We see a local sign that, when translated, says Pawnbroker. People are standing in a long line that wraps around the shop. A woman leaves the shop upset, accusing the pawnbroker of lying. The next person in line walks in hesitantly, hearing the owner complain, "Just because I run a charity does not mean I have to buy rocks from every old lady!" "Charity?" asks this new customer. "Just like everything Roman, it's part of business," replies the pawnbroker, adding, "We loan proceeds seized from criminals to the poor and others. You are passing through. I do not recall seeing you before." The man, unwrapping his leather bundle, explains, "I come from Tyre. The mallet is carved of maple from Sidon. The chisels are bronze. The trowel is tin from Phoenician ore." The pawnbroker, recognizing their worth, says, "My, my. Why would anyone want to part with these?" "I'm on my way to the Dead Sea," replies the man. "Welcome, Pilgrim, and lucky me: I do not often see items of such quality," says the pawnbroker. "If only they were not brought in by some stranger passing through." "They weren't stolen, if that's what you're saying," insists the customer. "I can justify 20 denarii," says the pawnbroker, plunking the money in a small brass bowl. (A denarius was day's wage for many laborers.)
The customer, shocked, unconsciously lifts up an arm in protest, saying, "That is a fraction of what they are worth!" He quickly covers his skin, but is too late: the pawnbroker sees a telltale wound and cries out, horrified, "Leper! You are marked!" He pushes the leper to the ground with his cane, continuing to rant, "You couldn't just die, you had to take us all to hell? You are forbidden to come near within 4 cubits!" (about 6 feet or less than 2 meters). The poor leper tries to beg for mercy, but quickly realizes he will receive none. He takes the coins in the bowl, saying, "I didn't mean you any harm. My tools were all I had left." As he leaves the shop, people are screaming.
Near Matthew's tax booth, Matthew and Gaius are standing near a box of the considerable wealth collected from the miraculous catch of fish Jesus provided for Simon and Andrew. People are staring at them. Gaius closes the box, commenting, "I never knew those little skiffs could hold so many fish." Matthew informs him, "They can't: the weight of the catch and the sailors caused the boat to sink. They had to jump out, and ended up filling two boats."
When 3 Roman soldiers arrive to carry off the treasure box containing over 2 years of heavy tax debt for 2 people, the one named Marcus whistles appreciatively at the box, saying, "I thought it was a joke." Matthew, taking him literally, states, "You could say it was comical when the men leapt from the boat." Marcus is skeptical, responding, "You can't catch this many fish that fast." Gaius suggests they continue this conversation on the road. Marcus says derisively, "Oh, Gaius, don't tell me you're nervous about guarding a couple months' taxes." Matthew and Gaius lock eyes for a moment, but do not bother correcting Marcus on the amount of tax money.
Nicodemus addresses fellow Pharisees in Capernaum: "I've just returned from questioning the man known as John the Baptizer while in Roman custody. Though his appearance is unconventional and his teachings ignorant, I've concluded he presents no material threat to Herod or to the public peace." The Av Beit Din, or judge over this local Sanhedrin, has to call order because disapproving voices are heard. One speaks up: "The man has a following. We've heard as much from brother Shmuel's testimony. Is that not a matter of concern?" Nicodemus answers in a dismissive voice, "I believe these followers are simply investigating, as one would a loud noise. They do not gather on the Jordan River to be immersed as we understand ritual cleansing. They stand in line because others are standing in line. We only legitimized him by ordering his detention. The very effort to keep him silent gives him a pedestal."
But the Av Beit Din informs Nicodemus, "We issued no such order." Nicodemus tells him, "I was shown sworn statements from the arresting soldiers saying a Pharisee had ordered his detention." Shmuel stands and confesses, "It was me. 'He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord.'" The Av Beit Din protests, "Quoting the Proverbs of Solomon is not an explanation." Shmuel retorts, "I will not turn a blind eye to his sins even when all others do." "What sins?" asks the judge. "He called us a brood of vipers!" answers Shmuel with hurt outrage. Nicodemus chuckles and again makes a dismissive comment: "He uses coarse language to attract attention."
