As I’ve shared with you previously, I’m a fan of the series “The Chosen”, a production of Angel Studios. I understand that some artistic liberties would need to be taken as a series about Yeshua and the apostles, and yet, the show’s ability to help us see them as real people living in those times, in my mind, far outweighs presumed dialogues. The way the story is told is surely bringing multitudes into a deeper understanding of the humanity of His apostles, and perhaps for some, first into faith. What a great example of God meeting so many where they are.

The quality of this program has caused me to check out other Angel productions, and so, Sid and I saw “His Only Son” at the theater over the weekend. Given that this was timed to be released right before Palm Sunday and Easter, by the title I assumed the movie was about Yeshua. It was not until we were about to buy our tickets that I found out the movie was the story of Abraham and God calling him to sacrifice Isaac. (Spoiler alert, only in the last scene of the movie is the parallel made as we see Yeshua on the cross.)

What a brilliant, may I say God inspired, decision by Angel Studios to release this film at this time. Its timing and parallel content serve as a powerful counterpoint to the Passion Plays historically inciting anti-Semitism during these days. The film draws the Jewish and Christian viewers into a deeper understanding of Yeshua’s presence throughout time for all mankind, whether revealed, known, or not.

A couple weeks ago at a public place where a TV was on, I could see but not clearly hear an interview on ABC with John Bevere regarding his book The Awe of God. From what I could hear I thought he was giving some statistics about how many people today are focusing on faith so I was thinking I might share this information in a Shabbat encouragement. Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful in finding this interview on line, but what I found this morning in that search instead was even more encouraging. That’s often how God does this. . .

In the interview that I did find Bevere is explaining the importance of fear of the Lord in the sense of obedience to God’s Will. He starts talking about (you guessed it) the story of Abraham and Isaac! How could a father possibly do what God was asking him to do?? To give the listener a deeper understanding of Abraham’s relationship with HaShem, Bevere discusses the story of Abraham’s conversation, his intimacy with our Abba in negotiating on behalf of Lot in the city of Sodom. In telling the story, Bevere says, “There were two righteous people, Abraham and Lot, in today’s vocabulary I would call them born again and saved.”

What???!!!! Not that these particular terms are my favorites, but “Wow!” I was taken aback in a good way that this is how this high profile Christian evangelist described our Jewish forefathers. This interview was even more encouraging than the one I thought I wanted! (Thank you, HaShem.)

This is that season, not just in the coming together on our calendars of Easter and Passover, but these are those times, in the sweeping faith movements in humanity that we are observing. How can “The Chosen” receive the highest IMDb ratings I’ve ever seen for any series and with religious content be watched by hundreds of millions of viewers? How can a movie released at Easter called “His Only Son” be as far from a traditional Passion Play as one could possibly imagine? Or be so profound that we are in awe?

How can a prominent evangelist have the true depth of understanding, and be brave enough to make a statement to millions of most likely Christian viewers, that clearly teaches one’s relationship with God can’t be contained in verbal boxes? How can thousands in a small college in Kentucky, and elsewhere, be touched forever having felt His Presence?

As we enter these holy days of Passover and Easter, the coming together of our faith in Him, in Yeshua, the Risen One, may we this year even more deeply move forward in our understandings of His amazing love of us, to continue to experience in our lifetimes the miracle of these days.

Shabbat shalom.

Diane