The BEMA Podcast: Episode 468 Summary

The Chosen S5E1 — “Entry” (Bonus Episode)

Release Date: September 15, 2025
Hosts: Marty Solomon & Brent Billings

Episode Overview

In this bonus episode, BEMA hosts Marty Solomon and Brent Billings launch their commentary on Season 5 of The Chosen, focusing on S5E1, "Entry." They discuss the show's creative decisions, highlight its historical and scriptural nuances, and offer both praise and critical observations. The episode moves through the depiction of the Last Supper, the triumphal entry, Jesus' emotional state as he nears the cross, and the complex relationships between Roman and Jewish authorities. The hosts also reflect on how faithfully The Chosen engages with cultural context and the biblical text, often referencing their own scholarship and family reactions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Format Context & Viewing Experience

• Brent notes he's watching on Amazon Prime; Marty uses Blu-ray. They waited to release commentary until episodes were freely available on The Chosen app (00:19).
• The episode was recorded in advance to match schedules and ensure timely release.

2. Last Supper Scene Analysis

• Triclinium Table:
  • Brent points out the Passover meal uses a historically appropriate triclinium (U-shaped table), though not the same disciple arrangement as some classic depictions (01:10).
  • Marty: "I was pleased with that" (01:33).
  • Marty's children immediately noticed the table's accuracy, reflecting their familiarity with Passover tradition (02:06).
• Order of Scenes:
  • Writers reversed and split a lengthy Passover scene—viewers see the meal’s end first, with Judas already absent and the dialogue drawing mainly from John 16–17 (03:05).
• Historical Consistency:
  • Marty appreciates how elements of John’s gospel are woven into the dinner table discussion, giving emotional and theological depth (04:15).
  • "I really liked... how they worked in so much of the John discourse about the Holy Spirit and what's coming at the dinner table. I thought that was really, really, really well done." – Marty (04:25)

3. Women’s Absence at the Meal

• Marty's children immediately noted the missing women at the table, highlighting The Chosen's earlier inclusion of female disciples as the norm (06:19).
• "My kids have associated the women as a part of this havurah. And I really like that they've done that." – Marty (06:49)

4. Cinematic Details

• Brent discusses The Chosen's various aspect ratios, noting the Last Supper is more narrowly framed (1.66:1) compared to the cinematic 2.39:1 used elsewhere (07:19).
• The different ratios may have artistic intent, though the reason is unclear.

5. Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

• The procession into Jerusalem is scored with triumphant, contemporary music—a creative liberty that Marty finds at odds with his interpretation of the biblical scene (10:31).
  • "Jesus is smiling. There's rock and roll music... it's just like, very triumphant. It's a triumphal entry... and yet... that's not my take on this story." – Marty (10:31)
• Jesus weeping over Jerusalem—a major theme in Luke 19—is depicted later and somewhat separated from the entry; Marty feels this sequence alters the theological impact (10:55).

6. Recurring & New Characters

• Atticus: Noted for his constant eating in scenes—a running gag (12:12).
• Jake/Jesse: An observer/spying character in a blue cloak, introduced in earlier seasons and present throughout this episode (12:47–13:00).

7. Power Dynamics: Caiaphas, Pilate, & Atticus

• Marty is intrigued by the scene where Pilate holds the high priest’s garments—he is uncertain of its historical backing but finds the dynamic historically plausible (13:40).
• Brent and Marty discuss the tension and politics between Roman and Jewish authorities, with Pilate mocking Caiaphas over dietary laws and power relationships (14:07–16:16).
  • "Pontius having shellfish on purpose just to kind of toss him a dig... I feel like that dynamic is probably really historically accurate." – Marty (14:52)

8. Jesus’ Teaching & the Essene House

• Jesus teaches in the Temple (John 12) and experiences a voice from heaven—a scene rendered almost directly from the text (16:16).
• Joanna offers the disciples shelter at a wealthy Essene home. Marty lauds the historical nod but questions the opulence of the house, given Essene traditions (17:33–17:57).
  • "What I struggled with was the opulence of the house... I love that the Passover... definitely happens in an Essene home." – Marty (17:50)

9. Internal Discipleship Dynamics

• The disciples interpret Jesus’ words and actions with caution, anxiety, and occasional humor—particularly Peter and Matthew’s banter about documenting his evangelism (18:45).
• Nathaniel comments on the luxury of their accommodations (20:21).

