ARE YOU ONE OF THE CHOSEN

I am guilty of reading the Bible and treating all that I read as stories. Even though I know that the accounts in the Bible are true, I still have been guilty of not relating to them as real people. People who had feelings, responsibilities, fears, doubts, and struggles. I have read the story, I know the ending, and it is almost like watching a movie on television. In a film, I watch actors portray a story that can move me to tears, but I know that those people are not real. Years ago, I read a few books written by Francine Rivers. I loved these books because she used Biblical characters in her books. The books weren’t “factual,” and they took some liberties with telling the story, but it still brought the people of the Bible to life for me. That was probably the first time that I thought about Biblical people having a back story, a family, and maybe fears. The Bible gives us glimpses, but not a lot of detail.

This week, my sister and I were talking, and she mentioned that she was watching a series of videos created about the life of Jesus. This series, called The Chosen, has hopes of producing eight seasons, and the first season is ready for viewing. According to the Christian Post, “The Chosen” became the No. 1 crowdfunded media project in history, raising over $11 million from more than 16,000 investors who wanted to see season one made. To get the app, here is the link for the Google store, and here is the link for the Apple store.

Like the Francine Rivers books, there are some added parts of the stories since no one knows all of the backstories. Here is what you will see when you start the videos: “based on the true stories of the gospels of Jesus Christ.” Some locations and timelines “have been combined or condensed” and “backstories and some characters or dialogue have been added.”

Here is a warning; you will want to watch the next video as soon as one ends. The videos are amazing, and I love watching the people that I have read about come to life. I have only watched the first two videos in this season, there is eight total, but I have been introduced to many main characters in the Bible.

Mary Magdalene broke my heart in the first episode. In the book of Luke, we read that Jesus cured Mary of seven demons. But, reading about that, and watching someone tormented by demons are two different things. When you see the desperation and the hopelessness of Mary depicted in the film, you see how much it meant to her to be healed. I cried with her, and I rejoiced with her in her healing.

Luke 8:1-3

8 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, ² and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; ³ Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

I don’t know what Mary’s demons were; they aren’t mentioned. However, we can all have demons in our lives. Mary’s demons were probably spiritual, but ours could be sin related. The seven deadly sins of pride, gluttony, wrath, envy, greed, sloth, and lust are earthly demons, but they can torment us and cause us to miss out on Heaven. Jesus can rid those from our lives, just like He can cast out spiritual demons.

Mary became a devoted disciple of Jesus, and she spent her life following and ministering to Him. She was with Him at His crucifixion, she was with him at His burial, and she was the first to witness His resurrection. She was indeed one of His chosen, and so are you!

Have a Blessed Day!