Five More Times “The Chosen” Made Me Cry – Season 4
I’m not going to waste your time with a lot of introductory stuff. We all know why we are here. The Chosen made us cry and we need a place to talk about our feelings. Consider this a safe space where you can unburden yourself and find some comfort with your fellow Chosen fans.
In what is perhaps a change of pace from other articles or comments on this topic, I tend to tear up more often at the little moments, as opposed to the big moments that many others mention. Though to be clear, those big moments are devastating and deeply emotional.
Case in point, the big moment with John the Baptist. (If you are reading this, I’m going to assume you have seen Season Four so spoilers shouldn’t bother you.) John’s death was sad, the reactions of Jesus and the disciples, particularly Andrew, were raw and intense, but I did not cry when it happened. We all knew it was coming. The echoes of his death are felt throughout the season, and there are profound emotional responses to it going forward, yet his death scene did not bring me to tears.
That’s enough setting the stage. Here are five moments that did make me cry.
“I trust in a God that walks on water.”
Simon’s big moment this season was getting his name changed by Jesus. And henceforth, we shall call him Peter, much to the consternation of some of the other disciples. They are only human, after all. But as awesome as The Chosen captured that moment, my favorite Peter moment came in a conversation between he and the sons of thunder as they discussed the death of Ramah and the previous resurrection of Jairus’s daughter.
In the midst of their confusion and pain, Peter calms his friends with one simple, yet powerful statement. “I trust in a God that walks on water.” No, he had no good answers for why Jesus allowed some to suffer and others to be healed. Peter could not see the bigger picture, but he could see and trust the One who was painting that picture. It was a beautiful display of our “I believe, help thou my unbelief” faith. May we all hold on to Jesus even when the wind and waves rock our lives.
Thaddeus
Some of my favorite moments in the show come from the secondary characters. Nathaniel makes me laugh with nearly every line. His delivery is absolutely perfect. I’ve written before about Shula and Barnaby and how great their story has been. Perhaps my favorite side character is Thaddeus. He is rarely in the forefront, but he is always a voice of reason, compassion, and kindness. Giavani Cairo plays him with a gentleness of spirit that is beautiful and heart-warming.
Thaddeus gets two tear-jerking moments in Season Four of The Chosen. First, his response to Ramah’s murder hit me much harder than the actual death. Or maybe it would be better to say that his reaction made the awfulness of her death hit even harder. The look of horror and sadness on his face while he stands helplessly over her body breaks me every time. This scene would have meant much less in Season One. The actors have taken these roles and developed living, breathing people. Thaddeus is all of us in that moment and Giavani nails the perfect emotional response.
The second Thaddeus moment that made me cry is the quiet scene when Jesus sits with Little James and Thaddeus. It’s not flashy or showy but the performances pack a punch, and the writing allows them to really dig deep into their characters. These two disciples are not perfect, but of the twelve, their faith in Jesus is beautifully pure and meek. It’s a wonderful contrast to the bigger personalities found in the group. May we all have the gentleness of spirit of Thaddeus.
Gaius.
Is there a better character arc in the entire show? I don’t think so. From the beginning, Gaius has been a fascinating study. He was hard and cold when we first met him, but over time, we have seen him change and grow and it all comes to an emotionally fulfilling climax in Season Four.
First, there is his conversation with Peter and Matthew when he reveals that he has become a believer in Jesus. When I cry during this scene, it’s joyful tears because of the looks of pure happiness on the faces of Peter, Matthew, and Gaius.
Second, we get to see the profound faith of Gaius. He believes Jesus can heal, and once he makes up his mind, there is no stopping him from approaching the Lord. His declaration that Jesus simply has to say the words and his son will be healed is tear-jerking in the best sort of way.
The rest of the episode that focuses on Gaius is wonderful. His return home to find his son healed. His rejection of the Roman gods in his home. He and his boys practicing saying “Shalom” with one another. His wife, seeing a completely transformed husband and father. And finally, Gaius finding Jesus who is experiencing a soul-crushing moment of sadness. Their hug to end the episode is everything that makes this show so special. May we all have the purity of faith of Gaius.
Mary anoints the feet of Jesus
I’ve read this story so many times that it has become just one more event in the life of Jesus to me. I won’t belabor the point here. Seeing it play out on screen hit me so hard. Seeing Mary’s tears, the reactions of the other guests in the house, and Jesus’s response was an eye-opening experience. The writer’s decision to connect this event with the opening scene of David anointing the spotless lamb’s hooves prior to brining it into the palace was inspired storytelling.
Mary is preparing his body for burial. She is worshipping her Lord and Savior in the most extravagant way she can, because He is worth it. In a show filled with emotional moments, this one sits near the top, not only due to the performances but primarily due to the spiritual truth it conveys. May we all worship our Lord extravagantly like Mary.
Final Thoughts
There you have it. Five, plus a few more times The Chosen made me cry. Season Four had plenty of cry-worthy moments, many of which I did not mention in this article. Please, let me know in the comments or on our social media pages what moments started the waterworks for you. Thanks so much for reading.
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- Five More Times “The Chosen” Made Me Cry – Season 4 - October 24, 2024
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Wonderful! And by the way, the longer I live the more convinced I am that tears are not only okay, but practically necessary.
Every article in this series has been absolutely awesome. I’d love to watch these episodes with you so we could then talk about them. Your insights should get you on the After Shows – maybe even the Roundtables!
This is all very kind of you to say, David.
I cried when Peter hugged Matthew as he forgave him. Matthew started to cry during the hug and I cried right along with him.I cry with Matthew and Jesus most of all.I also cried when Gaius hugged Jesus.I cried when John the Baptizer saw the lamb in the field through his prison cell. I cried when Jesus tore his clothes and wept when He found out His cousin John had been executed. I cried when Jesus was consoling Thomas after Rahma died.
I cry at least once during most episodes. I haven’t cried so much in
DECADES! ‘The Chosen ‘ has a lot of tear jerking scenes throughout the four seasons!
Thanks so much for commenting! Yes, The Chosen has so many tear-jerking scenes.
Definitely when Peter forgave Matthew. That whole scene choked me up for sometime.
And I am with you on both Gaius’s faith and Mary washing Jesus’s feet.
Also, something about Jesus and Mother Mary during the closing scene of the last episode when he bridles the donkey brought a couple droplets to my eyes.
This whole season was very hard hitting. It very much brought out the humanity of Jesus and the reality of what he would soon face.
I agree with all of this. It was an emotional season for sure. The next two will likely be even harder, emotionally speaking.