Shmuel presses the matter, practically shouting, "Do you know how vipers are born? They hatch inside their mothers. The Law of Moses says, 'You shall not hate your brother in your heart.' Nicodemus answers calmly, "Were he a member of our congregation or our faction, we would admonish him, but he's not. He's a rogue who answers to no one." The Av Beit Din weighs in: "Brother Shmuel, your rash actions have inflated the importance of a trivial outlier and drawn undue attention to our sect by Rome. I'm astonished that any student of the great and learned Nicodemus would have the temerity to bypass his approval!" Nicodemus, again calm, says, "I'll talk to him, Av Beit Din." The judge concludes, "You will defer to your teacher on all matters of polity and practice. Do I make myself clear?" "Yes, your honor," says Shmuel, who walks away in a huff when the council is adjourned.
As Jesus's disciples break down their camp, Little James momentarily leans against a post. Simon tells him, "I'm glad I'm not the only one." James tells him, "I thought I was prepared for life on the road: snakes, hunger, floods." Simon laughs, saying, "The Torah doesn't mention the blisters, huh?" "What?" quips James, "you never read the book on constant, low-level aches?" "The sermon on dust in your nose?" returns Simon. "So, what did you do before you met Jesus?" James tells him, "I was on my way to join the 288." "The Jerusalem Temple Choir?" asks Simon in a doubtful voice, adding, "I was Caesar's favorite gladiator."
Little James laughs humbly, catches his breath, and begins singing slowly in a soulful voice: "My soul thirsts for You. My flesh longs for You in a dry and weary land where there is no water" (Psalm 63:1). Everyone stops working to listen. When Little James is finished, they spontaneously applaud. Simon remarks happily, "Wow, I stand corrected! It's clear why Jesus asked you to join Him." Little James thanks him, but then scratches his head and says honestly while resuming the work of breaking down camp, "I don't know if anything's clear. Maybe I'll sing, maybe not. He's the only one who knows what I will become. More than anything, He is a teacher, and we're His students."
Jesus walks into the camp and commends everyone on the work they are doing. He calls over Simon, telling him, "My mother is leaving. I'm escorting her back to Nazareth. I'll catch up with the others at our camp in Capernaum." Simon replies that he understands and will see that everyone arrives safely. Jesus surprises him by saying, "I want you to go on ahead. You have some business to tend to at home. The others don't have families. You do. Look at Me: I'm leaving all this fun to escort my eema." Simon is willing to protect the others, but Jesus uses Himself as an example to provide humble service for family members.
The Roman praetor Quintus, happily looking over the tax ledger presented by Matthew and Gaius, comments, "Remarkable! For the first time in a year, quarterly collections will have exceeded Governor Pilate's projections. And if the fishermen are no longer fishing on Shabbat, Simon the cheat ended up being the guy who delivered when it mattered most." Matthew interrupts his reverie to make it clear Simon was not responsible for the large catch of fish that produced so much tax revenue. Quintus cuts him off, saying in a patronizing and cynical way, "You’re a fine reporter but you’re also a bit of a rube. I read your report: it’s clear Simon and his accomplice tricked you." Matthew objects, "To what end?... I’m neither sophisticated nor subtle, Dominus, but I am observant. I detected no subterfuge. I recorded everything I witnessed—however impossible it seemed."
A runner comes in breathless with a message he knows Quintus will deem urgent: "King Herod's envoy approaches." "Spotted where?" asks Quintus. When learning the envoy is close, Quintus addresses his captain: "Silvius Gemelius, son of Senator Gemelius, will be arriving in one hour. Prepare my guard for inspection." Noticing that Gaius and Matthew are still in the room, Quintus tells Gaius, "I've reviewed your service records. You are Germanic?" Gaius answers, "My people were." "Powerful warriors, even if they did surrender," observes Quintus." "I believe they sensibly joined the winning team, Dominus," replies Gaius. "My only allegiance is to Rome. I've trained to fight for her since I was a boy." "And now you will lead," says Quintus. "I hereby promote you to the rank primi." Gaius gets down on one knee and thanks him for this honor.
