Creator and director of The Chosen Ones He defended a Season 4 plot twist that drew backlash from some fans, saying in a live stream this week that the show included the plot twist to convey a biblical truth: that Jesus allows suffering. (Warning: Contains spoilers.) The plot twist happens at the end of season 4, episode 3, when a Roman official, Quintus, becomes enraged after failing to capture Jesus in the midst of a huge crowd and starts swinging his sword. In a fit of rage, Quintus later in the series stabs Lama, the fiancée of the Apostle Thomas, and runs away from the scene.
As Lama lies on the ground, bleeding and dying, she begs Thomas to stay with Jesus. Thomas begs Jesus to bring her back to life. A tearful Jesus expresses remorse but replies, “It’s not time for Lama to die yet. I love you, Thomas. Jesus loves you too. I’m so sorry.” After a short while, the credits appear on the screen.
The scene sparked discussion among fans when it was released in theaters, and is now attracting renewed attention with season 4 now streaming.
Dallas Jenkins, the creator and director of the series, spoke out about the controversy during a livestream on Sunday after the episode was available to stream.
“This isn’t just something we did to intrigue or shock. This is actually something we’ve been thinking about and planning since season one, when we first started thinking about all seven seasons of the show,” Jenkins said of the scene. “…What you just saw is not something that’s found in the Bible, but…the truths, the spiritual truths that we’ve just portrayed are extremely important.”
“Suffering is something people all over the world experience every day,” Jenkins added.
“And Jesus allows suffering,” he said. “This side of heaven, we are going to experience suffering, and in the Old Testament, the New Testament, even the Gospels, Jesus doesn’t heal everyone or resurrect everyone,” Jenkins said. “And that’s a very painful spiritual truth, but not only does it go against the Gospels and the character and intent of Jesus, but I think it’s an essential truth that we have to accept if we follow Jesus, if we accept that Jesus is good and God the Father is good. We have to wrestle and work through the fact that God is good in spite of, in the midst of, and because of our suffering.”
Jenkins cited a passage from a Bible study. God’s Mercy to the Chosen Oneis a sequel to season 4. “God’s mercy will cover our suffering,” he said.
Season 4 is available to watch for free The Chosen Ones App.
The most common comment on YouTube was supportive: “As a mother who lost her 26-year-old daughter to brain cancer in 2022, I The Chosen Ones Thank you for the way you described suffering. I have never felt more understood and listened to. It is the hardest way for Jesus to say “no.” But I had no choice. The Chosen Ones Thank you for meeting me.”
Photo credit: ©SWN/The Chosen
Michael Faust He has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years, and his work has appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, Christian Post, Leaf Chronicle, Toronto Star and Knoxville News Sentinel.
