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THE CHOSEN Season 5 Serves Up The Last Supper to Nashvillians and Beyond
by Rich and Laura Lynch
In Nashville, there are over 700 churches located within the city limits. Still, even this conspicuous center of Christendom within the heart of the Bible Belt probably has not done as much for spreading the Good News or advancing The Kingdom of God as much as the crowd-funded, multi-platform series THE CHOSEN in partnership with Fathom Events has done in recent years.
Season 5 of The Chosen continues to be epic and engaging as the Earthly ministry of Jesus nears its conclusion in the Holy Land.
The first installment of The Chosen: Last Supper did well at the box office when it was released March 28, 2025 - generating more than $11.4 million in ticket sales - per Box Office Mojo. Those are impressive numbers for a heavy documentary movie about Jesus. After the big screen The Chosen: Last Supper will be available at Amazon Prime Video, various apps and later mass distribution including DVD/Blu-Ray.
THE CHOSEN is a Christian historical drama television series. Created, directed, and co-written by filmmaker Dallas Jenkins - it is the first multi-season series about the life of Jesus of Nazareth. The film takes us back to the 1st century where we meet Jesus and the people impacted by his ministry including his apostles, disciples, Jewish religious leaders, Roman officials and folks just like you and me. Jonathan Roumie as Jesus portrays The Messiah as a compassionate, humorous human and a person who faces fear, happiness, heartbreak and pain, too.
THE CHOSEN is not the first cinematic presentation about Jesus but its format that encourages streaming and binge watching has made it popular. Plus, it explores the lives of his followers. We meet the not so saintly Peter (Shahar Isaac) whose struggles mirrors many of our own. The drama comes in with some of the side stories that are not part of the Biblical text. THE CHOSEN effectively incorporates scriptures into its narratives while focusing on pivotal moments of Jesus’ ministry paired with speculations on what others may have experienced or thought of during His time on earth.
We haven't felt this close to the Holy Land since a 1991 trip to Israel led by Pastor Jonathan Cahn - long before he became a prolific best-selling author. Memories keep flooding back leading to a rediscovery of the photographs we took while there with some accompanying this article.
So, needless to say, we have been fans of THE CHOSEN since the start. Season 4 concluded with Jesus preparing to enter Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. The first scene in Season 5 found us at a large table celebrating the Passover. However, as the camera scans the apostles faces they do not look happy as Jesus talks to them about sorrow and telling them that his time here is almost complete.
Then we flash back to four days prior as crowds joyfully proclaims Hosanna as Jesus enters the Holy City. Music was used heavily to express the excitement of that moment. Viewers were reminded of the prophesy (Zechariah 9:9) that The King would arrive gently on a donkey and symbolically Jesus goes through the Sheep’s Gate where the sacrificial animals are herded in for the Passover.
The technique of going back and forth in time has been used before so as episode 2 begins we go back to the Upper Room. Jesus continues to warn those around him that he will be rejected and the sheep of the Good Shepard will be scattered. He tells them I will meet you in Galilee after I am raised up but the apostles appear confused by His words. They confidently state that they will stand with him as Peter boldly declared "I will die for you". Jesus replies that by the time the rooster crows 3 times on Friday morning his faithful disciple will have denied knowing Him 3 times.
On team MCN's 1991 trip to Israel - we experienced a reenactment of the Last Supper in the Upper Room.
Back in the city, not everyone is happy about Jesus. The Jewish and Roman leaders are looking for a way to discredit and eliminate Jesus as they consider him a threat to their power. Jesus gives them an opening when he angrily overturns tables and releases animals in the temple courts raging that "My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers." (Matthew 21:13) That episode concluded with Judas exclaiming "what have you done".
As you know there is still a lot more to come in the Passion Week as THE CHOSEN brings these events to life with a few additional twist and turns such a mysterious scribe.
Since the season is called The Chosen: Last Supper we again find ourselves at the Passover Feast where Jesus tells his friends that "I am the way and the truth and the life (John 14:6). Adding that He will be sending them a helper before the audience is back to observing events that try to explain how on (Palm) Sunday the crowds were declaring Him the "Son of David" and by (Good) Friday shouting "crucify him".
Meanwhile, Jesus is doing his best to comfort His apostles while dealing with his own dread and Judas who questions Him about not taking advantage of Jesus' popularity and power with the people to take his rightful place as King over Rome. We along with Jesus know what Judas is going to do.
However, Judas is not the only one struggling with all of Jesus' actions and words. Both the men and women who have been faithfully following Him are concerned as they should be since Jesus' powerful enemies continue to plot against him. We are treated to more parables and nuggets such as "render onto Ceasar the things that are Ceasar's and the things that are God's onto God" (Matthew 22:21) along with the greatest commandments to "love God with all your heart mind body and soul and love your neighbor as yourself." (Mark 12:30-31).
As we move into episodes five through seven the storylines continue to evolve. We are presented with possible debates and discussions that took place between believers, His detractors, as well as the Jewish leaders and Roman authorities. Some of our favorite moments were the teachings at the Passover Meal and the apostles' flashbacks to pivotal times in their lives before meeting the Messiah.
The Passover Feast finishes up in episode eight which features more recollections along with Old Testament imagery. The focus is on the Garden at Gethsemane which according to the New Testament was a place that Jesus and his disciples customarily visited so Judas Iscariot was able to find and betray Him there. We watched with aching hearts as Jesus cries and prays "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." (Luke 22:42). The season concluded on a dark note and if you know the story it does not get better on (Good) Friday. If you missed seeing The Chosen: Last Supper in the movie theaters it is available at Amazon Prime Video, various apps and later other streaming services along with hard copy distribution such as DVD/Blu-Ray.
Much of Season 5 takes place behind the walls of the ancient city - Jerusalem.
Related Links:
For more information on THE CHOSEN and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links -
The Chosen |
THE CHOSEN Season 4 Offers Nashvillians a Whole Lot to Choose From with Fathom Events
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