(OPINION) Dallas Jenkins, creator of the hit TV show “The Chosen,” is defending a scene from the show’s upcoming new season.
The controversial and tense scene, from the unreleased season 5, depicts Jesus speaking with Judas before the betrayal.
In the scene, Jesus tells Judas that he has a “choice to make”: “Who you belong to. Who has your heart?” Jesus then says, “I want it, and I’ve had it before. You followed me willingly.” Judas responds by telling Jesus, “There is nothing more that I want than that,” to which Jesus says, “Then I will pray for you.”
The scene generated widespread backlash on social media with accusations that the scene is “super unbiblical.”
As evidence, critics highlighted several passages from the Gospel of John:
John 6:64: “‘Yet there are some of you who do not believe.’ For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.”
John 6:70-71: “Then Jesus replied, ‘Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!’ (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)”
John 17:12: “None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.”
Critics, therefore, suggest that Jesus never had Judas’ heart and that Judas was never a true follower of Jesus because he was predetermined to be damned.
The problem with the scene, the critics argued, is that it implies Judas was once a follower of Jesus — thus suggesting that salvation can be lost — and that Jesus might pray that Judas would not betray Him, which Jesus did not do and which would run counter to God’s redemptive plan. Critics also raised the point that the scene is not depicted in the Bible.
Earlier this month, Jenkins responded to the controversy in a new video, denying charges that his show is committing heresy.
“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.'”
Regarding Jesus’ statement that he would pray for Judas, Jenkins pointed to Matthew 5:44 and Luke 6:27-28, teachings from Jesus in which He commands his followers to love and to pray for their enemies.
In the end, Jenkins explained the show believes Judas was, in fact, once a follower of Jesus — but not at the time of the betrayal, which Jenkins described as “God’s will” — and believes Jesus prayed for His enemies, including Judas.
