In a candid walk down memory lane, “The Chosen” creator and director Dallas Jenkins has revealed his top 10 favorite moments from the series so far — not necessarily the most popular scenes with viewers, but the ones that hold the deepest personal and creative significance for him.
“These aren’t the best scenes per se,” Jenkins explained. “They’re the ones that mean the most to me as a filmmaker — moments where the writing, acting, cinematography and story all came together in a way that left a lasting impact.”
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10. Nathanael Meets Jesus
Filmed at night on the Utah set, this moment paralleled Jenkins’ own journey through failure and doubt. Jesus telling Nathanael, “I saw you when you were under the fig tree,” resonated with Jenkins as a reminder of God’s intimate knowledge of each person’s struggles.
9. The “One-Shot” Healing Scene
This was a 14-minute, unbroken take showing Jesus healing crowds while the disciples wrestled with their calling. Pulled off with only minutes of daylight left, Jenkins recalls “bursting into tears” when they nailed the shot.
8. Lazarus and Jesus Talk About Suffering
This quiet exchange between Jesus and Lazarus detailed what it truly means to be the Messiah. Jenkins treasures it as “quintessential ‘Chosen,’” blending intimacy with theological depth.
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7. Jesus and Little James
This scene recounted a heartfelt conversation between the characters of Jesus and Little James about why some followers are not healed. Jenkins says the scene “felt downloaded” as he wrote it, and many viewers shared it helped them reconcile faith with suffering.
6. “I Am the Law of Moses”
Jenkins noted that this scene was a dramatic synagogue confrontation inspired in part by a John MacArthur sermon. The slow shift from Jesus’ hometown support to rejection captures both the heartbreak and inevitability of His mission as the Savior of the World.
5. The Death of Ramah
This scene was a polarizing but, in Jenkins’ view, artistically powerful sequence. From music to cinematography, he calls it “our best work” in terms of technical execution.
4. Nicodemus on the Rooftop & The Calling of Matthew
Jenkins highlighted two powerful moments as his number four top favorite scene. The first, which is the intimate John chapter three conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, followed by Matthew’s life-changing invitation to follow the Messiah. For Jenkins, these scenes represents “the culmination of season one.”
3. The Miracle of the Fish
The next scene that Jenkins discussed was pulled together against impossible odds, which helped him to realize that “The Chosen” was bigger than him. Jonathan Roumie’s idea for Jesus to meet Simon “eye to eye” added unexpected emotional weight to this cinematic moment.
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2. Walking on Water
Jenkins talked about how this sequence blends epic visuals with deep, personal stakes as Peter wrestles with grief and trust. The parallel moment of Eden praying, “Don’t let him go,” brought Jenkins to tears.
1. “You Are Mine” — Mary Magdalene’s Redemption
The first appearance of Jesus in the series remains the most important scene for Jenkins. If it didn’t work, Jenkins believes the show might never have found its audience. “That scene is the reason why many people watch ‘The Chosen,’” he said, noting its lasting impact worldwide.
Jenkins also offered honorable mentions, including the healing of Veronica, the lowering of the paralytic through the roof, the Beatitudes, the feeding of the 5,000 and Eden’s miscarriage reveal. While each holds a special place for him, the ten scenes above represent the heart of “The Chosen’s” storytelling so far.
Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.
