How “The Chosen” writers portrayed Jesus’ suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane in Season 5 of the show “is one of the most challenging but ultimately fruitful things we’ve ever done,” said creator, director, and co-writer Dallas Jenkins. In a recent video, Jenkins, his co-writers Ryan Swanson and Tyler Thompson, and actor Jonathan Roumie explained why such a weighty and pivotal moment in Jesus’ life was depicted the way it was.
“We give you a taste of the Garden of Gethsemane in Season 4,” said Jenkins. “And so hopefully that helps you understand a little bit better what’s happening in Season 5.”
In Season 4 of the acclaimed series, there is a scene where Jesus sees olives being crushed as olive oil is prepared. Watching the process, he becomes emotional at this symbol and foreshadowing of what he will suffer.
“When crushing olives, olives are crushed more than once. But when you get to the purest pressing, the third press, the purest oil, it’s for the high priest,” Jenkins said. “It’s for the anointing. And what’s so rich about the Garden of Gethsemane is that Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane, a garden of olive trees.”
‘The Chosen’ Team Reflects on Garden of Gethsemane Storytelling
So far, only five seasons of “The Chosen” have been released. Season 6, which takes place over the day of Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion, is set to have a staggered release that begins later this year. Season 5 ended with Jesus’ struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane, with the final episode concluding at the moment Judas shows up with Roman guards and kisses Jesus.
While in the garden, Jesus “gets pressed” three times, Jenkins said, referring to the symbolism of olives being pressed into oil. “Three times he goes to the apostles and finds them asleep and comes back and is pleading with the Father and gets pressed so much that sweat comes out in many ways,” said Jenkins, alluding to Jesus sweating drops of blood. “Literally and metaphorically, he is becoming the high priest, the messiah in this moment. And he is experiencing the full weight of that.”
“He’s ground down to the point where he accepts his fate, his mission from the Father, knowing how terrifying that’s going to be to fulfill,” said Roumie, the actor who plays Jesus.
RELATED: Jonathan Roumie on ‘The View’: 2 ‘Lifelong Atheists’ Became Christians After Watching ‘The Chosen’
“This is one of the most impactful moments in history but also one of the most difficult to portray,” Jenkins observed. The writers were faced with a challenge: “How do we capture this super spiritual moment?”
Swanson said that the facts of what happened that night “are pretty easy.” Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane with three of his disciples, who fell asleep. Then Jesus was arrested.
“But what was that experience like emotionally, psychically for the Creator of the universe?” Swanson asked.
How “The Chosen” writers portrayed Jesus’ suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane “is one of the most challenging but ultimately fruitful things we've ever done,” said creator, director, and co-writer Dallas Jenkins.Click to Post
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