COLUMN: ‘Jesus’ is appearing on the big screen near you

Twenty years after the movie “The Passion of the Christ” and ten years after the movie “Son of God,” “Jesus” is appearing on the big screen again. This weekend “The Chosen: The Last Supper” opens in theaters nationwide.

The Chosen’s first season, featuring eight episodes, debuted online in 2019 on their free app. Creator/Director Dallas Jenkins plans to film seven seasons. This fifth season, just as the fourth season, is being released in theaters first before it’s available online. Season five “highlights the tension between the triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the looming betrayal of Jesus,” Jenkins says. It depicts the Last Supper and the Garden of Gethsemane.

The best description I’ve read about “The Chosen” reads, “Seeing Jesus through the eyes of those who knew Him.” Actors portray people found in the Gospels. Having watched the four seasons, I can say they make the Bible come alive. Of course, Jesus is the focus of each episode. It’s about His life. You meet each of the disciples – Simon Peter, Andrew, Matthew, John, Phillip and others as Jesus calls each one to “Follow Me.”

When Jesus instructs Peter and the other fishermen to cast their nets again after they had caught nothing all night, their boat almost capsizes because of the abundance of fish overflowing the nets.

Mary Magdalene has a life-changing encounter with Jesus. Nicodemus secretly meets with Jesus at night on a rooftop. The religious leader was searching for answers from Jesus. Their conversation comes from the Gospel of John chapter three. In fact, most of the dialogue of each episode comes from the Bible.

“The Chosen” is based on Scripture. Its production team seeks guidance from Protestant, Catholic and Jewish New Testament scholars. The Bible doesn’t tell us every detail about every person and everything that happens; but this television series does a great job depicting Middle Eastern life and the stories of Jesus’ times. Surprisingly, it’s not filmed in a foreign country or even Hollywood – but rather in Texas.

By downloading  “The Chosen” free app, you can watch season one through four for free on your phone or tablet. Season five will be released after the theatrical run. If you own a smart TV, you can cast episodes onto a large screen TV.

“The Chosen” has reportedly become a worldwide phenomenon because episodes have been translated into over 50 languages and is available in almost every country of the world. “As of recent reports, ‘The Chosen’ has been watched by an estimated 280 million people worldwide, with 770 million episode views.”

“The Chosen” has its critics. But, I believe it tells the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a unique way that’s touching hearts – both believers and non-believers. Viewers’ messages to the production team tell of reading the Bible more than ever before.

Through this retelling of the Greatest Story Ever Told, viewers hear the words of Jesus as He tells us, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Mark 8:34 NKJ).

(“The Chosen: Last Supper,” Season 5 is set to premiere in theaters, starting with Part One (episodes 1 & 2) on March 28, 2025, and will release the other six episodes in three parts over a four-week run.)

— Jan White has compiled a collection of her columns in her book, “Everyday Faith for Daily Life.”