This episode begins with a glimpse several years into the future as the disciples are gathered together, mourning the death of James, the first of the apostles to be martyred. John, his brother, acutely sensing the preciousness of time and the need to preserve their eyewitness testimony for future generations, makes notes of what they remember from when they first met the Lord Jesus. He speaks first to Peter, then to Thomas, and then we are briefly introduced to Nathanael, who tells us exactly what the Bible says: "Philip just said, 'Come and see.' And I did. Look, I don't know how to describe it other than He knew me before He knew me."
John speaks with a few others and then finally he talks with Mary, the mother of Jesus, whom John himself calls Mother. She gently inquires why John is conducting his interviews now when he needs to mourn his brother's death. He presciently remarks that there's no time to waste, for they may not see one another again in this world. (Indeed, it is likely that all the apostles, except John himself, met a martyr's death.) Mary observes that John seems most to feel the need to talk about being loved by Jesus, but she prefers to "treasure these things in her heart." Then she comments, "If you tried to write every single thing He did, the world itself could not contain the books that would be written." John likes that, saying, "A disclaimer? That's good—I'm going to say that," and he did end his Gospel that way. They then discuss how he will begin it. "In the beginning," of course, John replies, and the episode soon transitions to when they all are younger and with Jesus.
They are in the city and area of Sychar in Samaria, where Jesus met the woman at the well at the end of season 1. She has been faithful to tell everyone she knows about Jesus, and they have been eagerly listening to Him themselves.
Thomas and Ramah (from Season 1 Episode 5), arrive as instructed by Jesus to Sychar, bringing along Ramah's father, Kafni. Mary of Magdala tells them everyone is looking for Jesus. One of them asks if He is lost. Mary responds, "He is never lost. The townspeople have been clamoring to see Him. He has been changing many hearts."
Thomas smiles and says, "I know how that works."
Jesus, addressing a crowd in the city, says, "We know that God pursues the sick more than the healthy. Think of it this way—are there any sheep herders in the crowd?" One speaks up and Jesus warmly replies, "Ah, welcome! We are honored you are here. I have a very warm place in My heart for shepherds." He finds out that the man and his brothers are caring for 100 sheep, and then asks, "Suppose one of them goes missing?" The shepherd says, "I'd go look for it, of course." Jesus asks about the other 99. The shepherd answers, "I'd have to leave them behind. I can't lose the one sheep." When asked what he would do if he finds it, he says he'd lay it over his shoulders and bring it home, probably doing a little dance! Jesus asks, "What would you say to the friends who were worried about you?" "Rejoice with me: I have found my lost sheep!" Jesus concludes, "Do you hear what he just said? He rejoices more for that one sheep than the 99 who never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father that one of these (Jesus points throughout the crowd) should perish. In the same way, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who need no repentance."
Andrew, Peter, and Thaddaeus gaze in wonder, commenting that you can't tell Jew from Samaritan the way they're listening.
When Jesus and the others return to where Thomas is waiting, Peter responds, "So you came through!" Jesus says, "Of course he did!" After courteous greetings, Jesus says to Kafni, "I imagine you would like to speak with me, yes?" Kafni says he has questions to ask, and Jesus responds, "You wouldn't be a good father if you didn't. Here's what I'd like to propose, if you approve: We've both had very long days, yes? This establishment has rooms available for you. So, why don't we get some rest, and tomorrow morning, we talk about everything. Sound good?" Kafni agrees.
In the morning when going on an errand to buy groceries, as Matthew distributes money to the disciples, he expresses concern they will not have enough left to get to Judea. John replies, "Have faith, Matthew—in Him." Simon's assignment is to get the wine. He asks for three skins, but the Samaritan vintner gives him four, saying, "Anything for Him!"
When Jesus sees Kafni, obviously ill at ease, waiting for Him, He says, "I know what it's like to be concerned about someone you feel responsible for, but I am not a father. I imagine all of this makes you nervous." Kafni says, "I want to thank You for whatever you did at the wedding. You kept the reputation of my business and of Thomas and Ramah from suffering. Ramah and Thomas have insisted you performed a miracle. I believe this to be the edge of blasphemy, and I am not in the habit of believing a man performed a miracle. I'm not in the habit of giving a blessing for my daughter to leave our home, but I am in your debt and that is why we are in this room now." Jesus thanks him for his honesty and says, "I understand. I ask a lot of those who follow Me, but I ask little of those who do not."
Jesus and His disciples, carrying the food they purchased in town, pass by a once-rough field He asked James and John to plow and plant over the past two days. Approaching them out of a ramshackle house is a lame man named Melech, whom Photina—the woman at the well—told Jesus about. With Melech's reluctant permission, they all dine together in the house with Melech's wife, Chedva, and young daughter, Rebecca.
Chedva says around the campfire after the meal, "When I was a little girl, my father told me the Messiah would bring an end to pain and suffering. If You are who people are saying You are, when will You do that?" Everyone listens intently. Jesus says, "I'm here to preach the good news of the Kingdom of Heaven, a Kingdom that is not of this world, a Kingdom that is coming soon, where—yes—sorrow and sighing will flee away. I make a way for people to access that Kingdom. But in this world, bones will still break, hearts will still break, but in the end the light will overcome darkness."