Quintus now turns his attention toward Matthew, describing him as wonderfully odd and keenly intelligent without guile. He solicits his opinion on a scenario he describes like this: "You will be shortly visited by a childhood rival whose father gave him everything while yours gave you nothing, and yet you've risen to a higher rank. You want to make it clear it's you who won, that it's your meeting, even if he arrives unannounced." Matthew astutely replies, "I would show him my plans for infrastructure. Conquest is not simply conquering nations, but imposing a way of life." Both Quintus and Gaius are visibly impressed by that answer. Quintus mutters, "Unbelievable, yet so simple. You're dismissed." Immediately he gets to work at his desk.
A strikingly beautiful woman is gathering flowers in a basket by the road. Jesus and His disciples walk by. Mary gives a friendly hello to the woman, who returns the greeting and also says shalom. Mary comments, "It's a beautiful day for picking flowers." The woman tells her, "If you like Gilboa iris, lupine, and anemone, I sell them in the market." Jesus points at her colorful necklace and asks, "Is that Egyptian?" "Yes, I grew up there. My father was from Ethiopia," answers the lady. Jesus begins speaking to her in Egyptian, telling her, "I grew up in Egypt too. Your necklace reminds me of things I saw in My childhood." She replies, "I'm Tamar of Heliopolis. He says, "I'm Jesus of Nazareth. Peace to you, sister." She thanks Him in their shared language, and then extends her shalom to the whole group with a polite bow.
Jesus's disciples inquire about His time in Egypt. Mary asks, "Why were you there?" Jesus explains, "We had to leave Bethlehem when I was 2 years old because of Herod." Big James says, "You lived in Bethlehem during the Massacre of the Innocents?" "I did," says Jesus. "I know the story," says James. "Herod had every child in the area under the age of 2 killed." "Yes," says Jesus, "it was very sad, but not to spoil this beautiful day or anything, huh? Come on."
Suddenly Mary screams, which makes Tamar stop picking flowers. Jesus is approached by a man the Bible describes as "full of leprosy"—the same man we saw at the pawnbroker's shop, but looking worse. Jesus's disciples are horrified. John orders him to step back. Jesus starts walking toward the man, quieting His disciples when they urge Him not to. Tamar looks with wide eyes as the man falls to his knees and begs Jesus not to turn away, saying, "If You are willing, You can make me clean," explaining his sister was one of the servers at the wedding where Jesus turned water into wine. Jesus touches him compassionately and says, "I am willing: Be cleansed."
The leper's wounds heal before our eyes. Tamar gasps and drops her flower basket. The disciples are in awe. The healed man begins laughing as he embraces Jesus and thanks Him, asking what he can do. Jesus tells him not to worry about that, but says, "Do not say anything to anyone." "You don't seek Your own honor?" asks the man. "What do I tell people?" Jesus tells him, "Go, show yourself to the priests. Let them inspect you and see that you are cleansed. Make the proper offering in the Temple, as Moses commanded, and go on your way." Jesus asks His male disciples, "Who has an extra tunic?" John, Big James, Little James, and Thaddaeus all eagerly look in their bags. Jesus says, "Just one of you." Thaddaeus drapes a green tunic on the man. Jesus smiles and says, "Green is definitely your color. Not too shabby!" That makes the man laugh and give Jesus one more hug before they part. Tamar looks up, as if struck by an idea, and runs off.
John and James's parents, Zebedee and Salome, are slowly getting used to life without their sons living with them. Salome calls to Zebedee on their roof to haul up flax from a pulley and to check on the grapes laid out in the sun. Zebedee misses having his sons on raisin duty. While up there, he is delighted to observe them heading his way with Jesus and the other disciples. Zeb calls down the good news to Salome.
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| John and James with their father, Zebedee, at whose house people will gather. |
Jesus says hello to Salome, who looks at Him in wide-eyed delight. She is moved to say solemnly, "James, John, listen to Him, please, and stay by His side." They say they will, and Jesus says, "It's a pleasure to meet you too, Salome. I'm Jesus of Nazareth." She says with adoring eyes, "Of course You are." Jesus also greets Zebedee again. Salome then remembers her manners and invites everyone in to their home. Zebedee stays behind momentarily and asks his sons about Simon, relieved to hear Simon is taking care of things at home and that Andrew will be bringing him over soon. Zebedee was afraid Simon got cold feet in following Jesus. John says, "Are you kidding? He's the teacher's pet." James adds, "You would hardly recognize him now."
