Watch this episode on the free Chosen app.
The last episode ended with the 12 apostles praying together before going out in pairs to preach and heal as Jesus's representatives. This episode opens in black and white, depicting what is now already past, with wordless depictions of each team hard at work obeying their Lord's instructions: Thomas anoints a blind woman's eyes with oil and John prays for her, sharing her and her family's joy as she is healed.
Andrew preaches with joy to a diverse crowd as Philip listens with a baby on his knee and a little girl to his side.
Nathanael and Thaddaeus preach and bring healing to a woman who had been deaf.
Judas and Simon speak one on one to a crowd assembled to watch a Roman pagan priest engage in augury, soon forming their own audience.
As Big James preaches, Little James reaches out to a lame man, placing his hands on the man's leg and holding his hand for him to stand on his restored limb while Little James himself still needs to use a staff to stand. Big James commends Little James for that great act of faith and healing.
A man unlocks a padlocked room. Zee enters and wrestles a demon-possessed man while Matthew anoints the man's head with oil and commands the demon to go. It flees immediately, to the great relief of the man and his family.
Returning to Thomas and John, we hear them teaching the first part of the Lord's Prayer to a new group of disciples among the people who witnessed the healing of the blind woman. Then we hear Andrew and Philip, Nathanael and Thaddaeus, Simon and Judas, Big and Little James, and Matthew and Zee finishing the rest of the Prayer with their groups of new disciples.
John and Thomas preach to a crowd in a desert area.
Andrew and Philip are forced out of town by an angry mob.
Thaddaeus anoints a sick woman on her bed, who immediately leaps up to everyone's astonishment.
Judas casts out a demon from a woman cowering in the corner of a dark room.
Little James preaches to a group as Big James listens.
Matthew preaches while Zee holds up a man leaning on a crutch, who then casts it away when he realizes he is healed. Zee smiles back at Matthew.
The apostles are now back home in Capernaum. We see a rabbi on Shabbat in the synagogue reading a biblical text on cleanliness, saying, "Whoever touches the discharge shall wash his clothes, bathe himself in water, and be unclean until evening." As he continues, we see Big James and John entering the synagogue, joining their father, Zebedee, and the other apostles.
A commotion is heard outside so Rabbi Yussif moves swiftly to investigate. He learns that the town's water supply has become contaminated. It could take weeks for the condescending Romans to fix the problem. Yussif inquires what materials they need to get the job done.
Yussif wastes no time. He appears before the synagogue administrator, Jairus, to appeal for a courier to bring building materials from Jerusalem to Capernaum to fix the cistern. Jairus is disturbed to learn of the water-supply problem since purification water is essential for the synagogue, but is greatly relieved and impressed to discover that Yussif paid for the materials in full since he and his wealthy family own a construction business in Jerusalem. Yussif, demonstrating genuine humility, tells him to be discrete with that knowledge. Jairus assures him he will and confidentially informs Yussif that he received a formal request from Rabbi Shmuel, stamped by Rabbi Shammai, for a detailed description of Jesus's Sermon on the Mount. He makes it clear to Rabbi Yussif that he read and believes what Yussif wrote earlier about the Sermon, but that the other rabbis are against Jesus.
Yussif, with the passage of at least a month by now, is inclined to think he was too enthusiastic in his report, but Jairus tells him he has been comparing Jesus's Sermon word for word with the Torah and studying messianic prophecies. Jairus says with conviction, "I am reeling, I see light, Rabbi! Torah spells out the coming of this Man. It's dogma and tradition that have misunderstood the picture from Scripture of a military figure. If everything you're saying is true, do you know what this means?" Yussif cautions him to be careful, but Jairus states, "It is more than just that He is a great new rabbi. You leaders and the Sanhedrin members might be so close to it that you cannot see the bigger view. He could be—I would sooner be unborn than return to ignorance of the contents of your letter!"
