The Chosen TV series is framing many attributes of God in such a fantastic way. I especially enjoy Season 1 Episode 6 for how it depicts Christ’s interactions with those around him. The scene starts with Jesus sharing the parable of the importuning widow found in Luke 18 then it builds to the moment where two different characters make a petition of Jesus. The contrast of these three examples of petitioning God provides excellent insight into how we should petition Him.

The importuning woman

Interestingly, the scene starts with Jesus sharing this parable as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ video begins with Jesus sharing the ’eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’ message. I like how they used this parable in this scene. As we watch Christ respond to two different requests, we come to understand what type of importuning is appropriate.¹

The opposing requests

We are then brought into the room where Jesus stands as he is confronted by the Jewish Scribes at the window and the five of faith from the hole in the roof. The contrast is stark and provides an interesting treatise into how we should importune our Savior.

The Woman of faith

Notice how the woman of faith interacts with Jesus;

Jesus of Nazareth! I saw what you did to the leper on the road this morning. My friend has been paralyzed since childhood. He has no hope but You. Please… Do for him what You did for the leper. If you are willing, Rabbi, I know you can do this. If you are willing Rabbi, You know You can.

To which Jesus responds in awe,

Your faith is beautiful.

The Scribe

You. By whose authority do you teach? Answer me!
Hey, I am talking to You. By whom do You teach?
Certainly not the authority of any rabbi from Nazareth!
Where did you study?

To which Jesus does not respond.

Beautiful Faith

Both are pressing on Jesus; both are making demands of His time; both distract him from the lesson He shares with the masses. The Scribe uses his agency to force Jesus to respond or to manipulate. The Scribe wants to control Jesus. The woman of faith wants Jesus to choose her. She wants Him to see her request. She knows that she can’t control Jesus, but she believes He can be persuaded.

One of the arts of beautiful faith rests on persuading God. He wants us to use our agency to invite him in. He wants to see us importune him. However, there is a line between persuading and demanding. The above Chose scene helps us understand that line and helps us know how the Savior responds when we are on the right side of the line.

I worry that many of us think that the opposite of demanding is timidness and acquiescence. I think I hear acquiesence at times when members say, “If it be thy will” in a prayer. The opposite of demanding is relationship. It is love.

President Hinckley was trying to get us to understand this type of love when he shared, ‘Many regard us with suspicion, as having only one interest and that is to convert them. Conversion is more likely to come as a consequence of love.’ Jesus acts no different and He expects us to follow His loving lead. We go to Him because we know He can protect, but we understand that He will not force us just as we cannot force Him. I hope we all get an opportunity to hear our Savior whisper in our ear, ‘Your faith is beautiful.’ I am sure that such a phrase would seal our hearts.

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