Reminders

By: Gabriela Yareliz

I watched the season three finale of The Chosen, and it was stunning. I loved seeing how Jesus handled conflict, Simon’s real anger, the boy who gave up his lunch for the feeding of the thousands, and Jesus in the storm.

When the Roman Atticus sees Jesus’ silhouette in the middle of the storm, I was reminded of when King Nebuchadnezzar exclaims:

“Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They (his council) answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”

I walked away with three reminders from this season. Ones I struggle with because like Simon, I am sometimes distracted.

One is that whether we find ourselves in fire or rain, God is always with us in the chaos. And not only do we see Him, but people around us (like Atticus and the Babylonian king) also see Him standing there in the storm with us.

The other reminder was that invitation from Jesus that I know by heart, but so often forget and do not live by.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

I am not good at rest, and yet, this is a clear invitation from Jesus to all of us who find ourselves weary. Like with Simon in the storm, He asks us to focus on Him and not our circumstances. I struggle with this invitation. I am constantly striving, but He invites me to stop. Every Friday as Sabbath begins, when I close my computer, I am reminded of this passage. Sometimes, it frustrates me. I continue to seek His rest and peace.

The last thing that stood out to me was just how real everything becomes when watching it versus reading it. Yes, the tension between the disciples is real but also often their tension with Jesus is felt. More than that though, I sit and watch and wonder what it was like for, not just the disciples, but every person who witnessed Jesus and His miracles.

When you finish season three, you walk away knowing that this was such a remarkable time in history. A secular person might say that this was a mystical time in Israel. Many miraculous wonders were happening constantly and publicly. It was a time of awakening and dramatic healings and events that happened in quick succession.

Jesus speaks of power that He gives His followers. This idea that if we have faith and believe, He can work through us. The fact that we may feel life feels so ordinary is sort of a reminder to me that there is power untapped. Something is missing. Life could be wildly more dramatic and adventurous than we ever dreamed if we take Him at His word.

The miracles of the past are not locked up in some box to be kept there. As someone who has a pretty “religious” following on Instagram, I must say that Asbury’s revival is making waves at the moment. The news is everywhere, including on secular news channels. I have no doubt that the Holy Spirit is being poured out there over the students and those coming from near and far to see what is happening. God has always told us that when we seek Him, we will find Him.

But that is the thing, it isn’t just a past in Jerusalem thing or an Asbury thing– it can be a here and now thing. If we believe in Him, He dwells in us.

Walking away from this third season of The Chosen, I am reminded that He is still waiting to be encountered by many more. Our hearts are collectively hungry and weary. He sees us. He is by our side, even today. He doesn’t let go. And when we find Him, we are, just as the people in the past were, forever changed.

“Your ways, God, are holy.

What god is as great as our God?

You are the God who performs miracles;

you display your power among the peoples.

With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,

the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.”

Psalm 77:13-15