Rabbi Yussif asks, "Do you understand the consequences of what you are saying?" "Of course I do!" answers Jairus. "That is why I feel this way, and I think you meant it too." Yussif smiles and shakes his head affirmatively. "And Nicodemus?" asks Jairus. Yussif again nods yes and says, "Now you understand my dilemma." Jairus says, "I love our people, but I am leery of what the Order may do. Rabbi Shmuel made this request on behalf of the majority leader of the Sanhedrin. It will not be received with understanding." Yussif asks Jairus what he thinks should be done. Jairus humbly suggests he send as diluted a version of the Sermon as he can. Yussif agrees but states, "Knowing that the account I submit is inaccurate makes you complicit." Jairus smiles and repeats something Yussif said earlier: "Discretion, please." "On my life," Yussif answers, echoing Jairus.
 |
| "Discretion, please!" says Jairus, echoing Rabbi Yussif earlier. |
The line at the well outside the city of Capernaum is long. Inside the city Simon finally returns home and surprises Eden. She at first is delighted to see her husband, but she quickly becomes frustrated when he seems more interested in taking a nap than in talking with her. Her frustration grows when Simon tells her the other apostles are coming by soon since they understandably want to talk about their two-by-two missionary journeys. He asks his wife if she can prepare more bread for when they come. Eden responds somewhat coldly, "I can make some more. I will stop by the well for more water." She knows how difficult that will be, but Simon does not. This begins a downward emotional spiral for Eden.
On her way out with her water bucket, Eden meets a quirky young woman new to the town who washes clothes for a living. That woman, Veronica, shows Eden an obscure stream she discovered to do her washing that saves Eden from standing in the well line.
Jairus's pregnant wife and 12-year-old daughter, Michal and Nili, are cooking together as Jairus comes home to get a prophetic scroll. Nili greets him warmly and then returns to help her mother, but soon collapses from severe stomach pain. Jairus takes her in his arms and lays her in bed before running off for the doctor.
As Veronica and Eden make their way to the stream, Eden commends Veronica for taking her along. Veronica is surprised, saying, "If people knew something that could help me, I wouldn't want them to withhold it, so why would I do the same?" As they get to work at the stream, Eden notices with alarm that Veronica has many blood-stained cloths to clean in a pile.
Mary Magdalene and Tamar are inside Matthew's fancy house. Tamar expresses gratitude that Matthew allows them to live there, but criticizes his taste in home décor. When she talks of selling off Matthew's possessions to raise money for the ministry, Mary reminds her they discussed the possibility of selling off some of Tamar's lavish jewelry. Tamar states gravely, "I told you, it's not just jewelry. It's my family's story. Each piece belonged to one of my ancestors. I carry their lives with me, wearing them on my body." Mary responds, "I'm sorry, I'm trying to be sensitive, Tamar, but honestly that sounds a little pagan or like animism, which you may want to shed now that you're in this group?" Tamar counters, "It's not animism; it's honor. You don't know what I've been through." Mary says the same, but Tamar says insensitively, "I've heard rumors." "Ah!" says Mary, looking like she has been slapped. Tamar apologizes. Mary says, "I do have a past. As for the question of money, we should just leave it to Judas, the keeper of the purse."
A knock at the door mercifully interrupts this tense discussion. It is Zebedee, wanting them to taste test his olive-oil sample. Tamar first apologizes to him for tearing a hole in his roof to let her paralyzed friend down to meet Jesus, but Zebedee cheerfully reminds her that Jesus said her faith was beautiful. Mary tastes Zebedee's olive oil, but tells him she doesn't know how to describe it. Tamar tries it and tells him plainly what she thinks, as is her practice: that it is rancid. Mary tries to soften the blow, as is her practice, but Zebedee welcomes the truth so he can make the best olive oil possible. Tamar is full of ideas since she is the daughter of one of the 7 princes of her people and very knowledgeable about olives. She reminds them about Joanna, who gave a large donation to Jesus's ministry and urged them to multiply her gift, which they can do through a well-run olive-oil business. Careful Mary says they'll will need to speak with Judas first. Impulsive Tamar says they should find him at once. Zebedee shares her enthusiasm and off they go.
