Clean Part 1 (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 4 with Youth or Small Group)
Updated: Jun 1, 2024
Episode 4 of The Chosen Season 3 turns our attention back to the disciples of Jesus and the weighty calling that they received in Episode 2. The episode follows a few storylines:
We see the disciples making sense of their new calling and authority
We see the family struggles of Simon Peter and Eden
We see Mary Magdalene and Tamar work through their differences as they figure out how to secure funds for ministry
We see a poisoned well in Capernaum cause a public health crisis
We see Jairus' daughter get seriously ill (this episode is setting up Mark 5:21-43, which we'll see during the next episode, Clean Part 2)
Unlike the previous episode, Episode 4 isn't based on a specific biblical narrative. Instead, this episode shows us the consequences of Episode 2, when the disciples were granted both great power and great responsibility. It also sets up for several biblical events in Episode 5. [For more details on the events and themes in Episode 4, check out my recap, review, and analysis post!]
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Below, I've put together a Bible study and some discussion questions that you can use with your youth group, small group, or family before watching the episode. While the specific events in these biblical texts aren't depicted in Episode 4, they highlight some of the themes and issues that we'll see at play.
Before Watching The Chosen Season 3 Episode 4: Review Questions
Because Episode 3 of The Chosen Season 3 did not involve any of the disciples, it'll be important to remind your group members where things left off in Episode 2:
Back in Episode 2, what was the mission that Jesus gave to the 12 Apostles?
Why did Jesus give them this mission?
What were some of the concerns that the Apostles raised when Jesus gave them this mission?
Which Apostles were paired up together?
How did Simon's mission affect his family plans with Eden?
What was the mission that Jesus gave to Mary Magdalene and Tamar? Why?
What were some of the potential issues developing in Capernaum?
By asking review questions like these, you'll ensure that the people in your group are up to speed and ready to engage with the new content in Episode 4.
Before Watching The Chosen Season 3 Episode 4: Bible Study & Discussion Questions
Aside from a montage in the episode opener, we get relatively little time with the disciples on their mission. Instead, we skip ahead to the conclusion of their first missionary adventure and see how they process the weighty calling and authority that Jesus has given them. The Bible doesn't tell us much about how the Apostles grappled with the events of their first mission. All that we know is that after the Apostles returned from their first mission, Jesus took them out to the town of Bethsaida in order to rest but that crowds followed them, leading to the Feeding of the 5,000 (Luke 9:10-17).
Although the Bible tells us relatively little about how the disciples grappled with their first mission, it does tell us about what happened after their second mission, the sending of the 72. This is the main text that you'll focus on in today's discussion.
To begin, I would explain to your group:
In Episode 2 of Season 3, Jesus sent his 12 disciples out on mission, to heal the sick, cast out demons, and spread his message among the Jews.
In Episode 4, we'll see the 12 Apostles return from this difficult mission and grapple with the significance of the power and responsibility they've received.
Ask your group:
Imagine you were one of the 12 Apostles, sent out to heal the sick, cast out demons, and proclaim the message of Jesus to others for the very first time. What do you think that experience would have been like? How would you be feeling by the end of it?
What dangers and temptations would come with receiving that kind of power and authority?
Now I would explain:
We don't see this exact moment depicted in the Bible, but we are told about a similar moment that happened later on, when Jesus sent out 72 more disciples on the same kind of mission.
Have a group member read the following passage:
The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” (Luke 10:17-24, ESV)
After reading the passage, I would ask your group:
What does Jesus mean when he says, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven" and "I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions"?
While some may err by carelessly underestimating the power of evil, others err by anxiously underestimating the power of good. What's your tendency?
Jesus tells the disciples, "Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." Why? What temptation is he guarding them from?
What does Jesus mean when he says God has "hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children"? Why does God choose to reveal himself in this way?
What does it look like for us to be "little children" and not "the wise and understanding"?
After discussing these questions, you can prepare to watch Episode 4 by reminding your group:
In today's episode of The Chosen, the disciples begin to grapple with some of the same questions that we've just discussed.
After Watching The Chosen Season 3 Episode 4: Discussion Questions
After watching an episode of The Chosen, I typically ask people a couple basic questions:
What stuck out to you about the episode? What did you connect with the most?
Did you have any questions? Was anything unclear?
As always, if the conversation takes on a life of its own, I encourage you to run with it instead of feeling bound by the questions that follow. However, if you need more structure, I would go on to share:
A large portion of the episode was focused on setting up next week's episode, which will include the healing of Veronica, the woman with the bleeding condition, and the healing of Jairus' daughter. We'll focus on exploring that story next time when we watch that episode.
For the remainder of our discussion this week, we'll focus on the missionary journey of the Apostles and the struggles that followed in the aftermath of it.
