The Wedding Gift: The Chosen Season 1, Episode 5

Preface

The Chosen is a work of fiction, based loosely on historical accounts in scripture. However, It is very important to note that it is not scripture. Its aim is to explore the life of Jesus and of His disciples. Of Christ we know much because all of scripture is about Him. Of the Apostles we know very little in comparison. Interlaced in the show are subtle scriptural references which I will include to give context and meaning to what you will see in the episode.

In this review, my approach is to examine the characters in light of biblical events and concepts. Therefore, I will not cover the non-biblical characters except when necessary to relate them to the main biblical characters in the show.

Main Biblical Characters

• Jesus
• John the Baptist
• Mary (Jesus’ Mother)
• Mary Magdalene
• Andrew
• Simon Peter
• James
• Big John
• Thaddeus
• Little John
• Thomas

Spoiler Alert: I have included many details from the episode that may spoil the ending. I have included a pre-show reading list of scriptures that will give you insight into the characters and concepts presented during the show. Afterword, you can come back and read about what happened in the episode.

Pre-Show Reading List

• Exodus 20:12, ESV
• 1 Kings 19:19-21, ESV
• Isaiah 40:3, 56:10, ESV
• Proverbs 30:4, ESV
• Matthew 3:1–12, 15:14, ESV
• Luke 2:41-52, 16:17, ESV
• John 2:1-11, 2:4, ESV
• Hebrews 4:15, 5:7-10, ESV
• Colossians 3:20, ESV
• 2 Timothy 3:12-17, ESV

Theme: The Wedding Gift

In this episode, Jesus performs what the scriptures say are “the first of his signs” where he turns water into wine. This miracle, sets into motion a series of many more very public miracles and teachings that will be presented in future reviews.

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

John 2:1-11, ESV

Opening Scene

Though the theme of this episode is the wedding gift, it begins with a quick flash back to set up the story.

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.

Luke 2:41-45

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

Luke 2:46-49

Mary in the episode then said to Jesus “then why weren’t you”. He replied, “I was”. At this, Mary looked up and saw the Temple and then seemed very overwhelmed and said that it was too early. Jesus replied “If not now, then when?”. This last statement was added by The Chosen writers but will tie the events at the wedding together for the episode.

And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

Luke 2:50-52, ESV

The last part of the scene, you see Joseph admonishing Jesus saying “please don’t do that again”. This exchange, showed that while Jesus was their God, he was still a child and remained in submission to his parents on earth, just as we were in submission to ours as a child. Jesus did not exempt himself from his law but to fulfill it.

But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.

Luke 16:17, ESV

This fulfills the commandment that children must honor and obey their parents.

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

Exodus 20:12, ESV

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

Colossians 3:20, ESV

He became like us in every way except for sin for he was sinless. He submitted himself to the very people whom he created so that he could experience life, in all humility, the way that we do. In this way, he became the best kind of high priest, the one who can relate to the human experience, start to finish, and therefore have even greater mercy on us knowing what it is to be human.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Hebrews 4:15, ESV

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrew 5:7-10, ESV

Cana, A.D. 26 Preparations for the Wedding Feast

Mary Helps Dinah

In the episode Mary, Jesus’ mother, came to help Dinah prepare for the wedding feast. Scripture only tells us that Mary was there, but not why. So the writers of the show took liberty to imagine a reason for her to be there and it fits well to aid the story for the episode.

Simon and Andrew Walking

In this scene, Jesus had told these two that they had a wedding to attend and that they were invited. So, they were walking to a place where they would meet up with Jesus to then travel to Cana. While they walked, Simon and Andrew were having a conversation about not wanting to let Jesus down or “do it wrong”. But Simon told Andrew that they would both probably do it wrong. He said to Andrew “It is like fishing. Remember when dad taught us?” Andrew replied “Dad didn’t teach us anything, we just sat there.” Simon interrupted “and watched, and then it was our turn and we made our own mistakes.”