At Simon's house, all the apostles are seated around the table, swapping ministry stories. It soon becomes apparent that Big James and Eden are troubled. Eden remains withdrawn and uncommunicative, but James states clearly what is bothering him: that during his missionary journey he was saying and doing things he still does not understand. He's worried all this missionary activity is simply going to create more headaches, fuss, crowds, and scrutiny. Judas responds, "What, do you want to slow Him down?" Matthew also confesses he struggles to understand. Nathanael sensibly asks, "But did He require understanding? It seemed to be more about what we were doing." Little James adds, "When I was preaching, I could feel Him giving me the words." The others agree, including Big James, who says, "I said things I don't comprehend or live by. I felt like a fraud!" "I felt the same way, but it didn't bother me," says another. "I felt powerful, like I could do anything!" says John. "Yes, I did too, John," says Philip, "but isn't that dangerous if that is the feeling we hold onto?" John wants to know why. "Because He is the Messiah," answers Philip. Zee reinforces that point: "None of us is the Messiah." Eden says with irritation in her voice, "Instead of arguing about it, why not just ask Jesus when He gets back?" They don't know when that will be so John asks his brother if he can live with his lack of understanding until then. Meanwhile, Andrew is disturbed to notice that Simon and Eden seem distracted and upset, but unwilling to talk about it.
Zebedee stands at the Capernaum dock, seeking to sell his fishing boat to a would-be buyer who respects Zebedee's integrity, but expresses his confusion that the best fisherman in town would try to sell his boat. Zebedee explains, "I met a Man who is no mere man. What am I working for? I have food to eat. I own my home." He points upward to God and says, "That's who I want to work for. I will make the best anointing oil this side of Sinai."
 |
| Zebedee wants to work for God. |
At the river, Veronica is hard at work cleaning laundry. Eden joins her. Veronica, thinking out loud about Eden's name, says, "The perfect place." Eden says, "I assure you, nothing about my home is perfect." To change the subject, she asks what brought Veronica to Capernaum from Caesarea Philippi. Veronica tells her she came to hear the Preacher. Eden merely says, "Oh." Veronica says, "Surely you were there?" "Yes," says Eden in such a way that leads Veronica to ask, "So you didn't like what you heard?" Eden says quietly, "I did. It's just that a lot has happened since then." She again changes the subject to Veronica's health. Veronica tells her she has suffered from a bleeding disorder for 12 years. Eden, incredulous, wonders how she could possibly survive. Veronica tells her it is a rare disease that just makes her weak. Eden realizes that is why Veronica is unmarried. "I'm un-everything!" says Veronica. "I haven't seen my parents for years. They won't allow me in the house. You better keep your distance: If you touch anything of mine, you'll be ritually unclean and unable to touch your husband for 7 days!" Eden says bitterly, "Oh, I assure you: I haven't been touching my husband." Veronica says, "There's no cure for my ailment. I spent all my money on doctors. No hope there." "So what do you do with no hope?" Eden wonders. Veronica clarifies, "I haven't lost all hope. There might be something I haven't done yet."
