Indescribable Compassion: The Chosen Season 1, Episode 6

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.

Watch the show here

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
Matthew
Nicodemus
Mary Magdalene
Simon Peter
James
James the Lesser
John
Andrew
Zebedee
Thaddeus
Paralytic
The Leper

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

Theme: Indescribable Compassion

In this episode, Jesus continues his public signs of healing. First to The Leper and then to the Paralytic. These are a few of the healings that are near the beginning of the gospels. In the gospel of John it lists the healing of the The Leper first and then the healing of the Paralytic although when these occur is not of great importance. The Chosen ties these two events together through the Egyptian woman who saw the healing of The Leper in a field.

Jesus’ fame was increasing rapidly in part because of these healing miracles. People began to flock to him seeking restoration for themselves or someone they knew. They came to him begging, having nothing left to offer other than their own plea’s for mercy. And because of their faith, Jesus had compassion and healed them.

Is that not what Jesus really came to do? To have mercy on us by forgiving our sin? Indeed it was and it still is. Though Jesus used his power as God to heal physical ailments during his ministry, these public healings were used to show that Jesus is the Son of God and has the authority to forgive sins. The thing we all need healing from is not our physical ailments. What we need healing from is spiritual death because of sin. Therefore, he shows indescribable compassion to those who come to him broken, with nothing left, who know in their heart and admit that without mercy, they are dead. When that occurs, Jesus tells us “your sins are forgiven.” That is what this episode and these healings are all about.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1 John 1:9–10, ESV

Opening Scene

The scene opens in a pawn broker’s shop. A man, whom the pawn broker didn’t recognize, came in. The man told the broker that he was from Tyre and presented some tools that appeared to be used for stone masonry. The man said that he was trying to make his way to the Dead Sea. (https://www.everydayhealth.com/psoriasis/treatment/can-dead-sea-salt-treat-psoriasis/) The items he presented were high quality and because people usually don’t part with such items, the broker assumed that the items were stolen. When the broker offered him 20 Denarii, the man was highly offended. When he lifted his arms to show off the items to the clerk, he stated “You’re joking! That is only a fraction of what they are worth!” In doing so, he exposed his arm that had a skin disease. The broker screamed “Leper…you are marked”.

The man said to the broker, “I beg you”. Having no compassion, the broker said to him, “You couldn’t just die…you had to take us all to hell! You are forbidden within four cubits” The man grabbed the cash and left after telling the broker, “I didn’t mean you…any harm. My tools were all I had left.”

In the Bible, any skin disease is called leprosy. There were very strict laws given to the jews regarding what a person with leprosy could do and where they could go. It wasn’t, good and in that day, it was considered a curse which is why the broker said, “you are marked”, implying that he was condemned to death. While it was true that the leper was to be put outside the camp and be alone, they were not condemned. And they were not sick because of any particular sin. This was something that was added by rules and traditions of men and not of God. But God did give the following rules regarding people with skin diseases.

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Command the people of Israel that they put out of the camp everyone who is leprous or has a discharge and everyone who is unclean through contact with the dead. You shall put out both male and female, putting them outside the camp, that they may not defile their camp, in the midst of which I dwell.” And the people of Israel did so, and put them outside the camp; as the Lord said to Moses, so the people of Israel did.
Numbers 5:1-4, ESV

“The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’ He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp.
Leviticus 13:1–59, ESV

Departing Camp

As the disciples were taking down the camp in order to move to the next location, Simon Peter was talking to young James, who was going to become a singer in The Jerusalem Temple Choir, but was called by Jesus to follow Him. Simon, after hearing him sing, said to him, “Its clear why Jesus asked you to join him.” Implying that he was going to become a singer for Jesus. However, young James replied, “I don’t know if anything’s clear. You know, maybe I’ll sing, maybe not. He’s the only one who knows who I’ll become.” This statement stood out because in following Christ, we are being prepared for something much more than just dying and going to heaven. It appears that we will have a bigger role to play. What that is, we do not yet know. In scripture, John says:

