The Chosen is great. As someone who believes that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, I find it great to see so many people take an interest in scripture after coming across this TV show. For clarity, I’m also wary of a few elements of artistic license the show takes, some of which don’t sit right with me.
Nevertheless, with Season 5 coming out, I thought it would be an excellent opportunity to analyse a particular aspect of The Chosen that has made it so relatable for so many people around the world: perspective.
#1 Seeing through different eyes
The Chosen is literally marketed as a series that shows Christ’s ministry through the eyes of those closest to him. He spent three-and-a-half years teaching the people about God and healing them from their sicknesses before going to Jerusalem, where he was betrayed and crucified.
Scripture itself is exactly the same. The gospel writers were either there in person (Matthew and John, and probably Mark, too) or spent a lot of time collecting witness accounts from those who were (Luke). Thus, they themselves are from the perspective of the people who were there, and that’s only a tiny section of why the Bible is so hard to put down once you pick it up.
Of course, Jesus Christ is the focal point of the Bible. He’s the Son of God. However, we can often feel separate from him, distanced by time (from his ministry) and space (where he now sits at God’s right hand). That’s something that The Chosen has handled really well. By making it real for us (even with artistic license), we empathise and relate. We’re part of it. Perspective.
#2 Jesus Christ is human; he's relatable
Jesus was a human, different from God, God’s Son. Most people worldwide have heard about him, but without a careful reading of scripture, he might feel distant. Like a monk-type figure. Emotionless and robotic. The Chosen does a great job of showing that the gospels are nothing like that. Here was a man with the same emotions that you and I feel. He performs miracles not out of self-importance but because he relates to the struggles, pains, and joy around him. This comes across so well because The Chosen is written from the perspective of his friends, the people he helps.
#3 The importance of cultural context
Jesus was born over two thousand years ago. Back then, especially in the land of Israel under Roman rule, things were very different to today. Coming from an English culture (having lived in the UK and now Canada), I find it hard to separate myself from what I consider cultural norms. The Chosen uses the perspective of the people to highlight the rift between the average person and the religious and Roman leaders. You and I are average people, so taking that perspective helps us picture how we might feel – or, at least, how we might wish we felt – were we in that situation. And why what happened matters so much.
#4 Growth through changing perspectives
Throughout The Chosen, everyone wrestles with something. Nicodemus and Matthew are two important examples from the first season, with the show matching up with scripture (at least, in terms of the most important events). Matthew is a tax collector, hated by the people and disdained by the Romans. He chooses to follow Christ despite his wealth, having overcome his greed. On the other hand, Nicodemus is looking for the Messiah but cannot bring himself to part with his position as a religious leader.
For growth to happen, our perspectives must change. That’s what we find when we read scripture, and The Chosen shows it beautifully in many different (including fictitious) contexts.
The power of perspective
Perspective makes any story, fiction or truth, engaging. Open a Bible to any page, and I promise it’s what you’ll immediately find. Perspective shapes how someone experiences a narrative and makes it real for you. Ultimately, perspective is what turns a simple tale into something memorable, and what turns a story into a life-changing guide. And that’s something to take away for your own writing.
Nobody can write anything like the Bible, but there are unlimited things to learn. This was just one (almost completely meaningless) example.
If you’re interested in chatting about either scripture or the importance of perspective, don’t hesitate to reach out!