At the opening of the episode, we saw a montage of the disciples traveling around Judea, preaching the gospel, healing the sick, exorcising demons, reasoning with people, and caring for those in need.
Now I would ask:
During the very first clip, when John and Thomas healed a blind girl, how would you describe their reaction? What did they feel in that moment? What do you think was going through their heads?
What were some of the different ways that people responded to the Apostles throughout the opening montage? How do you think it felt to have people respond in these ways?
Later, at synagogue, Zebedee was surprised at how quiet his sons, John and Big James were. Why you think they were quiet?
Later, during the conversation at Simon's home, Big James seems frustrated and says, "Jesus gave us power but no understanding." Why do you think he's frustrated?
At one point, Judas points out that Jesus hasn't given them power; he is simply working through them. Is this distinction significant? If so, why?
Philip warns John that the feeling of power could be dangerous. How so?
Simon is distracted throughout this conversation because he's having a fight with Eden. Why is Eden frustrated? What seem to be her core struggles right now?
Later, when Jesus arrives, Simon speaks to him brusquely. He also tells Gaius that he feels a little exasperated with Jesus. Why is Simon frustrated? What are his core struggles right now?
We saw disciples struggling in a variety of ways in today's episode, some of which we haven't gotten to; which of the disciples could you relate to the most? Why?
To conclude your conversation, I would point out:
When we are on mission for Jesus, it can be an emotionally complicated experience. Sometimes, we see amazing miracles and it's very exciting. At other times, we face rejection and it's very discouraging.
Sometimes, we're filled with all kinds of questions and we feel overwhelmed trying to process it all. At other times, we experience stillness and a calming sense of Jesus' presence.
Sometimes, our return home from ministry is a joyous occasion. At other times, we come back depleted, only to find conflict that we weren't prepared to deal with.
Today's episode doesn't offer us any easy answers or solutions. But it does offer us the encouraging reminder that we all have different experiences in the wake of ministry. We don't need to feel ashamed about feeling depleted - or feeling excited - in the wake of serving Jesus. Jesus can meet with us wherever we may be.
Over the course of the remainder of Season 3, we'll see Jesus meet his disciples in the midst of the exhaustion that many of them are feeling right now so that he can ultimately bring them rest. Hopefully we too can ultimately experience the rest that Jesus offers.
There you go! Hope you enjoyed Episode 4 of The Chosen Season 3. I think there's some really good material here for discussion, so I hope you and your group have a rich conversation!
The Chosen Season 3 Episode 4 FAQ
What Scriptures are referenced in The Chosen Season 3 Episode 4? What biblical stories is it based on?
Episode 4 of The Chosen Season 3 sets up the sickness of Jairus' daughter and the sickness of the bleeding woman, both of whom are healed in Mark 5:21-43. It also provides us with a brief montage of the first mission of the Apostles (set up in Matthew 10) and shows us the disciples processing what happened afterward. During the synagogue scene, the teacher is reading laws concerning ritual purification like those in Leviticus 15, which specifies a woman with a bodily discharge (like the woman with the bleeding condition) is unclean and can render others unclean.
Who is Veronica in Scripture? Who is the bleeding woman that Eden meets?
During Episode 4 of The Chosen Season 3, Eden befriends a woman and discovers that she has a bleeding condition that has gone on for 12 years and which doctors have been unable to heal. The Chosen assigns this woman the name Veronica.
In the Bible, in Mark 5:21-43 we are told about a woman with a bleeding condition that seeks healing from Jesus. We are not given her name in the biblical story, possibly because the narrator is protecting her anonymity.
Did Jesus heal Jairus' daughter in the Bible? Did Jairus' daughter get sick from bad water?
In Mark 5:21-43, we are told how Jairus, a synagogue official, sought the help of Jesus because of his daughter's sickness and how Jesus eventually healed her. The Bible does not indicate how she became sick.
In The Chosen, during Episode 4 of Season 3, we see Jairus' daughter become violently ill. The characters believe it is because she has drunk from a polluted cistern. This detail was added to provide the episode with dramatic and thematic unity.
A New Resource for Studying The Chosen
If you're like me, watching The Chosen is about more than entertainment. Bible movies & shows like The Chosen provide us with fresh eyes to see the significance of the Bible and the beauty of the Gospel. That's why I'm excited to share with you a new resource that I've created to help you study biblical adaptations & reflect on how they apply to everyday life. Come and See is a devotional journal designed specifically for studying Bible movies and shows like The Chosen. It includes sections for you to take notes on each episode's plot, your favorite quotes, personal connections, questions, and, of course, Scripture references. Whether you're studying on your own or with your small group or ministry, Come and See is a perfect resource to help you dig deeper into The Chosen.
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