Episode 7 kicks off with the most distant glimpse into the future we've witnessed thus far, transporting us to sometime in the mid-first century AD. A hooded figure approaches a mountainous cave, halted by a female guard wielding a bow. As the mist clears, we recognize the man as an elderly Matthew, who has ventured to visit Mary Magdalene, residing within the cave accompanied by her female protector. Matthew, fresh from completing his self-titled Gospel, seeks Mary's counsel by asking her to read his work. He also conveys the heartbreaking news of Little James' demise, orchestrated by the Roman King of Ostrakine in Lower Egypt, and the ongoing efforts to relocate James' wife, Onya, and their daughters to Colossae. As they reminisce about James' passing, interspersed with gentle flirtations, Matthew catches a glimpse of Mary's writing. She explains it as a personal document, crafted to navigate her dreams of darker times, unlike Matthew's Gospel destined for the church. Yet, she reluctantly agrees to let him read it.
Switching back to the core narrative, the story resumes the morning following Episode 6. Little James' condition has worsened since their flight from Jerusalem, prompting Simon Z to carve a sturdier walking stick for him. En route to Bethany to mourn Lazarus, Mary Magdalene and Little James converse along the dusty path. They ponder Jesus' analogy of Lazarus' death as sleep, juxtaposed with Psalm 13's similar depiction. They also revisit Little James' conversation with Jesus about his unhealed disability from Season 3 Episode 2, and Mary shares her journey through years of profound suffering and relentless darkness, culminating in her liberation, which has fostered gratitude and acceptance of life's darker moments. James acknowledges his own journey is still unfolding, but Mary perceives his growth. Neither foresaw the path they would traverse.
After Lazarus' resurrection, Mary Magdalene peers into his shadowy tomb, contemplating his grave clothes, and a premonition of impending trials grips her. Later, as the disciples regroup, Little James reveals his disability's intensifying agony. Mary and Thad lend their support. These three, Jesus' earliest disciples, are enveloped by a sense of foreboding. Like Judas, they grasp that this omen heralds a seismic shift—but unlike him, they dread the unknown horizon.
The episode concludes with a return to the flash-forward, interwoven with scenes from the present timeline. Mary reveals to Matthew that Lazarus' death inspired her to pen her own poem, echoing the songs of David, a creation unique to "The Chosen," devoid of historical precedent. Mary meditates on the essence of darkness—an ominous void where sight and sound cease, yet God's presence lingers. She reflects on Jesus' tears, not for Lazarus, but for his impending fate, a sorrow that would cause time itself to mourn with him. She acknowledges that with Jesus, bitterness and sweetness intertwine, the bitter never fully dissipating. He warned the disciples of this, yet they averted their faces, unwilling to confront the grief until it could no longer be avoided. Even now, she grapples with understanding why bitterness often mingles with sweetness, perhaps a mystery to be unraveled only beyond... this earthly realm.
The disciples, cloaked in a somber atmosphere, prepare to embark on their journey to Bethany for Lazarus' Shiva. As they tread the dusty path, John and Thomas walk abreast, with Thomas voicing his appreciation for the sandals he now wears. John, curious, broaches the subject of Thomas' poignant words from Episode 6, wherein he had spoken of dying alongside Lazarus in Bethany. Thomas confesses that a part of him yearns for this journey to lead them all to their demise, a Final Release from the agonies of their hearts. John cautions him against such wistful longing for death, reminding him of Deuteronomy's closing verses, where a choice lies between life and death, blessing and curse, and exhorts the Israelites to embrace life (Deuteronomy 30:15-20). Thomas, however, counters by asserting that death is an integral aspect of life, with time merely serving as the delineator between the two.
Elsewhere, Peter and James find themselves lost in reflection, reminiscing about the miracle of Jairus' daughter's healing and pondering whether Jesus intends to perform a similar feat for Lazarus, given his earlier cryptic remarks about their absence. Their uncertainty lingers, yet Peter stands firm, insisting that they have naught to fear.
Judas and Nathanael engage in a fleeting conversation, revisiting the days before Judas joined their ranks. Nathanael recalls that those days were relatively peaceful, undisturbed by the fame (and infamy) that Jesus had brought. For Judas, the frequency of such mournful Shiva gatherings signifies a departure from the expected course. He believes that the Messiah and his disciples should be triumphantly victorious, not wandering in sackcloth and ashes. Nathanael acknowledges that only Jesus knows the true essence of glory, but Judas remains unconvinced, insisting that this cannot be it.
Upon Jesus' arrival, his discourse with Martha and Mary about the life beyond resurrection leaves the disciples perplexed, with Thomas struggling the most to comprehend. Recognizing Thomas' distress, John offers solace while urging him to accompany the group to the tomb. Reluctantly, the disciples lend their hands to remove the stone, and after a heartfelt prayer for the Father to use this moment to deepen their faith, Jesus summons Lazarus. The disciples stand in awe, reminiscent of Lazarus' miraculous emergence from the grave, astonishing even the onlooking crowd. Big James expresses his confusion regarding the publicity of this miracle, while Judas is elated, seeing it as an opportunity to unite the Jews. Thomas, overwhelmed by grief and anger, finds himself unable to fathom why Jesus chose to resurrect Lazarus and not Ramah. Jesus, empathetic to his plight, insists that all that He and the Father allow serves the purpose of nurturing their faith and the growth of the church. He gently urges Thomas to remain by his side, echoing Ramah's final words, but Thomas is overwhelmed, seeking solace in John's embrace.
