of The Chosen TV series. Great. Now let's dive into what happened and see what we can learn.
What we see in the beginning of the series is the redemption of Mary Magdalene and some character development of some of the disciples and other characters. Let's start with Mary. She was portrayed as having hit rock bottom. Possessed by several demons and causing havoc in the Red Quarter, the Romans occupying Capernaum ask visiting Pharisee Nicodemus to help her. "She needs a holy man", they say.
Despite Nicodemus' efforts, her condition remains unchanged. At the tavern she gives away one of her long held possessions, her doll that held a piece of paper with scripture that her father would encourage her with:
"Thus says the Lord who created you and he who formed you. Fear not for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. You are mine." Isaiah 43:1
After an episode of being controlled by the demons, she started reading the scripture that helped her so many times in the past. But finally, she gave up and tore up the paper. The solution she found herself considering was to take her own life by jumping off a cliff. True desperation.
Have you had a rock-bottom moment? When things got difficult; when your back was against the wall; when you needed encouragement desperately? Where did you go? Was there a verse that encouraged you? For me, Proverbs 3:5-6 is a great encouragement. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths." It helps me remember that my life is in His hands and helps me trust Him with every detail.
Then there was Peter and Andrew. Peter had a different level of desperation. He was looking for ways to make money because Rome was taxing the Jewish people and making it hard to live. And they owed. A lot. He and Andrew had a plan to take advantage of others through gambling and rigging a fight, which backfired. Peter was also fishing on the Sabbath (Shabbat), justifying it by saying that lives are at stake. If they don't make enough to pay the taxes, they could lose the boat, their livelihood. So, he makes a deal with the Roman official, Quintus to help catch Jewish merchant fishermen fishing on the Sabbath to avoid taxation. Have you ever worked to meet your needs outside of God's plan (or against his principles)? I know I have. And things often don't turn out as I had expected.
Lastly, Mary was in the tavern when she met Jesus. As she was walking away from him out in the cold of the night, He said the words she'd been reciting to remind her of God's protection. "Thus says the Lord who created you and he who formed you. Fear not for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. You are mine." When has God met you where you were? When has He rescued you from your situation despite the poor choices you were making? Isn't that totally like Him? Displaying His love without measure....with a patience that never ceases. Romans 5:8 says, "But God shows his love for us, because while we were still sinners Christ died for us."
Summary Questions:
- Have you had a rock-bottom moment?
- When things got difficult; when your back was against the wall; when you needed encouragement desperately? Where did you go? Was there a verse that encouraged you?
- Have you ever worked to meet your needs outside of God's plan (or against his principles)?
- When has God met you where you were? When has He rescued you from your situation despite the poor choices you were making?
No comments:
Post a Comment