Not Business As Usual

Introduction

If you’ve ever felt too broken, your past too messy, not the kind of person God can use… this message is for you.

Hello, and welcome to Is That in the Bible? We’re looking at episodes of The Chosen — the first multi-season series about the life of Christ and the highest crowd-funded TV/film project of all time.

This week’s episode: Season 1, Episode 8: "I Am He" (Play Clip)

Powerful.

We’re going from screen to Scripture asking: “Is that in the Bible?” Answer: YES! This scene comes from John 4. Let’s dig deeper.

Scripture

John 4:7–34

Overview

This is a huge moment.

It’s the first time Jesus ever directly told anyone that He is the Messiah.

Everything about this moment is designed to raise eyebrows and shock — exactly what the Savior wanted and what the world desperately needed.

He’s a different kind of King, and His is a different kind of Kingdom.

Framework for Watching The Chosen

When we ask, “Is this in the Bible?”, we use three containers:

Scriptural Information

Church Tradition

Creative Imagination

The Chosen is upfront about the difference: “The Chosen is based on the true stories of the gospels of Jesus Christ. Some locations and timelines have been combined or condensed. Backstories and some characters or dialogue have been added. However, all biblical and historical content and any artistic imagination are designed to support the truth and intention of the Scriptures. Viewers are encouraged to read the gospels.”

Examples

• Scriptural Information

Jesus asking for a drink

The disciples’ confusion

The woman having five husbands and a partner → All directly from Scripture

• Creative Imagination

The backstory on the ex-husbands

Jesus’ humor → Cinematic storytelling to help us feel the character and tone

• Church Tradition

The name Photina (not in the Bible, but informed by extra-biblical documents and church history)

Other examples from tradition:

Paul’s death by beheading

John boiled in oil

Peter crucified upside down

Pontius Pilate’s suicide (Sources: Origen, Eusebius, Tertullian)

The writers of The Chosen utilize tradition where possible (e.g., Veronica, the woman with the issue of blood) to bring Scripture to the screen.

How to Approach It

Imagination → It’s art. Appreciate it. (Michelangelo, Da Vinci...)

Tradition → Learn from it, but don’t build doctrine on it.

Biblical Information → Tremble before it.

(Scripture is God-breathed; it doesn’t return void.)

Biblical and Historical Fidelity

You see visual cross-references in The Chosen (e.g., Jacob digging the well—Genesis 33)

There are 63,779 cross-references in Scripture!

Fidelity matters to the show’s writers — and it should matter to us.

Whether her name was Photina or not, Jesus’ meeting with her was intentional.

John 4:4 — But He needed to go through Samaria

“I only do those things that please the Father.”

Jesus had an appointment: to rescue her and deploy her → This sets Jesus apart as a different kind of rabbi. → Jews had no dealings with Samaritans — they were considered half-Gentile.

Through this interaction, Jesus helps all of us.

Four Lies the World Tells

Lie #1: Religion can solve the problems in my life.

Salvation is a gift, not a wage.

“If you knew the gift of God, you would ask.”

Romans 6:23 — The gift of God is eternal life.

We are children, not employees.

“What have you done for me lately?”

We deflect with externals — appearance vs. spirit and truth.

Lie #2: My past is so bad, there’s no way God can fix me.

She was low on every conceivable hierarchy — even her own people.

Came at the heat of the day — least likely to be chosen.

In the world’s pecking order… the ladder doesn’t matter.

Galatians 3:28 — There is neither Jew nor Greek... for you are all one in Christ.

Lie #3: I need to be an expert before God can use me.

John 4:39 — Revival! Massive salvation.

After you “Come and see,” you are to “Go and tell!”

God doesn’t call the equipped; He equips the called.

It’s not about ability — just availability.

Lie #4: Following God will never be confusing.

The disciples were perplexed by the interaction.

“Wait, who gave Him food?”

With Jesus, it’s never business as usual.

If you’re going to walk with Jesus, you’re going to have to get used to different!

Let me know if you’d like this in a printable layout, a slide format for presentation, or adapted for small group discussion. Always glad to be part of the crafting process with you.