That is what we do with Jesus. We watch him and we see his example set before us through all scripture. Though the Bible makes it clear that Jesus was sinless, we will not be. We will make mistakes as we attempt to be more like Jesus everyday. But, we will become more like him the more we look at his example and work to put it into our everyday routine.

Thomas and his Business Partner Ramah

Thomas is portrayed in this episode as a caterer. He is one of the disciples who was called to follow Jesus in scripture. However, he was not mentioned in the biblical account for this event and we do not know when or how he was called. Nevertheless, his inclusion in this scene helps to imagine the ways other disciples were called that were not told to us in the Bible.

From scripture we know that Thomas was a skeptic. One who doubts and questions. In this scene he is shown as a worried and calculating person. He noticed that there were only three jars of wine and worried that there would not be enough. Ramah, the woman portrayed as Thomas’s business partner is not included in the biblical account, but in this episode is portrayed as more of a free spirit and was certain that there would be enough wine with the three jars.

Water Into Wine

There were only supposed to be 40 people at the banquette in the episode but at least 80 were counted by Ramah. As the party continued on, the wine began to run out. Concerned about this situation and the embarrassment it would cause the family, Thomas and Ramah began thinking of ways to deal with the situation. They considered watering down the wine or over salting the food to make people thirst for water instead of wine. Both of them knew that those alternatives were not viable but panic was setting in. They were out of options.

Jesus mother, sought to intervene telling Jesus that they had run out of wine. In the show he said “why are you telling me this.”

“Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”

John 2:4, ESV

He of course knew why she was telling him.

Then she responds to him and says the same words that he said to her at the begining of the show when he was 12 years old: “if not now…when”. These words are not in the Bible though we do see how they could have been and it ties the beginning of the show to this moment. At that very moment Jesus either decided or the Father told him that it was time for the world to know him.

Next we see Jesus standing with Thomas in the room where the empty jars for purification water were stored. He told Thomas to fill the jars to the brim. But Thomas, who was a skeptic, said “from the directions you have provided I see no logical solution to the problem.” To which Jesus said, “Its going to be like that sometimes Thomas”.

Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.

John 2:6-7, ESV

As he was praying, a conversation was taking place between Mary and another one of the followers who was a stone mason. The conversation was relating what we saw that Jesus was about to do with the first cut of a stone. The stone mason was telling how final it was when the stone mason began to do his work. That once he started and took the first cut, that it could not be undone. He said, “It sets in motion a series of choices. What used to be a shapeless block of limestone or granite begins its long journey of transformation. And it will never be the same.”

When Jesus performed this sign, the world was never the same nor the people who followed after him. We are the formless blocks of limestone, dead and with out purpose. But in Christ we are formed in his likeness when we allow Christ to make that first cut into our heart, we too will never be the same.

Jesus looked up in prayer and said to the farther “I am ready”. And then he dipped his thumb into the water, then drew out some of the weather with his hand while praying over the water saying, “Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe who brings forth the fruit of the vine.” In this he brought forth between 120-180 gallons of wine!

After Jesus transformed the water in the jars to wine, he had them draw some out and present it to the master of the banquette. After tasting it, the master of the banquette said to the people “Stop the music, stop the music. Everyone listen, I have something I would like to say. I would like to address the bridegroom and the bride families. At every wedding I have ever overseen, they serve the best wine first. And then when the people have drunk freely much later in the feast, they serve the poorer wine, the cheep stuff. Because by then, who is going to notice? Am i right. But you…you have chosen now to serve the best wine that I have ever tasted!”

And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

John 2:8–11, ESV

John the Baptist in Prison

In this scene, we see Nicodemus, the Pharisee meeting with John the Baptist in prison. He was questioning John regarding the miracles he had been performing. John said to Nicodemus “…you would have labeled Moses a lunatic for talking to a shrub. Do you remember when Caesar traveled through Judea?” John said. Nicodemus replied “yes”. John continued “He sent all these men to clear logs and debris for the coming king. Make straight the way for the king! They’d shout. Prepare the way.”

