The Chosen” creator-director Dallas Jenkins defended the portrayal of an interaction between Jesus and Judas Iscariot on a livestream in December.
Apparently some people think that Jenkins’ choices with the scene between Jesus and Judas was “unbiblical,” according to the Christian Post. “You have a choice to make, Judas,” Jesus says in the scene in which Judas challenges Jesus to “reclaim” his “birthright.” “Who [do] you belong to? Who has your heart? I want it, and I’ve had it before. You followed me willingly.”
“I want to continue,” Judas replies. “There’s nothing more that I want than that.”
Jesus takes an emotional Judas’ hand, telling him, “Then I will pray for you. But for now, please leave me in peace.
Why Are People Reacting To This?
“It’s over the issue of, ‘Did Jesus pray for people? Did Jesus pray specifically for Judas? Did Jesus want Judas to change His mind? Did Judas have free will? Was Judas ever saved?’ — all the typical Judas questions started to come up,” Jenkins said during his broadcast. “There’s a measurable amount of people who believe that we got it wrong,” Jenkins added, “that I got it wrong.”
“While I’m somewhat surprised that the concept of Jesus saying the words ‘I’ll pray for you’ are controversial, I’m not actually that surprised that something like this comes up because it’s a sensitive topic,” he added. “Whether it’s Jesus and Judas or whether it’s eternal salvation or not, these are important issues, and that’s why I’m actually glad sometimes when this happens.”
Jenkins reshaped the debate into a conversation about how best to interpret these things. He also clarified that the work was designed to speak specifically to those seeking a greater understanding about the show. “I’m talking to you, the person who is either genuinely seeking or genuinely trying to understand, or maybe isn’t as familiar with some of these topics or issues, or also has a friend who came to you and said, ‘Why do you watch this heretical show’ and [it would] be good for you to have an answer,” he continued.
Your Own Will
“No, we are not implying that Jesus is going to pray that Judas will change his mind,” he said. “Yes, Judas’ betrayal is part of the Father’s will. It is part of this crucifixion and, ultimately, salvation story. So Jesus did not say in the scene, ‘I’ll pray for you, Judas, that you’ll change your mind from whatever you’re about to do.’”
Jesus “has known for a while that Judas would betray Him,” Jenkins stressed, claiming “we are not implying that at this point in the story [that] Jesus wasn’t sure what was going to happen [or] was hoping things wouldn’t happen bad. Jesus knew.”
“So no, I’m not saying that Jesus didn’t know or that Jesus was hoping things would change,” Jenkins continued, noting that “Jesus and the Father share the same will and that their wills are inextricably united.”
“To me, it matters little because if Jesus could pray for unbelievers while they were crucifying Him, it seems that Jesus could pray for Judas even while Judas was planning to betray Him,” Jenkins later stated.
