Then they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the Good News and curing diseases everywhere. ~ Lk 9.6

I have heard this Gospel many times but I never paid much attention to its implications until I binge watched “The Chosen” and experienced their portrayal of this account by Luke. While I the show isn’t aiming to be Biblically accurate, I find it stays aligned to the overall message of the Bible and Jesus’ ministry.

There are two scenes from Season 3 that came to mind as I read the passage.

The first scene comes from episode 2, called “Two by Two.” Around minute 36, Big James, after Jesus gave them the mission to go out and proclaim the good news, says to Jesus, “you are sending us?” Shortly after, Andrew jumps in exasperated saying, “I don’t understand.”

I always took for granted that Jesus sending the apostle to proclaim His message was a natural progression of their journey. I never took the time to consider that the apostle have been with Jesus for maybe a year or 2 before they are given this mission.

Supposed that you have been mentored by some guru that has shaken your understanding of the world for the last 18 months or so. He then calls you into his office and says, “I have a mission for you, I want you to go share everything you have learned from me with everyone else.”

I don’t know about you but when something shakes my view of the world, I tend to keep it to myself because I don’t want others to think I am crazy even though I know that this new understanding can change their lives for the better.

That’s only, the sharing of message. Now, consider the fact that they had permission to heal the sick and cast out demons at a time when plenty of scammers were claiming to be prophets and healers.

Big James and Andrew clearly and succinctly represent all the feelings and thoughts I would have in a similar situation.

The second scene comes from episode 4, “Clean: Part 1.” It’s the montage played in the introduction of the episode summarizing the adventures of the twelve carrying out their mission. No lines are said. The images tell everything.

Their faces, once again, summarize how I would feel with all of it:

I don’t know what’s happening but it’s working
This is so amazing
How is this working?
Please work!
Thank you for this moment
Don’t let me screw this up
Am I the one doing this?
I don’t understand it but I’m grateful to be a part of this…

The insight I get from all this is my human tendency to wanting to intellectually understand the things of the spiritual realm. It’s the tendency to resist following God’s calling because I can’t see clearly how it all works and my role in it.

I think the biggest lesson I am learning in the last 90 days is to faithfully say, “Jesus, I trust in You.””

So, I end this with a prayer, feel free to craft your own:

Blessed be You, our Lord, King of the Universe, I faithfully and humbly place myself in your presence to give you thanks for all that was, all that is, and all that is to come in my life. I, sincerely, surrender my will and my need to understand, so that the Holy Spirit can freely guide me to fulfill the mission you have for me on this Earth. In you, I wholeheartedly place my trust until the end of my earthly days. Amen.

In peace,

~Juan

PS: you can watch episode’s 4 montage here