John continued to explain that he had to move because of this. The Roman’s were not kind to the poor and that he had lost all of his possessions.

Nicodemus responded that “many in Jerusalem were frightened too”.

John said “oh, they were lucky to have you to comfort them….for a price of course.”

Luke 16:14 (ESV): The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him.

Matthew 23:25–26 (ESV): “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

Nicodemus asked John if they should be clearing the way for him. Asking if that was the point of the story. Then John replied with “I don’t like your frock. The cost of the vestments along could feed three children in Nazareth for a month.”

Just as Nicodemus was about to get up to leave, John said to him, “but you’re here to ask about miracles.

Nicodemes said “but first, I wanted to tell you of a miracle that I have seen but cannot comprehend.”

A tense back and forth verbal exchange of the real reason for the visit ensued. Nicodemus revealed that the official reason for the visit was to investigate the reason for John’s capture, because allowing Romans to punish Jews for breaking Jewish law sets a bad precedent.

To that John laughed and said to Nicodemus, “and the real reason”. And to that question, he sat down and said “I am Searching for an explanation for something I cannot unsee”. He told john about the demons that possessed Mary, and that they were jeering at him from inside her mouth. Nothing could be done for her short of a miricale.

John became visibly excited when he learned that this miracle was performed and the one who did it gave no name to seek credit. He said that “if he is healing in secret then the public signs cannot be far off.”Nicodemus responded with a confused question “you know him?”

“You could say that”, John said.

John knew who he was based on scripture. He was the man who voice cries in the wilderness. The one who was to prepare the way for the Lord. He was the one who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah hundreds of years earlier.

A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Isaiah 40:3, ESV

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’ ”Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Matthew 3:1–12, ESV

John began a series of questions to Nicodemus that were actually quotes trying to open his spiritual eyes. He asked “Who has ascended into heaven and come back down.” Who has gathered the wind in his fist” Nicodemus interrupted in anger saying “Don’t quote Solomen to me…”. John continued “Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?”John implored Nicodemus to finish but Nicodemus demanded an answer and said to him “no you answer me”!

John raising his voice said “teacher of Israel, finish the oracale of Agur!” Who has established all the ends of the earth?” They both said together the final part, “what is his name and what is the name of his son?” And John said to Nicodemus “Surely you know”. Nicodemus of course should have known, but their eyes were closed. Him like so many Pharisees were spiritually dead, asleep though they were supposedly the wise ones, the men of understanding and well educated.

Who has ascended to heaven and come down?
Who has gathered the wind in his fists?
Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and what is his son’s name?
Surely you know!

Proverbs 30:4, ESV

John then says to Nicodemus, “All your life you have been asleep. Make straight the way for the king. He is here to awaken the earth. But some will not want to awaken. They are in love with the dark. I wonder…which one you’ll be”. He replied, “If this man is anything like you believe or if he exists at all, you should leave this region. Your presence alone puts him in danger.” John’s final reply, “If you think he needs my help, you’ve heard nothing.” At that statement, Nicodemus walks out of the prison.

His watchmen are blind;
they are all without knowledge;
they are all silent dogs;
they cannot bark,
dreaming, lying down,
loving to slumber.

Isaiah 56:10, ESV

Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”

Matthew 15:14, ESV

Simon Peter Tells his wife Eden What Happened After Meeting Jesus.

The previous night Simon had told Eden the truth about their situation. That he was in serious tax debt with the Romans and that he was facing jail time and losing everything. He recounted how he tried unsuccessfully all night to catch fish but couldn’t even catch one. He then told her all that happened with Jesus and the boats almost sinking because of how many fish were caught after meeting him.

