"Rise up."
The Chosen - Symbolism & Philosophy
Symbols & Motifs
Fish
Symbolizes both the disciples' humble origins and their new calling. The fish is a literal part of their livelihood but is transformed by Jesus into a metaphor for their mission.
Central to Simon Peter and Andrew's introduction as struggling fishermen. The miraculous catch of fish in Season 1, Episode 4 is the turning point that solidifies their decision to follow Jesus. Jesus's line, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men," is a foundational moment for the entire series. The fish also appears in the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand.
Water
Represents multiple concepts: chaos and peril (the stormy sea), miraculous provision (water into wine), and spiritual cleansing or rebirth (the encounter at Jacob's Well).
In Season 1, Jesus turns water into wine at the wedding in Cana. Simon's near-drowning and the miraculous catch of fish happen on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus's conversation with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's Well revolves around the metaphor of "living water." In Season 3, the climax involves Jesus walking on water during a storm, directly confronting the disciples' fear of chaos.
The Shabbat Dinner
Symbolizes community, rest, and the sacredness of relationships. It serves as a recurring setting for key character interactions and revelations.
Season 1, Episode 2, is titled "Shabbat" and establishes the importance of this tradition. Mary Magdalene hosts a Shabbat dinner where the disciples gather, revealing their personalities and beginning to form bonds. It's in this intimate setting that they move from being a collection of individuals to a community.
Philosophical Questions
What is the nature of faith when miracles are not granted?
The series explores this most poignantly through the character of Little James, whose actor has a real-life physical disability. James follows Jesus, witnesses countless healings, and is even sent out to heal others, yet he himself is not healed. In Season 3, he directly asks Jesus why. Jesus's response delves into the idea that faith is not transactional and that one's suffering can serve a higher purpose, allowing them to connect with and minister to others in a way that someone who hasn't suffered cannot. This challenges the simplistic view that faith always results in physical deliverance.
How does divine calling interact with personal life and trauma?
The Chosen repeatedly examines the immense personal cost of following Jesus. Simon Peter must leave his wife, Eden, and his livelihood, creating tension in his marriage, especially when they suffer a miscarriage while he is away. Matthew is forced to reconcile with his estranged parents. Mary Magdalene must constantly live with the memory of her past trauma. The series suggests that a divine calling does not erase personal history or responsibilities but rather redeems them, forcing the characters to navigate the complex intersection of their past lives and their new mission.
Can flawed, ordinary people truly be agents of divine change?
This is a central question of the entire series. The disciples are not scholars or saints; they are fishermen, a tax collector, a caterer, and a zealot. They are riddled with doubt, ambition, and prejudice. They argue amongst themselves and misunderstand Jesus's teachings constantly. Yet, Jesus entrusts them with his world-changing mission. The show explores the idea that God doesn't choose the qualified; he qualifies the chosen. Their journey shows that divine work is carried out through imperfect human vessels, whose strength is found not in their own abilities but in their reliance on him.
Core Meaning
The core meaning of The Chosen is to present an authentic, relatable, and human portrait of Jesus and his followers, stripping away the stained-glass formality of previous depictions. The creators aimed to explore the life of Christ through a more "personal, intimate, [and] immediate" lens, focusing on the transformative power of a personal encounter with the divine. At its heart, the series is about the concept of being 'chosen' — that ordinary, flawed, and broken people are called by God to be part of an extraordinary mission. It emphasizes that this calling is not about achieving perfection, but about responding to grace. Through the detailed backstories and interpersonal dynamics of the disciples, the show conveys a central message: the gospel story is not just a grand, epic tale, but a collection of intimate, life-altering relationships.