HeartGuard score
How suitable a title is for Christian viewers, from 0 to 100. It weighs the content meters and the worldview.
- 80–100RecommendedThis episode
- 60–79Watch with care
- 35–59Think it through
- 15–34Strong caution
- 0–14Not recommended
HeartGuard score
How suitable a title is for Christian viewers, from 0 to 100. It weighs the content meters and the worldview.
- 80–100RecommendedThis episode
- 60–79Watch with care
- 35–59Think it through
- 15–34Strong caution
- 0–14Not recommended
Worldview score
What the story celebrates or condemns.
Why +2 for this episode
The episode affirms Jesus' mercy towards the fallen, his authority over the Sabbath and his compassion, all drawn closely from the Gospels.
- +2Affirms faithThis episodePresents faith in God positively and as true
- +1Positive valuesHonesty, sacrifice and family win out
- 0Mixed or neutralNo clear stance
- −1AmbivalentShows sin without judging it either way
- −2Glamorises sinMakes sin look attractive and rewarding
Age guide
How suitable this episode is for each age group.
Why 10+ for this episode
There is no swearing, sexual content or real violence. What sets the age is mild: a character's relapse into drinking and gambling in rough taverns, some tension in a search, and heated arguments.
- Under 8With a parent
- Ages 8–12Yes
- Ages 13–15Yes
- Ages 16–17Yes
- AdultsYes
A gentle, moving episode about grace after failure and Jesus' authority over the Sabbath. Mary's relapse into drinking is handled with care and no explicit content.
Watch guide
What's in it?
LanguageNone
There is no swearing in this episode.
BlasphemyNone
God's name is used only in prayer, scripture and sincere speech.
Sex and nuditySeedy setting
Matthew and Simon search for Mary in rough places in Jericho, where men carouse. Nothing sexual is shown.
RelationshipsFriendship strained
The story centres on friendship, forgiveness and Simon and Matthew learning to get along. There is no romance.
ViolenceMild tension
There is some menace in the Jericho tavern scenes and verbal confrontation with Pharisees, but little or no physical violence.
Frightening scenesMild tension
The search for Mary through dark places and the news of John the Baptizer's arrest bring some worry and sadness.
Drugs and alcoholRelapse into drinking
Mary has returned to drinking and gambling in a tavern. This is framed as a painful fall, met with shame and then forgiveness.
AttitudesRivalry, reconciled
Simon's hostility towards Matthew, the former tax collector, softens as they work together. Pharisees are rigid and accusing over the Sabbath.
OccultNone
There is no occult content in this episode. The healing and Sabbath teaching are Jesus' own miracles and authority, not magic or false spirituality.
- To knowContent to know about
- DiscussWorth discussing
- Early
Seedy setting
Matthew and Simon search for Mary through Jericho's rougher streets and taverns, where men drink and carouse. Nothing sexual is shown.
- Early
Alcohol and relapse
They find Mary back in her old life, drinking and gambling. She is ashamed, and they persuade her to return with them.
- Mid
Forgiveness
Back at the camp, Jesus pardons Mary for having turned away, and she meets with kindness instead of criticism.
- Mid
Grief and worry
News reaches the group that John the Baptizer has been arrested by Herod Antipas, and Andrew is deeply distressed.
- Late
Healing and Sabbath
Jesus cures a man whose hand is shrivelled while in the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and the Pharisees looking on are offended.
- Late
Religious conflict
Hungry disciples pluck grain, the Pharisees accuse them of breaking the Sabbath, and Jesus answers by pointing to David and the holy bread.
How to play
- 1. Draw a cardOne person reads the question out loud.
- 2. Everyone answersThere are no wrong answers. Listen before you reply.
- 3. Pass it onThe next person draws, until the deck is done.
Faith & story
What does it say?
What's it about?The plot, without the ending
Simon and Matthew, uneasy partners, search the darker corners of Jericho for Mary Magdalene, who has slipped back into her old ways. Back with the group, hunger and worrying news about John the Baptizer weigh on everyone. On the Sabbath, Jesus' actions bring him into sharp conflict with the Pharisees.
Through a faith lensHow it connects to the Bible
This episode is about grace after failure and who holds authority over the Sabbath. Mary has slipped back into her old life, and she is met with forgiveness rather than rebuke. That echoes the father who ran to meet his returning son. Jesus does not shame the one who fell, because there is no condemnation for those who belong to him. Simon and Matthew, once on opposite sides, are pushed into shared purpose, and that reflects Paul's picture of one body with many members. Inside the synagogue, Jesus cures a man whose hand is shrivelled, then replies to the Pharisees by recalling how a hungry David ate the consecrated loaves. He declares that the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath and that the Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath. The Pharisees treat rules as the point, while Jesus shows that mercy is the purpose behind them.
Fruit of the SpiritWhich fruit does it show?
7 out of 9 fruits ripe in this episode
Ripe grapes are shown in the episode, buds are missing
- Joy
Love and gentleness: Jesus welcomes Mary back and forgives her without reproach. Kindness and patience: Matthew and Simon, who are wary of each other, search for her together and persuade her to return. Faithfulness: the disciples do not give up on Mary. Goodness and peace: Jesus heals a man's withered hand and calms the hungry disciples when challenged. Strife and divisions: the Pharisees accuse Jesus and his followers over the Sabbath, and Simon's old hostility towards Matthew shows in their early exchanges. Mary's lapse into drinking is the one place where self-control fails, and the story treats it with compassion.
The charactersExamples to follow or avoid
Jesus of NazarethJonathan RoumieJesus is merciful towards Mary and shows pity for a man whose hand is shrivelled. He answers the Pharisees' Sabbath accusations by claiming authority over the Sabbath.
Mary MagdaleneElizabeth TabishA follower who has returned to her former life. She is ashamed, and must decide whether she can accept the forgiveness offered to her.
Simon PeterShahar IsaacA fisherman who is wary of Matthew. He is pushed to work alongside him in the search for Mary.
MatthewParas PatelA former tax collector who is still treated with suspicion. He shows patience and quiet understanding towards both Simon and Mary.
AndrewNoah JamesA disciple who is deeply shaken by the news of John the Baptizer's arrest.
How Christians are portrayed
Jesus and his followers are shown warmly and honestly, as flawed people who stumble and are restored. The disciples argue and worry, and Mary relapses, yet grace is what finally holds them. The Pharisees are the foils, shown as rigid and legalistic, though elsewhere in the series some, such as Nicodemus, are drawn more sympathetically.
Community
What other Christians think
What did you notice?
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Review
Helpful reviewer
The star beside a name
Given to members whose reviews 25 or more people have marked Helpful.
It rewards reviews that help other families decide, not how many someone writes. It's a sign others have found their reviews thoughtful, not a verdict on anyone's faith.
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Details
Episode details
- Cast
- Erick Avari, Jonathan Roumie, Shahar Isaac, Elizabeth Tabish
- First aired
- Jun 23, 2021
- Created by
- Dallas Jenkins
- Networks
- Prime Video, VidAngel, Angel
- Genre
- Action & Adventure, Family, Drama
- Episode length
- 45m
- Age rating
- US TV-PG · UK 12
How we analysed this
We gathered the episode's summary, its reception and facts about the series that independent sources agree on, then rated each content area against our rubric and worldview scale, using AI models calibrated on reference titles. Not yet reviewed by our team. Confidence: medium.
Score = 100 − 16 × content concern (1.32) + 8 × worldview (+2) = 95
This is a guide to help families choose with wisdom, not a verdict on anyone's conscience ().
Updated 2026-10-14