It Would Have Been Enough

An Easter gift for you

Yes, I’m going to talk about The Chosen again, but bear with me. Even if you’re not a fan of the show or if you haven’t watched it at all, I pray you will find value in the words I’m about to share.

The highlight of Season 5 came in the form of a simple prayer— an ancient prayer, made personal.

As Jesus and His disciples sat around the triclinium (u-shaped table), they recited the traditional prayers of the centuries-old Jewish seder. As Jews, most of them grew up memorizing Torah, memorizing the prayers of their fathers, memorizing the customs and rules, and laws. At one point in the meal, John leads them in Dayenu, a prayer that translates to “it would have been enough.”

The Traditional Dayenu

(as recited in The Chosen Season 5 Episode 4)

If He had brought us out of Egypt and not made judgments against our adversaries,
(it would have been enough).

If He had made judgments against our adversaries and had not destroyed their idols,
(it would have been enough).

If He had destroyed their idols and had not given us their wealth,
(it would have been enough).

If He had given us their wealth and had not split the Sea for us,
(it would have been enough).

If He had split the Sea for us and had not taken us through it on dry land,
(it would have been enough).

If He had taken us through it on dry land and not drowned our enemies,
(it would have been enough).

If He had drowned our enemies and had not supplied our needs in the desert for forty years,
(it would have been enough).

If He had supplied our needs in the desert and had not given us the Torah,
(it would have been enough).

If He had given us the Torah and had not brought us into the land of Israel,
(it would have been enough).

If He had brought us into the land of Israel and had not built us the Temple,
(it would have been enough).

(photo is not mine)

But the following day (in the show), the women who followed Jesus sat down at their own table. They took the traditional prayer and made it personal, telling their King and Savior that the acts of grace and mercy they’d witnessed from Him in their own lives were more than enough.

The Jesus Dayenu

(from The Chosen Season 5 Episode 4)

Mother Mary: If I had only been given the joy of holding you in my arms and you had not performed signs and wonders,
(it would have been enough).

Mary Magdalene: If you had only performed signs and wonders and not called me by name,
9(it would have been enough).

Eden: If you had only healed Mary of demons and not called my husband,
(it would have been enough).

Tamar: If you had only called Simon Peter and not healed my friend,
(it would have been enough).

Martha: If you had only healed Ethan and not raised my brother,
(it would have been enough).

Mary of Bethany: If you had only raised my brother and not defended my honor when I worshipped you,
(it would have been enough).

Joanna: If you had only defended Mary but not given meaning to my life that had been so unfulfilled by letting me support you and this miraculous family that I believe will change the world,
(it would have been enough).

(photo is not mine)

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My heart burned and tears fell from my eyes as I listened to these women look the God of the Universe in the eyes and tell Him that even if He hadn’t answered all their prayers, it would have been enough.

I listened as these women took an ancient tradition and made it personal. I know this part of the show is fictitious, but what a beautiful lesson for us, as women. We make things personal! Jesus made things personal! For hundreds of years, the Jewish people recited prayers and scriptures, traditions and laws, but Jesus came and made it personal.

Today is Good Friday. The day we remember the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made for us upon the cross. Don’t let the sun go down on this day without making it personal.

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My Easter gift to you is the opportunity to write your own Dayenu. I’m sharing mine below, only as an example. Look into your heart as you write your prayer to God. What has He done in your life? Tell Him that even if He hadn’t, it would have been enough. I’d love to read it when you’re done.

Lord, if You had saved my soul but not blessed me with shelter and food,
(it would have been enough).

If You had blessed me with shelter and food but not given me anyone to share it with,
(it would have been enough).

If You had given me a husband to share your blessings with, but had allowed my oldest daughter and I to die during my pregnancy as doctors said we surely would,
(it would have been enough).

If You had saved mine and my daughter’s life but not given me more children,
(it would have been enough).

If You had given me more children but allowed my youngest son to drown that day in the river ,
(it would have been enough).

If You saved my son from the depths of the river but left me all alone when my husband abandoned me,
(it would have been enough).

If You brought a new godly husband into my life, but allowed cancer to take our middle daughter,
(it would have been enough).

If You healed our daughter from cancer but left us to be homeless,
(it would have been enough).

If You provided a home for us but left our hearts hollow and hurting,
(it would have been enough).

Lord, if You filled our hearts with joy and laughter and never blessed us again,
(it would have been enough).

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As I watched the women make the Dayenu personal on the big screen of the theater, I knew I wanted to share this with each of you. As I searched the internet for the words of the Dayenu, I came across The Bible Artist, a website encouraging their readers to do just as I’m encouraging you to do, now! They have a printable on their site if you need help crafting your own prayer.

On this Good Friday, make it personal. What Jesus did on the cross is more than enough.