Johann Quisumbing

Spiritual Lessons for those who Listens by JQuisumbing

In The Chosen, the finale episode of season 3, close to the very end was a dramatic scene of the character of Simon Peter, played by Shahar Isaace, who was panicking underwater, struggling and fighting to get to the surface of a stormy sea. Then he saw an open hand reaching down to him, beckoning for him to take hold. Simon Peter stretched out and grasped it. He was pulled out into the waiting arms of Jesus, played by Jonathan Roumie, who was incredibly standing on water like on solid ground. Simon Peter was sobbing like a child repeatedly saying, “Don’t let me go! Don’t let me go!” The scene jumped to another but more calmer setting. This time, in an indoor pool called a ‘mikveh’ located deep inside a Synagogue. Eden, wife of Simon Peter, played by Lara Silva, had just emerged from the water, after performing a cleansing ritual. Then looking up, she called out, like to someone so far away and pleaded, “Don’t let him go! Please, don’t let him go!”

How does one console someone who is hurting so bad that he/she has reached the point of blaming God? I again tip my hat to Dallas Jenkins, who had masterfully covered this topic in this season ender. Here, we find husband and wife shown in two contrasting stories. Both were disheartened; both felt abandoned; both angered and in pain. And both found resolution from One source.

The wife, Eden, miscarried. This recapped scene can be seen in the beginning of episode 5. Except for her mother, who was with her when she lost her baby, Eden had to cope with her loss practically by herself because her husband was away on mission for many many weeks (maybe months). Let’s go back to episode 4. Simon Peter returns. Eden was at first elated, but as that scene developed Eden was visibly disappointed by her husband’s obliviousness to even inquire how she was doing. That disappointment would eventually turn into frustration. A rift developed between wife and husband. Nothing was communicated. She stayed silent.

In this show, the character of Simon Peter somewhat embodies most young husbands today. (At least, that is what I perceived.) He showed all the trademarks of a self absorbed action oriented macho man. The only time that he showed any kind of wisdom was  when he avoided making Eden angry. Of course, that only happened when he was paying attention which was only some-of-the-time. I can relate, for I was a young husband once. Anyway, Simon’s anger toward Jesus started when Eden finally told him and his emotions went all over the place. 

The first thing that Simon did reminded me very much of Adam, the ‘first’ husband. For those of you who don’t know what I’m talking about, Adam was married to Eve in the Garden of Eden. And what Adam did when God confronted him for his sin was to play the blame game. Here was what he said. “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”¹ Most would think that he was only pointing a finger at Eve. But look at the language, “The woman whom YOU gave”!  When playing this game, eventually God is blamed for everything. Oh, by the way, take note that everyone else is at fault except for oneself. 

When Eden told Simon that she lost the baby, the first thing he asked her was if she did something wrong. Meaning, he put first blame on her. Then, as the conversation progressed, he concluded that going on the mission was a big and preventable mistake. He basically implied that Jesus was at fault. Eden tried to divert his thinking by saying that it was not his problem. Then he said, “He is the Messiah! If it is not his problem, whose is it?”

Ah, here lies the danger of baseless expectations. His ideas of what a Messiah should or should not do would taint the good sense to seek out truth. Just as the episode ended, we last see him spouting, “I don’t understand it. Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? ” Interestingly enough, Eden gave him the solution by saying, “You’re asking the wrong person.” By the look of the next episode, he did not heed her words. 

According to the Bible, what one word can topple a man very easily? PRIDE!² It is in a natural-man to solve problems on his own, many times, to the detriment of their well being. In this show, Simon Peter represents that same natural-man with one difference, he was chosen by Jesus. Now, Simon’s pride made him internalize his problem, staying away from Jesus and even the other disciples. He fretted and lingered in anger then like water boiling in a kettle, it reached its peak pressure and steam spewed through that tiny opening causing it to whistle loudly. 

On the road to the Decapolis cities, we hear him being outright critical of Jesus. In his anger, he argued, “Why can’t he perform a miracle in the Decapolis from Capernaum instead of dragging us all into mostly Gentile territory that already has it out for us?” Of course, he was venting. What was deep in his mind was how could the Messiah allow what had happened to Eden. He was asking, how could he do this to her and mostly, how can he do this to him who followed him… trusted him? 

Let us get back to Eden. She was not having an easy time of it either, even after she finally told him. She was really hoping for comfort from her beloved husband, but he withdrew deep in himself. Somewhere along the way, his resentment began to transfer to her. She too internalized her pain. Then, it was when Zebedee’s wife and Mary of Magdala had come to see her that she broke down and told them everything in tears. She admitted that even when she had performed certain rituals that were meant to bring peace of mind, she felt even worse. It was revealed in what she said that there were miraculous expectations of bringing her baby back and fixing her marital problem. She too was venting. What she really longed for was joy. This stemmed because she was right there when the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years was healed by Jesus. 

Now, we come to the best part, how Eden and Simon Peter found peace or I should hint – were given peace. But this requires an even longer explanation which I will do in “Don’t Let Go” (part 2). 

Footnotes: [1] Genesis 3:12; [2] Proverbs 11:2

Go to Part 2>