 |
| Veronica still has hope. |
In the synagogue, Rabbis Jairus and Yussif talk about the water situation in Capernaum, which is increasingly urgent since Jairus learns from a doctor that contaminated water made his daughter sick. In addition, the Jewish women are currently unable to use the mikveh for their monthly cleansing. Jairus asks Yussif to gather every able-bodied student to collect water from rural wells and springs. Yussif says he will at once and asks if there is anything else he can do. Jairus confesses he is frightened about his daughter's deteriorating health, his emotions tempting him to wonder superstitiously if he is being punished by God for believing in Jesus of Nazareth. Yussif replies, "If you are, I have brought this on you. It's not too late to stop investigating and take it all back." Now it's Jairus's turn to be honest: "Taking it back would not change what I believe. I must go now!"  |
| Despite his fears, Jairus will not reject his newfound faith in Jesus the Messiah. |
Back in Jerusalem, the Sanhedrin members gather in the temple. Pacing nervously inside is Rabbi Shmuel. Coming before the podium is Rabbi Shammai, the conservative leader whom Shmuel warned about Jesus. Shammai tells the Sanhedrin, "I hereby propose a new decree that would extend to the four corners of Israel and to any Diaspora living beyond our borders: A scourge of false prophecy has bedeviled our people and is diluting our faith, belittling our credibility, and besmirching our reputation. This ... must ... stop! If any teacher supports teaching not by any known and respected rabbis, and especially invoking the messianic title 'Son of Man' from the prophet Daniel, shall be reported immediately to the regional Sanhedrin judges. If one is unrepentant, the high priest alone will adjudicate. All those in favor?" He raises his right hand, soon followed by what appears to be all those in assembly.
Rabbi Shmuel looks elated and joins the rest of the Sanhedrin in applauding Shammai's decree. "Praise Adonai! What now?" says Shmuel to a fellow member. "Listen to the applause. We won the day. Great work!" he responds. Shmuel protests that the work has hardly begun and wonders out loud if this speech is merely political. "Not all. Now there is an edict," says his companion. "What good is an edict?" Shmuel wants to know. "It's almost as good as a law." is the response. "We can wait. If this Jesus is as much of a threat as you say, we will hear about it eventually." The man walks off. Shmuel looks about impatiently.
Veronica approaches a tent with laundry she was hired to clean. As the man pays her and takes the bundle, he notices she is bleeding. The man cries out, "Unclean! You deceitful woman!" He tosses the clothes into her face, protesting, "Now I am unclean until sundown!" Veronica kneels and says humbly, "I'm sure that will be very difficult for you, sir." "Get out!" demands the man harshly. "You are not to be in the street and among us! Shame!" As Veronica weeps and leaves, the man informs his wife he must wash himself in the nearby Sea of Galilee, also known as Lake Gennesaret.
Meanwhile, Simon tells Eden privately in their home that he knows something is bothering her and is willing to apologize if he has done something wrong, but he needs to know what it is first. Eden says angrily, "Maybe it's what you haven't done, Simon!" Naturally Simon wants to know what that is, but she says she doesn't want to be the one to have to tell him. There's a knock at their door. Eden opens it and Jesus is there, smiling and wishing them a good evening. Both Eden and Simon are awkwardly silent at first. Simon manages to say, "Evening." "Just evening—not good?" says Jesus. "You might say that," answers Simon honestly. In walk the rest of the apostles, one of whom slams the door upon hearing the crowd's excited recognition that Jesus is back. People start banging on the door. Zee calls out, "Please, you must go: This is a home! Have respect, please!" Simon looks distressed and blurts out to Jesus, "So this is what it's going to be like now?" Andrew, shocked, says, "Simon!" "I'm sorry, Master," says Simon to Jesus. "It's just upsetting that after a long journey I come home, and my house is not a home: It's a meeting place and a forum!" Jesus says, "A house cannot have many functions?" Simon, in no mood to argue, holds up his hands and storms out of his own house. Andrew says, "Brother!" and starts to follow, but Jesus puts a hand on him and says, "Let him go. Simon has a few things he has to work out himself." Mary seeks to console Eden, who is visibly troubled.
Simon wanders into the outdoor area of the synagogue by the broken water cistern in the middle of the night. He is surprised to see Gaius there and in household dress instead of soldier attire. Simon just stares at him. "What are you looking at?" asks Gaius. "Sorry," says Simon. "I've just never seen you without a sword." "I am armed," Gaius informs him, "and I still hold authority." Simon says quickly he is not questioning that. Gaius continues, "The only time I see you anymore is on the heels of that exasperating Preacher." Simon confesses, "At the moment, I'm finding it a little exasperating too." "You're in good company for once," responds Gaius. Simon shakes his head and says, "I didn't mean it; I'm very tired."