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
1 John 3:1–3, ESV

Revelation also gives us a glimmer that we will rule with Christ in some significant capacity:

The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”
Revelation 3:21–22, ESV

Back to the episode:

Jesus showed up in the field with all of the disciples and informed Simon Peter that he is going to escort his mother Mary back home to Nazareth and that he would “…catch up with the others at our camp near Capernaum”. He gave Simon Peter orders to go ahead of the others and to go back home because he had some business to attend to. If you recall from Episode 4, Simon Peter’s mother-in-law was very ill. Jesus remembered that and sent Simon to attend to his home duties. Paul the apostle said that when we are followers of Christ and also married, that our interests will be divided between the two. Here is what he said:

The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband.
1 Corinthians 7:32–34, ESV

Healing The Leper

The scene opens with Jesus walking with Mary Magdalene. They come upon an Egyptian woman picking flowers in a field. Jesus struck up a conversation with her in the Egyptian language saying, “your necklace reminds me of things I saw in my childhood.” She responded “I’m Tamar of Heliopolis.”

The disciples noticed that he was speaking her language. “I lived there when I was a boy”, he told them. He then continued to tell them the reason why he lived there for a time as a boy. It was because of King Herod that his parents took him to Egypt.

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”
Matthew 2:13–18, ESV

Out of the trees the disciples saw the a leper, the man from the pawn shop. At his sight they panicked saying don’t breath his air. One drew out his knife warning the leper not to come any closer. Then, Jesus stepped forward in front of his disciples toward him. He was looking deep into his eyes. His disciples continued with their warnings and even reminded Jesus about the disease the leper had. But, at the very moment the word disease was spoken by them, Jesus turned and looked at them with stern eyes with his hand outstretched to silence them.

He then again turned to the leper, with eyes full of compassion toward him. The Leper spoke to Jesus saying “Please” then dropping to his knees continued, “please, don’t turn away from me.” Jesus responded, “I won’t”. The Leper continued saying “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean. Only if You want to; I submit to You. My sister, she was a servant at the wedding, she told me what You can do. I know you can heal me if you are willing.”

Then Jesus stepped forward and kneeled in front of the man, face-to-face and said “I am willing. Be cleansed”. Jesus issued the command of his Word and the leper’s skin disease began to immediately heal in the sight of all the disciples and also the Egyptian woman. Afterword, The Leper weeped and hugged Jesus and said “what can I…what can I ever do…”. Jesus interrupted him and said “No. Do not say anything to anyone.” The leper’s response “You don’t seek your own honor?” Then Jesus responded “Please, just do me this one thing. Go and show yourself to the priest. Let him inspect you to see that you are cleansed. Make the proper offering in the temple, as Moses commanded, and go on your way.” Jesus did not want word about his miracles to spread around yet because this would have consequences for the people in the area he was currently working. However, The Leper did not do as Jesus instructed but instead spread word about the miracle done to him.

And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.
Mark 1:40–45, ESV

Matthew’s Encounter with Simon Peter and Andrew

When Simon Peter and his brother Andrew came outside of their house, they saw Matthew standing outside. They began to ridicule him and told him that they had settled their debt with Quintus, the Roman governor. But Matthew was not seeking answers on that, rather he was seeking answers about what he saw when Jesus was on the boat with Simon Peter and the others. He wanted to know about the miracle of the fish that almost sank the boats.

Matthew: “It’s not you. I’m her about the man”

Simon Peter: “What man”

Matthew: “The man at the shore who made the fish appear.”

Simon Peter: “You saw no man on the shore, you hear me?

Matthew: “Yes I did! I was there! I saw!

Simon Peter: “And I bet the first thing you did was tell Rome, huh?

Matthew: “They don’t believe me!”

Simon Peter: “You really are a traitor.”