Jesus uses this opportunity to ask Melech about the broken bones that caused him to walk painfully with crutches. The story Melech tells everyone with shame in his voice makes clear he was one of the thieves who robbed a Jewish man on his way from Jerusalem to Jericho, as told in the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Melech explains that his injury occurred after the thieves parted ways, leaving the Jewish man half dead on the road. He is wracked with guilt, thinking about that man every day and feeling responsible for his death. Jesus tells Melech the welcome news that the man did not die, for someone came along and helped him. Melech asks, "Why me? Why did you come all the way out here? Isn't everyone in town falling at Your feet?" Jesus replies, "The shepherd leaves the 99 on the mountain to search for the one that went astray." He encourages Melech to believe His words, return to the synagogue, and listen to the Word of God read aloud, letting it affect his heart and telling others about it. "Sleep on it," says Jesus. "We'll be in town one more day."
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| The Hosts |
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| The Guests |
Jesus and His disciples had previously received an invitation from Photina, the woman at the well, for the whole group to sleep in the large house she again shares with Neriah, her elderly husband, with whom she has reconciled. Neriah greets them at the door, saying, "You have certainly livened things up around here!" He warns them that one of the rooms is haunted by his dead grandmother. Jesus's eyes light up and He says, smiling, "Ooh, I'll take that one!" Photina says, "Do you know who He is? He's not afraid of ghosts!" Andrew mutters, "I might be."
In the morning, Melech wakes up with a sharp gasp. Chedva asks what's wrong. He says, "My leg—no pain, no pain!" Then he jumps up and down for joy on two perfectly good legs! Chedva says, "Melech—it was Him!" Jesus wakes up with a smile and a chuckle, the little family's joy ringing in His ears. John stirs and asks with a raspy voice, "What's so funny?" Jesus replies, "Oh, I just know of a family that's having an unexpectedly good morning," and walks with His fingers on the bed. John exclaims, "You don't even have to be there to do miracles!" Jesus answers, "Don't act so surprised, John. One day you'll be given authority to do the things I do. Even greater." The subject changes and John confesses to having had trouble falling asleep for fear of the room being haunted. Jesus says, "Oh, come on, it's not haunted." James asks why Jesus didn't correct Neriah when he said it was. Jesus answers, "I don't address everything at once with new converts."
Before the three rise from their beds and go down to breakfast, they pray with Jesus leading, "I am thankful before You, living and enduring King, for You have mercifully restored my soul within me. Great is Your faithfulness." The breakfast, however, turns out to be an unpleasant affair with the beginnings of what later in Jesus's ministry will become open arguments about which of the disciples are greater. John complains about all the arguing. Thaddaeus sensibly replies, "So don't argue."
Jesus left His disciples to spend time alone. James and John, feeling rather full of themselves, go out to find Him and tell Him their plans. A group of nearby Samaritans show disrespect toward them all, which infuriates James and John's unrelenting prejudice against Samaritans to the point where Jesus has to physically hold them back. The brothers want Jesus to rain down fire on those Samaritans, which is something Elisha the prophet did in that area hundreds of years earlier. Jesus makes it clear to them, however, that He sent them to sow seeds that will bring life, not death, for generations.
Jesus holds back James and John.
The Lord explains to James and John, "These people, whom you hate so much, are believing in Me without even seeing miracles. It's the message, the truth, that we're giving them. And you're going to get in the way of that because a few people from a region you don't like—that they're not worthy? Are you so much better? Well, let me tell you something: you're not. That's the whole point! It's why I'm here." They both apologize with heads down. Jesus continues, "As we gather others, I need you to help show the way, to be humble." They say they will. Jesus observes, "You wanted to use the power of God to bring down fire to burn these people up?" John admits, "Well, it sounds a lot worse when you put it that way." Then Jesus laughs and says, "You two are like a storm on the sea. Thunder exploding out of your chests at every turn. In fact, that's what I'm going to call you from now on: James and John, the Sons of Thunder." John asks, "Is that a bad thing or a good thing?" Jesus says, "Today, it was not good. But strong passion can be a good thing when channeled for righteousness. I may have to delay giving you authority until you calm down a bit."
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| A new nickname for these brothers. |
Approaching them with the rest of the disciples is the most important religious official in town with an invitation for Jesus to do the honor of the Torah reading (from the first five Books of Moses). After entering the synagogue, Jesus asks for John to join Him as He makes His selection for the reading. They discuss memorable sections, including some that the Samaritans sadly missed out on, and then John says, "I suppose I love the beginning. I love how God simply spoke and the world came into being." "Yes," says Jesus, "As David wrote, 'By the Word of the Lord, the heavens were made.'"
John observes, "You know, the Greeks use word to describe divine reason and what gives the world form and meaning." Jesus says, "I like that. And it is a favorite memory." He takes the scroll containing Genesis 1 to read before the gathered crowd, which happily includes the restored Melech and his wife and daughter. John listens in awe, wonder, and genuine humility as he considers the divine Person before him, fully God and fully man, the One who said and will say, "I am who I am." The episode ends as it began with John many years later, working on his Gospel. He says out loud how he has decided to begin it: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
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| Jesus with the Torah scroll. |
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| Jesus reading in the synagogue. |
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| Young John's Tears |
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| Older John's Gospel |
Illustrated Summaries of All The Chosen TV Series Episodes (Quotes, Links, and Photos)
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