Simon, back at home, is doing good service by mopping the feverish brow of his mother-in-law. He sings to her, "May my meditation please You as I rejoice in You, My Lord. Praise You, Lord, forevermore" (a variation of Psalm 104:33-35). As he leaves her to rest, he hears Andrew telling Eden about the wedding at Cana, including the miraculous wine and dancing. Eden is pleasantly surprised to hear that Jesus Himself was dancing joyfully. Simon reports to Eden that her mother is sleeping with labored but steady breathing. Andrew comments, "That was some soulful singing, my man." The three laugh.
As Andrew and Simon walk toward Zebedee's house, they see Matthew. Simon says triumphantly, "Tax man, I guess no one told you the good news: we squared our debts with Quintus. Go back to your cage and stop following us." Matthew blurts out, "It's not you. I'm here about the man, the man at the shore who made the fish appear." Simon grabs him by his clothes and says threateningly, "You saw no man on the shore, you hear me?" Matthew insists, "Yes, I did. I was there. I saw." Simon guesses the first thing he did was to tell Rome. Matthew shouts, "They don't believe me." Andrew grabs his brother to calm him down and says, "Go home, Matthew." "Best for you to forget it," adds Simon. "They don't believe what I saw, but I do," says Matthew. "I need to know if I am deceived." Andrew tells him, "What good is our answer if you don't even listen to yourself?"
Zebedee, hosting Jesus and His disciples in his house, asks Jesus if His father was a fisherman and if he is back in Nazareth. Jesus tells him his earthly father was a carpenter and is now in heaven. "What was Your father's lineage?" asks Zebedee. "Josiah, father of Jeconiah at the time of the exile," answers Jesus. Salome guesses correctly that since Jesus is the Messiah, He comes from the tribe of Judah.
Neighbors Mara and Eliel pop their heads in and join in the discussion. (Mary Magdalene used to work with Mara at the hairdresser's. Mara and Eliel are the parents of Abigail, the girl Jesus befriended.) Mara has a question about the Parable of the Dragnet, which she heard Jesus tell before the miraculous catch of fish. Simon interjects, "Please, our master is tired. He had a long day of walking." Jesus kindly says, "It's all right." Mara continues, "You said angels would come and separate the evil from the righteous. How soon do you think that day will come, Rabbi?"
Jesus answers, "My friends and I recently returned from a wedding. The father of the bride, Abner, is a man of great wealth. As the night got longer, near the end of the feast, what do you think his servants were doing back home?" Simon answers, "Waiting, if they're good at their jobs." "Where?" Jesus asks. "In their rooms? In the kitchen?" "At the gate," answers Mary. "Ah," says Jesus. At the gate doing what? Just standing there in the dark?" "Holding lamps," says Andrew. "But why wouldn't they just relax?" asks Jesus. "Because they don't know when their master is coming back," answers Mary. Jesus says, "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?"
His friend Barnaby, with Shula looking inside from the open window, answers, "That's easy: they would be fired, kicked out, called a name, and told if they ever show their face around here again—" Jesus laughs and says, "My friends! Shalom, shalom." Barnaby quips, "We heard about the wine at the wedding. Can you do that to the well by my house?"
Going back to the servants, Jesus concludes, "So it will be at the end of all things. Neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son of Man, know the day of the hour, but only the Father. So you must always be ready with your lamps trimmed and burning brightly."
While Jesus is speaking, Simon looks nervous and calls over John to speak by Zebedee's front door. Simon tells John, "It's getting too crowded." John replies, "Don't worry about it," but when he sees how large the crowd around the house now is, he sees the sense in Simon's suggesting they make sure the path out the back garden is clear. When Simon expresses more worries, John tries to get him to focus on Jesus, saying, "Simon, you don’t need to be His bodyguard—I think He can handle anything! He called you to catch men." Simon replies, "I don’t know what that means." John reasons: "If He needed you to know what it meant, He would have told you. So just be you, okay? And maybe you already know." Simon looks a little more at ease.