Though this particular interaction is complete fiction, it isn’t a stretch to think something like this could have happened. Especially towards a Hebrew tax collector. But the last statement by Simon is ironic, because just before the death of Jesus, he denied that he ever knew Jesus…three times.

Simon, continuing to speak to Matthew told him, “best for you to forget it.” This is unloving advice because the best thing for Matthew is to come to know the Lord and he was seeking answers just like Nicodemus was. But at the moment, Simon and his brother cannot see past their anger and they do not have forgiveness in their hearts. This is a dangerous place to be for anyone, but even more so a believer.

In this way, they are at this moment in the episode, not much better than the Pharisees. At the feet of Jesus, Simon himself told Jesus that he was a sinful man, yet towards Matthew, he elevated himself with pride and was unmerciful to him and full of anger and hatred.

Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
Matthew 18:21–35, ESV

Pharisee’s Council

Nicodemus was addressing the council regarding the investigation into John the Baptist. He said, “I conclude that he poses no material threat to Hared or to the public peace”. He further said that “We only legitimized him by ordering his detention.” However, the Council Cheif said that no such order had come from them. Then, to the surprise of the council members and of Nicodemus, Shmuel who was Nicodemus’s student, said “It was me! I turned him in. He who justifies the wicked and who condemns the righteous are both like an abomination to the Lord.” The Council Cheif admonished Shmuel because he acted insubordinately.

Synagogue

Nicodemus walked into a synagogue for a reading of scripture. He told all who were there that he would read later but that he would like some time alone. When everyone began to walk out, he asked Shmuel to stay with him. The scrolls of Isaiah were opened and then he said to Shmuel “…my eyes are tired would you mind reading to me from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah.” Shmuel began to read, “A voice cries, ‘in the wilderness, prepare the way of Adonai; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Nicodemus stopped him and said, “Hmm…and who does that sound like?” He was trying to show Shmuel that there was no heresy in the words that John the Baptist was speaking. But Shmuel’s heart was hard and unwilling to consider that his position on scripture was wrong. He thought that the scriptures say that God cannot take a physical form. But Nicodemus showed him that such an inflexible position has caused many to believe that any scripture, after the first five books of the Torah were written, to be considered blasphemous.

After some more dialogue, Nicodemus challenged Shmuel saying that “with new revelation it should call us to question whether our interpretation was wrong.” He said “We are still students, Shmuel. All of us. Our understanding will never be complete.” This is true with us, except unlike them, our understanding is more complete because we not only have the Old Testament but also the New Testament. God has made most things clear to us that were once mysteries to the ancients. That being said however, there are still many mysteries that will remain veiled until the end. Finally, Nicodemus said to Shmuel, “And fear alone ensures we remain ignorant, asleep in the safety of a rigid tradition. ‘Let’s look to the ancient roads where the good way is, and walk in it’, as Jeremiah said, and still keep our eyes open to the startling and the unexpected.” Nicodemus eyes were being opened and he was trying to open his student’s eyes too. At the end of this scene, someone came in and told Nicodemus of a crowed that was gathering to “see a man preaching.” This of course was Jesus teaching at Zebedee’s house.

Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.
Jeremiah 6:16, ESV

Teachings at Zebedee’s House

1st Teaching

Jesus and his disciples were all at Zebedee’s house. People came and began to ask many questions.

One woman, who had seen the parable of the nets from episode 4, asked: “you said angels would come and separate the evil from the righteous, how soon do you think that day will come?” Jesus began to tell her and the others about the wedding that they had just recently attended. He told them of Abnar, the father of the bride who was a wealthy man. He said “as the night got longer, what do you think the servants were doing back home?”

Simon Peter: “Waiting, if they’re good at their jobs.”

Jesus: “Waiting where? In their rooms? In the Kitchen?”

Mary Magdalene: “At the gate.”

Jesus: “Ah, at the gate. Doing what? Just standing there in the dark?”

James: “Holding Lamps”

Jesus: “But why? Why wouldn’t they just relax?

Mary Magdalene “Because they don’t know when he’s coming back.”

