Podcast Summary: The BEMA Podcast

Episode 480: The Chosen S5E7 — “The Upper Room, Part 1” (Bonus Episode)

Released: October 27, 2025
Hosted by: Marty Solomon & Brent Billings

Episode Overview

This bonus episode continues the BEMA team’s in-depth analysis of The Chosen Season 5, focusing on Episode 7—“The Upper Room, Part 1.” Marty and Brent examine the historical and textual context surrounding the depiction of Jesus' final Passover meal with his disciples, highlighting how the show brings to life the rabbinic dynamics, individual character arcs, and the underlying Jewish traditions often missed by Western Christian readings. The hosts celebrate the show's nuanced approach, wrestle with some artistic liberties, and reflect on the evolving portrayal of each disciple and their backstories, leading up to the pivotal events of Jesus’ final week.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: The Upper Room

• Opening Context ([00:26–03:32]):
  Brent references follow-up from past episodes, clarifying that the disciples stay in a house within Jerusalem’s Essene quarter, not an Essene’s actual home—thanks to Dallas Jenkins’ input.

  "The house that the disciples are staying at is not an Essene’s house. It is just in the Essene quarter." —Brent [02:59]

• Historical Observations
  • The significance of using priestly/Essenic locations and details, including home décor and Messianic banquet halls.
  • Discussion around John Mark—the gospel writer—being present in the episode and logistical details from the gospels about finding the room.

2. Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet — Dramatic Reenactment

• Re-imagining John 13 ([03:32–10:09])

  • The hosts praise how The Chosen captures the gravity, discomfort, and rabbinic dynamics of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet:

    “They really caught the gravity of that. I love the look on Judas's face, like, they did such a good job catching the dynamic. It’d be really easy to just spiritualize this... but they did a great job of, like, the room is stunned.” —Marty [06:43]

  • Examination of seating arrangements, cultural significance, and the layer added by Peter’s resistance.
    • Peter being seated in the “seat of least honor,” expected to do the washing first—deepening his protest when Jesus begins the act.

• Notable Quotes:

  “Will you just please do as I say and not object for once?” —Jesus (actor), echoed by Brent as the most relatable line [07:19]

• Servanthood & Leadership

  • Jesus’ take-home lesson: Service, even to one’s enemies, is the cornerstone of leadership.

    “The lesson is that I need you to lead as servants. And then there's a line, ‘you're even going to serve your enemies.’” —Marty [08:54]

3. Historical & Contextual Insights

• Essenes, The Man with the Water Jug ([11:30–15:41])
  • Debating plausible explanations for Jesus’ instruction to look for a man carrying water—drawing out why this would be odd and possibly linked to the Essene community’s all-male character.

  “Every Essene community believed in the Messianic banquet ... So go find an Essene because they have a room prepared for this very moment.” —Marty [13:37]

  • Brent and Marty discuss how The Chosen’s use of these details aligns (though sometimes differs) with their own research and teaching.

4. Disciple Characterization & Flashbacks

• Depiction of Individual Journeys ([26:17–33:32]):
  • The episode’s creative flashbacks humanize each disciple, showing formative traumas and triumphs. The hosts praise the way The Chosen balances group dynamics with personal development.

    “They’ve all had their path ... I love how they’ve done both. They haven’t gotten lost as a group of disciples. They’ve all been individuals at the same time.” —Marty [27:51]

  • Examples:
    • Z recalling a traumatic Roman attack.
    • Nathaniel’s struggle and his vision of the “building” motif.
    • Andrew & Philip’s early days with John the Baptist.
    • Thomas dealing with family loss.
    • Matthew’s first days as a tax collector, highlighting Gaius’s conflicted mentorship.
    • Little James’ disqualification from the temple choir due to purity codes—the show stresses it’s the human extension of Torah, not Torah itself, that creates barriers.

      “It was what we did with Torah that was the issue. And that’s a really key distinction.” —Marty [33:32]

5. Nuanced Storytelling

• Scene with Judas & Devorah ([20:39–21:54])

  • Judas’ sister is now convinced of Jesus as Messiah, making Judas’ internal conflict all the more tragic.

    “Maybe the most tragic Judas scene so far.” —Brent [21:16]

• Peter's Growth Shown Through Preaching ([19:40–19:59])

  • Peter “honing his skill” as a preacher makes Acts 2 more plausible, giving fuller context to his character arc.

• Reflections on Trusting the Writers ([34:04–36:21])

  • The hosts admit that The Chosen has earned their trust through careful, researched choices—even when they introduce lesser-known traditions or details they themselves hadn’t considered:

    "Over the course of five seasons, they have brought me ... to a place where we don't just give them the benefit of the doubt. We now assume that there's more stuff out there that we just haven't looked at or discovered..." —Marty [35:21]

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Jesus: “Will you just please do as I say and not object for once?” (relatable leadership, [07:19])
• Peter: “Yes, but we set the table anyway.”

  “He can realize that he’s getting it, but still realize that he’s missing it. And then the line, we set the table anyway, so well delivered.” —Marty [25:20]

• Marty on The Chosen's impact:

  “You can credit The Chosen ... [for] the way that they've been able to depict the person of Jesus ... man, have they won people over by depicting Jesus the way they have.” [19:09]

• Marty, on the show’s historical rigor:

  “The Chosen has not given in to ... pop hysteria about what nights was it ... They've just not bought into any of that pop hysteria, TikTok workup about what day of the week it is, which I really appreciated.” [23:32]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:26 — Dallas Jenkins clarification: “Essene quarter, not an Essene house.”
• 03:32 — Jesus enters and prepares to wash the disciples’ feet.
• 06:43 — Analysis of John 13 scene, rabbinic implications.
• 08:54 — The lesson of servanthood and serving enemies.
• 11:30–15:41 — Man with the water jug & Essene background.
• 19:09 — The Chosen’s depiction of Jesus praised.
• 20:39 — Judas’ encounter with his sister.
• 22:37, 25:20 — Peter’s insight: “Yes, but we set the table anyway.”
• 26:17–33:32 — Flashbacks to disciples’ lives and callings.
• 34:04 — Peter: “Don’t underestimate Thaddeus.”
• 35:21 — Trust in The Chosen’s team hard-won through their research.

Episode Tone & Language

• Warm, curious, and reverent—celebratory of The Chosen’s careful engagement with the text and history.
• Occasional playful banter, especially about word choices (e.g., “penultimate” joke [00:17]), pop culture (“Fate of Iscariot” song parody [24:19]), and podcast inside jokes.
• Honest about differences between their own research and the show’s decisions—always with nuance and respect.

Summary in a Nutshell

Marty and Brent dissect The Chosen’s penultimate Season 5 episode, teasing out the profound textual, historical, and character-driven moments of Jesus' final Passover meal. The Chosen’s attention to rabbinic dynamics, Jewish background, and the disciples’ inner lives is lauded, as are the show’s meaningful liberties with gospel details. Subtle backstories for each disciple, the seriousness of the upcoming betrayal, and the theological nuances of purity codes and leadership serve to reframe how listeners might engage with familiar biblical stories. The hosts express admiration for The Chosen's scholarship and storytelling—and excitement for where the story leads next.