Eden was confused about what was going on. So, Simon proceded to tell her that it was like the story of Elijah and Elisha. Elijah the prophet threw his cloak over him and said “follow him” The prophet Elijah had asked Elisha to follow him even though he was a sinful man.

So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.

1 Kings 19:19-21, ESV

He explained to her that Jesus said that he won’t be a fisherman any more but instead he will catch men instead. In his excitement, Simon said to Eden, “I don’t even know what that means! But I’m sure of what I saw. He is the one we have been waiting for all of our lives.”

After telling her that he want’s to quit fishing and follow him, she covered her mouth crying.

He thought she was upset with what he was saying. But she was crying for joy. She embraced him and said to him “this is the man that I married”. She remembered a time when Simion was on fire for the Lord before he let the pressure of life weigh him down and crowd God out. Simon asked her if she believed him. She said “you couldn’t make this up”. She looked at him and said “of course he chose you”. Simon responded “I don’t know why he did. I tried to tell him I am a sinful man.” Eden responded and said “everyone is sinful”.

Simon, continuing on said “I don’t know what this means. I don’t know yet how I’m going to provide.” “I don’t care about that” Eden said while whipping tears away. “Then why are you crying?” Simon asked. She responded, “Because someone finally sees in you what I have always seen. You’re more than a fisherman”

Simon told her that it wasn’t going to be easy because he would have to travel. She responded by saying “when have we ever had anything easy? It’s not our people’s way”. This statement is so true. For the Jewish people, their lives have been nothing but trouble. Much of their own doing but also because it isn’t easy being Holy. As for Christian’s, if we are true to our faith, we are promised hardship and suffering. But that suffering is but for a little while on this earth and is training for us.

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:12-17, ESV

Ending Scene

The episode ends after the wine has been served and people were dancing and having a good time. Mary looks over to her son Jesus and mouthed “thank you”. Then, we see Simon Peter, astonished telling Jesus that he will “follow him to the ends of the earth”. Then Jesus steps forward toward him, looks him in the eyes and and says “I hope so Simon”. This is a sobering statement. One that Jesus essentially says to all of us. We are all given the choice to follow or go our own way.

Summary

In this episode the main theme was that of Jesus’ first public sign which happened to be done at a wedding in the town Cana. This set off his public ministry. In the first part of the show we see Jesus as a young boy, 12 years old, who had just been in the Temple in Jerusalem “sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers..” (Luke 2:46-47, ESV) As you can see, the scriptures tell us that already, by that age he was very accomplished and well educated regarding scripture. But, it wasn’t his time to begin public ministry yet. We do know from scripture that he already had some disciples leading up to the event at Cana.

Nicodemus appears again in this episode still searching and fighting against this miracle of Mary Magdalene that he cannot explain and the traditions he held as a Pharisee. He is struggling to let go and believe. So in his pursuit of truth he finds the captured John the Baptist and questions him. But in the questioning, John recognized that the person who performed the miracle as Jesus, since he did not give his name so as to seek credit. He then quoted Psalms trying to open the spiritual eyes of Nicodemus. This exchange ties nicely with what is happening at the wedding in Cana. John recognized that the public signs were not far off, and of course we see in the episode, the first public sign.

Finally we saw Simon Peter believe! He went to his wife, on fire for the Lord, telling her all that had happed and that he was called to follow him. That he would be a catcher of men. He related what he experienced with Jesus to that of the prophet Elijah and the man Elisha. How Elijah called Elisha to follow him, and how Elisha left everything and followed him. Jesus did the same with Peter. Remember also, that Simon Peter is the Rock on which the Church is built.

here was so much to think of during this episode and it was a blessing to work through it. I pray that this review was a blessing to you. My hope is that by God’s grace I can give you not only information on this wonderful series but give you biblical resources that will enrich your knowledge and understanding God’s word. God bless you.

Where to Watch The Chosen

• Watch on your Apple device here.
• Watch on your Android device here.