Most likely, you’ve either seen or heard about The Chosen, a new series based on the life of Jesus and His disciples. With Seasons 1 and 2 completed, fans of the series eagerly anticipate the coming of Season 3 sometime in the spring of 2022.
Like many Sunday morning preachers, the writers of The Chosen have added very plausible storylines to the details given in Scripture. The Jesus they present clearly fits the image I now have of the One who came to my rescue in the middle of my darkest night.
I’m happy to say that Jesus does not expect more of us than His Spirit empowers us to give. That gives us confidence to grow. He graciously allows us to feel an extra measure of God’s love when we need it most. That’s reassurance. He sticks with us while pointing out the things we need to change, then the Spirit helps make those changes. That’s transformation. Jesus continually loves us well by sending other believers to our rescue when we become discouraged. That’s proof He knows us best, and knows exactly how to help.
No other portrayal of Jesus’ disciples in The Chosen moved me any more than that of Mary Magdalene. (I’ll try not to be too much of a spoiler if you haven’t started watching.) The first episode of the series begins with events surrounding her demon possession. As the story unfolds, we see her as a little girl learning Scripture from her father. After his passing, the demons move in and she desperately tries to find a way to cope with them. Desperation can either ignite a tenacious recklessness or cause us to completely give up. Mary’s desperation pressed her toward both – until she met Jesus.
In this storyline, Nicodemus represents the religious leaders who could not cast out her demons. After he learns that Mary has been healed, Nicodemus seeks her out to ask who had healed her. Then comes the line from Mary that summarizes my last three years. “I don’t understand it myself. But here is what I can tell you, I was one way, and now I am completely different. And the thing that happened in between was Him.”
When we stubbornly refuse to let God reveal our weak spots (and we all have them), we miss the wonder of the in-between. In my in-between God used my husband to be the loving arms of Jesus. He sent one friend to listen, one to counsel, and another one to push me. He knew exactly how far I could bend before completely breaking. The in-between most always feels miserable as we struggle there, but it’s the place of rescue – a place of miracles. On the other side of miserable struggling, we find sublime healing from the God who loves us enough to send an army.
It’s my prayer that you will ask God to reveal your weaknesses and then allow Him to transform your heart.
“Honor me by trusting me in your day of trouble.
Cry aloud to me, and I will be there to rescue you.”
Psalm 50:15, TPT
