The Chosen Season One Episode Two "Shabbat."

 

Shabbat is the Jewish Day of Rest. Shabbat happens each week from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday. During Shabbat, Jewish people remember the story of creation from the Torah where God created the world in 6 days and rested on the 7^th day. Different Jewish people celebrate Shabbat in different ways.

It is the custom to read selections of Scripture on various days and during various festivals in the Jewish year. The words of Proverbs 31 are spoken here and a few times during the Sabbat dinner. I love how this episode begins in a time frame even further back and comes right back to the present time with Mary being cleansed from the demonic hold. 

I love that the camera pans around showing us what life was like in those days. Of course there would be a need for hair dressers just like today, its an important skill. Mary seems to be giving it a try which leads to her being spotted by a Pharisee. This religious so called 'righteous' person is even walking around with his nose practically in the tree limbs.

The flower Mary went to get for one of the ladies hair is called the Buttercup flower. 

"The buttercup is one of the flowers grown in Israel that is known as the flower of David, the ultimate survivor, the survivor of the fittest, for it grows wild in Israel that can survive in dry scary conditions that can destroy many other plants."

So this next tense scene between Matthew, Quintus, and Gaius is pretty fun to watch. I actually look forward to more and more of Quintus as he is perfect as the feared Roman authority. In this moment Matthew is so sure that Simon and Andrew are up to no good he does what he can to convey his concern. But what I really got out of this was that the world sees what kind of skills and talents we have and seeks to use them for its own end and that is always destruction. Quintus tries to use Matthew and even says he looks forward to seeing how. We know eventually Jesus will call Matthew to himself and use those observation skills for the Kingdom. 
 

So Dallas warns us ahead of time he will be adding backstory into the characters lives to bring a rich story based on Biblical events. It is called historical fiction and I am all for it as long as its reasonably possible these things could have happened in the way they are told in this show. So far I love the dynamic relationship between Simon and Andrew and Simons overall conflict. He is battling inside himself and his motives in the end are pure in that he wants to take care of his family. He needs to would be a better way to say it. Meanwhile he is going about it in the worst of ways. I did notice a reference to King David's son Abalsom whose hair was caught up in some branches which lead to his eventual death. I love those quick lines that make us pull out our Bibles and look for the references. 

 I will say this many times but I love Erick Avari as Nicodemus. He fits into this role like a glove on a pitcher. And his complete shock in finding Mary healed and free from the demons is well played out and I can really feel his wonder and complete awe. 

So I am clear as to what is happening. Fishing on Sabbat goes against the Jewish laws. The Romans do not expect the Jews to be fishing so they do not patrol during that time. Simon is aware of some of his own Jewish brothers fishing when they should not be so he is trying to catch them to turn them into the Romans so he can get out of his tax debt. And of course all of this Andrew makes his brother Andrew sick and frustrated. It makes for good backstory and since we really do not know much about Simon's life prior to being called by Messiah, it works for me. 

I have to get this printed on a shirt. If nothing else a sign above my desk when I am studying and neck deep into the books researching. It is a great line. 

Just a bit of sarcasm between Nico and his wife. Love that relationship as well and feel like its built solid from years of trust and understanding. There are several Sabbat feasts we will see in this episode and its fun to observe the contrasts between them. 

We learn a little more about Matthew's backstory. Since he is a Tax Collector we already know his own Jewish brothers would hate him. It stands to reason his own family would disown him as well and cast him out of their home. Seems Matthew is quite intelligent and able to do well on his own. I think its sweet that Gaius cares about Matthew like his own father should be. 

Both how Mary describes her first time making Sabbat dinner since I imagine she was a little girl, but also a great line for how I feel before watching every episode of The Chosen. 

Nicodemus finds Mary in the market and confronts her to find out who healed her from the demons. Mary does not know His name but only knows He called her by name. And the line she says here is on a shirt and can be purchased on The Chosen Website It is the perfect answer for anyone of us to give when asked why we are so different after redeemed by Jesus. 

Laura Silva as Eden, Simon's wife, is another excellent casting choice. We never meet her in Scripture so its is fun to bring her to life on screen and imagine what their lives would have been like. At this point she is frustrated with Simon not telling her all that is worrying him. Husbands take note when your wife starts chopping vegetables harder than necessary, be open and honest. Wives always can tell. Simon like most is trying to be the best husband and provider he can be, this tension between them is real and feels right for the story. 

Matthew as an outcast having a dog which was not considered a fun family pet back in that time, seems to work well. Matthew tries to go to his parents home for Sabbat dinner but ends up eating along with his dog. It is a find picture of humility in a lot of ways. 

I love that even though Nico has probably told his wife this historical detail before she just smiles and enjoys listening to him.

Two more future disciples of Jesus making their appearance at the house of Mary for Shabbat dinner. Her dinner is simple and humble in comparison to the richness and pageantry of Nicodemus. Though to be fair you could see Nico was a bit in a hurry to get through the motions. 

Here we meet James and Thaddeus who were apparently sent ahead by Jesus. 

I love Mary's honesty. We see she left an empty seat thinking she needed one for Elijah. This is a customary thing in every Jewish household but only once a year during Passover. While she may have made the mistake, it is clearly going to be filled shortly.

Jesus has arrived! Always the gentleman Jesus will never come in without us first inviting Him. The same is true in every moment of our lives. He wants to be with us, but we have free will always. 

There are so many great lines of humor in the dialogue. It does help to have background sometimes though. It was said of Nazareth, nothing good could come from it. It was considered a really horrible place to be from, full of gentiles and unclean things. So our Messiah is well acquainted with all aspects of humanity, let us not forget. 

Jesus invites us to be active participators in all that He is doing. Right down to the Shabbat dinner Scripture readings, I believe it is good for us to treasure such traditions as they remind us of the God we serve. I tell people I am not Jewish but the God I worship is. 

We see a glimpse into each Shabbat dinner our characters are experiencing. This gives us a good picture into their lives and backgrounds to help create the story ahead of us. The Chosen just a wonderful just piecing lives together to help draw us closer to the Word of God and seek Him. 

The lost shot we see if Simon out on the shore of the Galilee with the Roman soldiers. Wonderful episode and necessary to get Simon to where he needs to be for Messiah to call Him. The show just gets better from here so keep watching!

Thank you