“It is enough for the disciple that he be as his Master” (Matt. 10:25)
There is an amazing part of The Chosen Season 5, Part 2 (episode 4) in theaters that will now remain one of my favorite moments in this incredible series. It is during the Last Supper when the disciples recite the “Dayenu,” a traditional Jewish Passover song…which is then followed by Jesus sitting with the women disciples giving their own beautiful and moving version. Wow. If you haven’t seen it, well, go see it!
In Hebrew, “Dayenu” means “it would have been enough” and is the refrain of the Passover song expressing gratitude for God’s blessings, one building upon another. In the traditional version, the apostles express gratitude for God’s gifts to the Jewish people, such as liberation from slavery in Egypt, the giving of the Torah, and the establishment of the Sabbath. At Jesus’ request, the women have been separated into another place to celebrate the Passover so they won’t be in danger of the Jews out to kill Him. But Jesus does go to dine with them and they say the Dayenu in present day, giving thanks for the gifts He personally gave each of them. A new take on an old tradition. It was powerful, and I believe a gift to all of us to embrace this Lent. For a recap (although there may be some spoiler alerts), view this post: https://www.thebibleartist.com/post/the-chosen-season-5-the-last-supper-episode-4-recap-review-analysis
While we are still in Lent, with the celebration of the Last Supper on Holy Thursday just a week away, I’d like to encourage you to each write your own Dayenu. Here’s mine…
My Denayu
If you had only created me in your image, it would have been enough.
If you had created me in your image and not given me a loving and faithful mother and father to raise me, it would have been enough.
If you had given me good parents and not given me a good Christian education, it would have been enough.
If you had given me a good Christian education and not given me the talent to become a writer, it would have been enough.
If you had given me the talent to become a writer and had not called me to write a novel that re-imagined the story of Job, it would have been enough.
If you had called me to write The Faithful One and not called me to write four more novels that re-imagine Old Testament stories in the Bible, it would have been enough.
If you had called me to write five novels, and not called me to become a book coach and teach other writers to become authors of their own books, it would have been enough.
If you had called me to be a book coach and not called me to be a public speaker, it would have been enough.
If you had called me to be a public speaker and not make movies based on my novels, it would have been enough.
If you had called me to make movies and not introduced me to Catherine Lidstone, who is in The Chosen series and is now the lead actress and producer of The Jealous Son movie, it would have been enough.
If you had called me to work with Catherine and not put her in this beautiful Denayu scene in Season 5, episode 4, which made me weep with gratitude for all of the other blessings you have bestowed…children, grandchildren, sobriety, redemption…it would have been enough.
If you had given me all those blessings and all this gratitude and not chosen me to have a personal relationship with You, but you have done so and IT IS ENOUGH.
Lord, I pray that when I want more, I look back and realize You have already given me enough…that I am enough…and that You are enough and more.
