We’re back to watching The Chosen on Wednesday nights. Here are a few thoughts & observations from episode 1.

The biblical parts of the episode (as opposed to the imaginative parts) are mostly drawn from John 12, 16, and a bit of 17. The episode opens with Jesus talking to the disciples in the Upper Room and segues back to his Triumphal Entry a few days before. The disciples are alternating between feeling absolutely sure they know what’s happening to total incomprehension. Jesus, knowing exactly what lies ahead, doesn’t project the level of excitement the disciples do. The happiest we see him is when he stumbles into a betrothal ceremony.

Jesus’ friends among the Jewish religious leaders confront him when he’s on the verge of entering Jerusalem. They don’t think anything good will come from what he’s about to do. They fear for his safety. The biblical symbolism accompanying Jesus – the donkey he’s riding, the palm branches and cries of “Hosanna” – are speaking more loudly than he himself is. These guys sincerely wanted to help Jesus. I wonder how often we sincerely want to help Jesus but, like them, miss the point.

No one looks more excited than Judas. He is absolutely sure this is the time Jesus will openly claim the kingship.

The filmmakers get something right about the relationship between Pilate and Caiaphas: Pilate’s big concern was that there be no riots. Whatever else Caiaphas did, he needed to keep the peace.

There is a small group of anti-Jesus people who have arrived in Jerusalem shortly after Jesus and his band. They are absolutely sure Jesus is a false prophet who is leading the people astray. They are convinced that in opposing Jesus they are doing God’s work. I was reminded of Saul in Acts 9 “breathing out murderous threats.”