Nicodemus dismisses the rabbis around him, except Shmuel, and says, "Shmuel, my eyes are tired. Would you mind reading to me from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah?" Shmuel reads from chapter 40: "'Comfort, comfort My people,’ says our God... A voice cries in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way of Adonai, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.'" Nicodemus asks, "Who does that sound like?" "The heretic John," answers Shmuel. "And what heresy do you find in those words, being that Isaiah said them also?" Shmuel says, "The problem is that John has appropriated Isaiah’s words by taking a spiritual description of God in heaven and applying it to John’s physical successor on earth. John said, 'After me comes He who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.' God has no body. He cannot wear sandals. God cannot take human form. To say so is blasphemy." Nicodemus asks with a mild laugh, "Where does it say that God cannot take human form?" Shmuel answers, "In the scroll of Deuteronomy: 'You saw no face the day Adonai spoke to you at Horeb—'" Nicodemus interjects, "Just because they saw no form doesn’t mean God cannot take one!" Shmuel replies, "In Exodus: 'No one can see My face and live.' This person would have to walk around with his face covered!" Nicodemus says, "So you would place limits on the Almighty?" Shmuel answers, "None that are not written in Law!" Nicodemus adds, "And if God did something that you felt contradicted the Torah, would you tell Him to get back in that box that you have carved for Him—or would you question your interpretation of the Torah?"
Shmuel, feeling bewildered, tells his teacher: "When I was a student, I knew all your sayings. I read every word you wrote. Your teachings were so sturdy, so reasoned and pure.
Jesus continues teaching the crowd inside and outside Zebedee’s home in Capernaum: "So you think that because Pilate killed them, they must have been worse sinners than others?" Eliel answers, "I know Pilate wasn't doing it for that reason, but God must have been punishing them for some reason." Jesus responds, "No, no. You know the Tower of 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."
The healed man says thank You to Jesus and begins walking home with his bedding. The crowd makes way for him, often touching him in wonder as he passes. Jesus looks up at Tamar, who waves in thanks before joining her friend. Then He looks at the window, where Shmuel and Yussif are staring at Him. Shmuel calls out, "Roman guards! A threat to the public peace!" Gaius and Marcus draw their short swords and stride through the crowd. Simon burst through the back door and says, "Teacher, this way." Jesus follows His disciples through the back garden. Nicodemus remains in the back of the crowd, watching in wonder as the healed man walks past him. At first the man looks alarmed to see a Pharisee, but the kindly look on Nicodemus's face moves him to smile when he recognizes someone who is happy for him. Nicodemus shakes himself out of his reverie when he notices Mary bounding down from the roof and running hear him. He calls her name. She smiles in recognition and says, "You saw it?" Nicodemus replies in awe, "I saw a paralytic walk past me on his own two feet! Mary replies, "You asked me before if I knew His name. Now everyone knows His name and I fear for His safety." Nicodemus tells her sincerely, "I mean no trouble to Him, no dishonor—" Mary objects: "Your friends tried to have Him arrested." Nicodemus explains, "They’re jealous, they’re afraid. But I’m not, I promise. Mary, please, I need to talk to Him." Mary explains, "I follow Him, not the other way around." Nicodemus pleads, "Will you ask Him for a meeting—in secret, under cover of night, at a place of His choosing. I just need to speak to Him! Please, Mary." Mary tells him she will try. |
  Matthew climbs down the ladder. He has a peculiar expression on his face. The children notice. Abigail asks him, "Are you lost?" Matthew answers honestly, "Yes, I am." He wanders away. When he looks up, he notices Simon and the other disciples leading Jesus away from Zebedee's back garden into a sheltered yard. Before Jesus follows them and the curtain is closed, He turns and looks directly at Matthew, smiling. Matthew looks at Him with wide eyes filled with hesitation and longing. |
Illustrated Summaries of All The Chosen TV Series Episodes (Quotes, Links, and Photos)
#TheChosen #BingeJesus #SeeHimAsTheyDid #QuotesfromTheChosen
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