Later, within the confines of Lazarus' abode, Thomas' fury continued to simmer unabated. As Jesus engaged in conversation with Lazarus, he caught sight of Thomas' seething anger yet persisted, insisting that his disciples bear him away at once. The revelations awaiting them at Passover, the Last Supper, were momentous, yet Thomas was unprepared to heed his words. The other disciples struggled to rein in Thomas' raging emotions. Matthew, faced with the task of replacing a shattered jar, provoked Thomas by inquiring why Lazarus alone merited restoration while he did not. Judas, ever the opportunist, pressed the advantage, asserting that the religious leaders would bow to their will. Simon Z recognized the leaders' aversion to having their power challenged, but Judas insisted that Jesus could silence them with but a single word. This led to a query about why Jesus hadn't healed Lazarus from afar, to which Tamar and Thad wisely replied that he had wanted them all to witness and partake in the miracle.
Judas' suggestion that Thomas might not belong among the true sheep Jesus had spoken of in his sermon ignited a fierce rebuke. Tamar gently reminded the disciples of Mary and Martha's likely anticipation of their departure, noting their impatience as impolite. Meanwhile, Mary of Nazareth, Mary of Bethany, and Martha consoled one another in their sorrow when Adnan, Yussif's father, arrived to offer his condolences.
Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by news of Jesus' approach. Martha, driven by a mixture of confusion and devastation, rushed out to confront Jesus about his delay. Despite her desire not to be angry, her emotions overwhelmed her. Jesus sought to reassure her, speaking of Lazarus' eventual resurrection. Misunderstanding his words as a reference to the final resurrection, Martha found little solace. Jesus clarified, however, that he himself was the resurrection and the life that conquered death, and he bid Martha fetch Mary.
Martha returned with Mary, who confronted Jesus with even greater forcefulness, demanding to know why he had not come sooner. Jesus promised to show her the reason and inquired about Lazarus' burial place. Martha directed him to come and see for himself. Overwhelmed by the emotion of the moment, not only by Mary of Bethany's grief but also by the poignant recognition of his mother Mary's sorrow over the impending consequences, Jesus wept. His mother comforted him as the disciples and the gathered crowd looked on in bewilderment.
At last, Jesus, accompanied by both Marys and Martha, rose and walked towards the tomb, their steps heavy yet determined.
Upon reaching the tomb, Jesus issued a command to have the stone removed. The disciples hesitated, their reluctance palpable, while Martha gently reminded him of the putrid odor emanating from within. Undeterred, Jesus persisted, prompting Simon Peter, Andrew, and the sons of Zebedee to step forward, bracing themselves to dislodge the massive stone. The onlookers, including a mysterious cloaked figure, stood by, transfixed by the unfolding scene. As the stone was rolled away, an overwhelming stench spread through the air, yet Jesus remained steadfast, summoning Lazarus forth.
After a tense moment of suspended breath, a figure emerged from the tomb, resembling a mummy in his gait, evoking screams of terror from the bystanders. Jesus, however, calmly instructed Martha and his mother to unbind Lazarus, who appeared disoriented, as if awakening from a prolonged slumber. Expressing a hint of regret at the necessity of such a spectacle, Jesus nonetheless trusted that it was all part of God's divine plan. Lazarus, hungry and naked, was then led away by Mary and Martha.
Martha and Mary were engrossed in their tasks of cleaning and nourishing Lazarus, peppering him with questions about his extraordinary experience. He, however, drew a blank, describing it as nothing more than a profound sleep. When Jesus arrived to inquire after him, they playfully remarked on the unaddressed ache in Lazarus' knee, to which Jesus joked about adhering to the rule of "one miracle per person."
Later, Martha and Mary sat at a table, absorbing the events of the day. Mary was at a loss for words, other than to observe how Martha's usual fastidiousness about cleaning seemed to have vanished. They pondered over what one could possibly give to someone who possessed the power to raise the dead—a man who seemed to need nothing. Mary realized, however, that this was precisely the point: to give out of boundless gratitude, without expectation of reward.
Elsewhere, Lazarus and Jesus sat in quiet contemplation, discussing the reasons behind the miracle. Jesus revealed that time was of the essence; this was to be his final public sign before his resurrection. He shared how he had delayed his arrival due to a sermon that had nearly led to his stoning. He explained that the Jerusalem elite's plans were soon to come to fruition. Lazarus, unable to fathom how anyone could deny Jesus after witnessing such a profound miracle, was contrary to Jesus' prediction that this very event would precipitate his execution. Lazarus recoiled at the thought, much like the disciples had each time Jesus had tried to impart this knowledge.
Frustrated by the disciples' and religious leaders' failure to comprehend his teachings, Jesus felt a heavy dread about the fate he was destined to endure. When Lazarus continued to resist accepting this reality, Jesus directed him to the prophecy of the suffering servant in Isaiah 52-53. Lazarus had never before connected these scriptural passages to his flesh-and-blood friend, but Jesus insisted that the story was reaching its climax.
As the episode drew to a close, Mary retrieved money from a hidden safe and prepared to purchase the fragrant nard, the gesture a testament to her profound gratitude and devotion.