Sitting down, Simon picks up a nearby rope and keeps his hands busy tying and untying sailor's knots. He ventures to say, "This broken cistern is a problem: long walks to the well, and the Sea is not drinkable!" Gaius says, "You are on a roll tonight! My boss just told me the same thing." "Are you going to fix it?" asks Simon. "Are you?" asks Gaius. "I meant no offense," says Simon, "but isn't it a civic matter?" Gaius informs him that Quintus does not want to pay for it. "Then I would say we're at an impasse. Seems like the theme of the night," observes Simon. "What theme?" asks Gaius. "What are you doing out here at this hour?" Simon manages to mutter that he was out on a walk. Gaius chuckles, sits down, and pulls out a flask. He asks, "What does impasse mean?" Simon answers, "It's like a road that's blocked." "Like you're stuck because you can't undo something you already did," says Gaius. "No," says Simon, "because you can't undo what you don't know that you did."
Gaius sympathetically offers his flask to Simon, but Simon says, "No, I can't drink from a vessel that's—" Gaius groans, "Ah, you Jews! Your rules make your lives very complicated." Simon responds, "Well, Jesus will undo some of that. He reminds us what we live for." Gaius states, "Well, He's known for performing miracles or the appearance of miracles. Why doesn't He just miraculously fix this cistern?" Simon says, "You'd have to ask Him that." "How about you do it for me?" suggests Gaius. "I'm not inclined to speak with Him at the moment," confesses Simon. Gaius says, "I can relate to that, not wanting to speak to the boss," drinking liberally from his flask. "Quintus is ready to burn the town down. If you're back in Capernaum, does that mean Jesus is back too?" "You don't really think I would tell you, do you?" says Simon. "You better hope to your God that Quintus doesn't find out. I know that Matthew is back," says Gaius. "My other favorite person!" says Simon sarcastically. Gaius laughs and says, "I get that, but 20 denarii says you end up liking him." Simon tells him, "I don't gamble anymore, and I don't take advantage of Romans."
Gaius advises Simon to lay low at home for awhile, but Simon responds, "I don't particularly want to be in my home right now." Gaius, thinking about that, suggests Simon could accomplish that and distract Quintus by fixing this cistern. "With what?" asks Simon. "The synagogue will be getting materials within a day," says Gaius, "and you seem to be the sort of man who needs to be doing something with his hands," having observed the sailor's knots Simon has been fashioning. "That's a lot of work," says Simon. "Well, I can oversee the labor," says Gaius. "You're drunk!" observes Simon, who quickly adds Sir to show some respect. Gaius quickly moves from a scowl to a laugh, admitting, "Maybe a little, but don't think I haven't noticed that through the course of this conversation, you have tied at least 8 knots." Simon hands over the rope and Gaius ties one of the knots, explaining that his grandfather was a sailor. He doesn't know the names of the knots, but he ties some more and Simon tells him what they are: the turn hook, the double stopper, and the snake in the hole. Simon says he is impressed. Gaius tells him, "Be here in the morning. I'll talk with the synagogue administrator about the materials." He gets up to leave but then turns around and adds, "If this trouble of yours at home has anything to do with the wife, all I can suggest is you should get used to saying 5 words: "You are right. I'm sorry." Gaius nods kindly and walks away. 
Back at Jairus's home, Michal relaxes after kitchen work with something to drink, but then asks, "Jairus, have you checked on Nili?" Jairus answers that he has not in awhile. Michal rises and says, "I'll do it." Carrying a candle, she walks up the stairs and enters Nili's room. Suddenly she calls out to Jairus in terror.
No comments:
Post a Comment