10. Jesus’ Wanderings and Betrothal Scene

• Jesus blends into Jerusalem, joining a betrothal celebration, blessing the couple with words from Ruth, symbolizing inclusion and joy amidst tension (22:33).
  • Marty: "...getting a blessing from Ruth and this story of an outsider being welcomed in, I just really loved that." (23:04)
• The hosts discuss whether betrothals or weddings would typically happen during Passover—Marty surmises it would be plausible so long as ritual purity was maintained (23:20–23:52).

11. Vision of Jerusalem’s Destruction (Luke 19)

• Jesus is shown grieving over Jerusalem, with a vision of its future destruction (24:12–24:52).
  • Marty feels relocating this lamentation outside the triumphal entry scene risks supersessionist interpretations—a theological concern for him:
  • "When you move that out of the context of the triumphal entry... that sounds very supersessionistic... Versus when you put it in the context of the triumphal entry, it's about what do we want and what is triumph?" (24:52)
• Visual portrayal (VFX) of the destruction drew mixed reactions—Brent was initially put off, but found it improved on rewatching (25:39).

12. Leaving the Women

• Jesus quietly instructs Zebedee to send Mary (his mother) and Lazarus’s sisters to Bethany for safety—a detail that, while not in scripture, is plausible given their absence from subsequent events until the crucifixion (30:00–30:36).

13. The Bridle/Whip Symbolism

• Jesus retrieves Zima’s bridle (a recurring object) and begins to cut it, hinting at the cleansing of the temple (31:09).
  • "The image of that bridle and what it represents, substance-wise, is awesome... it comes from the Exodus, it's Passover week, Jesus is here to liberate..." – Marty (31:44)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Triclinium Table Setting
  "Part of what I said was everything up to this point, like...they’re at a raised table...they’ve done it in a way that is not awkward...my kids grabbed that immediately, which was kind of nice to know that they’ve been paying attention all these years." — Marty (02:06)

• On Women Missing from the Table
  "My kids have associated the women as a part of this Havre. And I really like that they've done that." — Marty (06:49)

• On The Triumphal Entry Music Choice
  "Jesus is smiling. There's rock and roll music...it's just like, very triumphant...and yet, anybody that knows BEMA knows that's not my take on this story." — Marty (10:31)

• On Pilate and Caiaphas Dynamic
  "I do think their relationship with Rome was at least as tense as it's being portrayed here." — Marty (15:01)

• On Jesus Lamenting Jerusalem
  "When you move that out of the context of the triumphal entry...that sounds very supersessionistic...Versus when you put it in the context of the triumphal entry, it's about what...is triumph." — Marty (24:52)

• On Jesus Blessing at the Betrothal
  "I just really loved that. That quote of the wedding blessing and how that landed." — Marty (23:04)

• On The Challenge of Depicting the Passion Week
  "These are very sacred ideas and images...it's going to be really hard for me to love this part of the story. So we'll see how this unfolds." — Marty (28:39)

Important Timestamps

• 00:14 – Episode viewing logistics and approach to commentary release
• 01:10–04:25 – Last Supper/Triclinium discussion, creative liberties
• 06:19 – Immediate note of women's absence at Passover table
• 07:19 – Aspect ratios and cinematic choices
• 10:31 – Triumphal entry and musical tone
• 13:40–16:16 – Pilate/Caiaphas dynamic and power play
• 17:33 – Essene house background and its implication
• 22:33 – Jesus at the betrothal, Ruth blessing
• 24:12–25:39 – Jesus' despair, vision of destruction, and its theological significance
• 30:00–30:36 – Jesus directs women to safety
• 31:09 – Bridle/whip imagery setup for Temple cleansing

Final Thoughts

• The hosts stress charity in interpretation, recognizing the creative and theological difficulty of dramatizing the Passion.
• Brent praises The Chosen for sparking deeper engagement with the biblical text:
  "I love that this show forces me to dig into the text. I mean, that's what we're trying to do here on BEMA." (32:04)

Useful for both Chosen fans and Bible context enthusiasts, this episode models engaged, thoughtful conversation—praising The Chosen’s attention to detail while also challenging its choices through the lens of rigorous historical and textual analysis.