My husband and I have been watching the faith-based TV series The Chosen. While biblical scholars may take issue with some of the story line and character embellishments, the series does a great job of fleshing out the humanity of Christ’s “chosen” disciples.
We, of course, know the disciples weren’t perfect, but the series makes their unique personality traits more vivid. The impetuous Peter is also the loving young husband who struggles with being away from his wife. Thomas is a perpetual questioner, which helps us understand why later he needed proof of Christ’s resurrection. Judas is continually concerned with the finances of the ministry (“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be” [Matthew 6:21]). And Levi is an OCD-ish former tax collector, unsure of himself at every turn but drawn like a magnet to this “new rabbi.”
The series also paints a beautiful picture of Jesus’ interaction with his ragtag group of followers. He responds to their idiosyncrasies with gentleness, patience, sometimes humor—and always with love.
The portrayals in The Chosen remind us of how Jesus called ordinary, flawed people to follow him and be part of his ministry. He does the same today. We are now his “chosen,” whom he still patiently, humorously, and unconditionally loves. And he now entrusts us (despite our flaws and foibles) to carry on his ministry. “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion at the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).