Jesus: “Suppose they figured the master was delayed in coming, so they took a nap on his bed? Got drunk on his wine and let their lamps burn down? So, it will be at the end of all things. Neither the angels in heaven nor the Son of man know the day or the hour, but only the Father. So, you must always be ready, with your lamps trimmed and burning brightly.”

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 24:36–51, ESV

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
Matthew 25:1–13, ESV

After this teaching, more and more people began to gather at the house. Simon Peter, being the self appointed guard, was worrying about the Romans being alerted to come and break up the gathering. Then he told one of the men, “and if we’re not fighting the Romans yet, I wanna do something until that time.” This was a common misconception of what the Messiah came to do. The Hebrew people though that the Messiah was going to be a warrior that would lead them in battle to defeat the Romans or any government that was oppressing them at the time. They thought that they would conquer and once again establish sovereignty of their own land and people.

2nd teaching Tower of Siloam

“So you think that because Pilot killed them, they must have been worse sinners than others?”

Zebedee: “I know Pilate wasn’t doing it for that reason, but God must’ve been punishing them for something.”

Jesus: No, no, God does not see some as worse than others. All must repent or perish. You know the tower in Siloam, which fell and killed the 18, yes? Do you think that they were worse than those who lived in Jerusalem? No, all must repent or perish.”

Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
Luke 13:2–5, ESV

Zebedee’s wife was worried because they were running out of food. She asked for her neighbor to go and get some more food but then Mary Magdalene said “they’re already being fed.”

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
John 6:51, ESV

3rd Teaching Prayer

Blind woman: “What about prayer? I don’t like to pray out loud because I feel embarrassed around the leaders who know how to do it so much better”.

Jesus, “Ahhh, big words don’t matter. A lot of that’s for show anyway. Don’t worry about doing it in public. It’s better to go into your room, shut the door, and pray to you Father who sees you in secret.

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Matthew 6:5–8, ESV

He continued: The same is true for giving to the needy. Don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Don’t even congratulate yourself in private.”

“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Matthew 6:2–4, ESV

Jesus: Which brings up a good point. All of you listening here you’re pretty decent people yes? Pretty righteous. Kind of. Not bad. Let me tell you a story. There were two men that went up into the temple to pray. One of them a Pharisee, the best of us right? The other was a tax collector, the worst, yes? A Pharisee standing by himself, goes inside to the temple and he prays this prayer. ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioner, unjust.”

“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 18:10–14, ESV

Healing of The Paralyzed Man

After this teaching the Egyptian woman seen earlier in the episode brought a man who was paralyzed from birth. When it seems like there was no way to get the paralyzed man to Jesus, Mary told him that she didn’t want to interrupt the teacher. At that the paralyzed man asked her, “what if you were me?” To that, she replied, “I was you once.” So they brought him to the roof to lower him down from there.

Then, the Egyptian woman calls out from above the roof. “Jesus of Nazareth, I saw what you did to the leper on the road this morning. My friend has been paralyzed since childhood. He has no hope but you. Please do for him what you did for the leper. If you are willing, Rabbi, I know you can do this.

Jesus speaking to the Egyptian woman said “your faith is beautiful.”

On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”
Luke 5:17–26, ESV

At the end of this most powerful and beautiful scene, Matthew gets off of the rooftop looking very confused. The little girl asked him, “are you lost”. He replied, “Yes, I am”.

Shortly after this healing, the Roman Soldiers came and broke up the crowd and they all dispersed while Jesus and his disciples escaped using a rear entrance. As they were fleeing, Nicodemus found Mary Magdalene and begged her to set a meeting between him and Jesus. She told him that he will try.

The very last thing you see at the end of this episode is Matthew looking at Jesus walking away. Then suddenly Jesus turns around and with compassionate eyes and a smile looks at him and then turns away. It was as if Matthew, for the very first time, was seen as a person and not a traitor. This is a significant development as you will see in the next episode.

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