Jonathan Roumie, known for his portrayal of Jesus in The Chosen, has candidly shared the profound spiritual challenges he faced while embodying this massive role. In a heartfelt interview, he described the overwhelming responsibility and spiritual warfare that accompanied his performance.
Roumie recounted a particularly intense moment during the filming of the Sermon on the Mount. He said, “I just felt completely out of my element for that scene.” He elaborated, “I’m saying these words that Jesus said to these people that are like looking at me, and I’m there, and I’m like, what am I doing here? I don’t—I shouldn’t be here.”
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The actor also spoke about the physical manifestations of his inner turmoil. He experienced “massive pains like just shooting up into my ear,” identifying it as anxiety. At one point, he suffered from heart palpitations, prompting him to question, “I don’t know what’s happening… I think the spiritual attacks kind of manifest themselves in so many different kinds of ways.“
During the Sermon on the Mount scene, Roumie felt a sudden rush of panic, describing it as “a force was trying to stop me from speaking the words of Christ.” He noted, “It didn’t feel like stress—it felt like something darker.”
In response to these challenges, Roumie sought spiritual support. He texted his spiritual director, who immediately began praying the rosary for him. Remarkably, within 15 minutes, the overwhelming sensations subsided.
Roumie observed that the intensity of spiritual pressure often correlated with the depth of the message being conveyed. He stated, “The more powerful the message, the more intense the pressure.” He described the onset of these feelings as “a strange tightness in my chest, a pain in my ear that had no medical explanation, just a growing sense that something invisible was pushing back.”
To combat these spiritual attacks, Roumie leaned heavily on his faith practices. He shared, “I fight any and all spiritual attacks with prayer… the rosary, Divine Mercy, the Angelus… I feel like I’ve become more hyper aware of spiritual warfare.”
Roumie emphasized that his portrayal was not merely acting. He confessed, “I only know what it’s like to be human—and woefully so and failingly so. All I can do is bring the utmost of my humanity and my intention to serve Christ… and get out of the way of the Holy Spirit.”
Despite the exhaustion and challenges, Roumie recognized a greater purpose. He concluded, “The more light they brought to the world through The Chosen, the more darkness pushed back… It wasn’t just attacks. It wasn’t just pressure. It was a calling. And callings demand suffering.”
In the face of overwhelming pressure, Roumie demonstrated that the power of prayer, humility and surrender to the Holy Spirit can transform the most difficult circumstances into moments of divine purpose.
As The Chosen continues to touch hearts around the world, Roumie’s example serves as an inspiring reminder to all believers that following Christ often requires stepping into the unknown with courage, knowing that God’s strength will carry us through the hardest of battles.
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Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.
