For the most part, I just clarified who characters were (see my comment above) and occasionally I briefly explained a reference or allusion that was confusing to my youth. Her association with prostitution was a result of the proximity between the first mention of her in Luke (. If you liked this post, you might want to check out some of my other posts on The Chosen and Bible adaptation. As I noted above, in the Bible there is no indication that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. However, some scholars believe the word would be better translated as demoness and see it is a reference to a Mesopotamian spiritual being. Mary Magdalene is never called Lili or Lilith in the Bible. Jesus heals her evil spirit(s) at the end of Episode 1. More importantly, allowing some of the disciples to judge Mary a bit more would have added more tension and could have fueled future arcs. He attempts to heal her and exorcise the evil spirit in her, but he is unsuccessful and concludes that she is beyond hope. Luke notes that Mary had seven spirits exorcised from her, but the other women experienced miraculous healing as well. After Mary's encounter with Jesus, we never really get to see her deal with her former life. EDIT: To more specifically address your question about Mary Magdalene, my intuition is that they chose the name Lilith because few viewers are likely to know the name, and so therefore wont confuse her with another Bible character before her true identity is revealed. Mary Magdalene was a disciple of Jesus. The Chosen does the "misunderstood reject rather than sinner" quite a bit in Season 1, but I think it's a sensible direction for Mary's character. I hope you enjoy them! Nicodemus was brought in to perform an exorcism on her but failed, making him question the fullness of the Law. But why does Mary Magdalene get all the attention and not Joanna or Susanna, who are also mentioned? It's odd? There are also characters and stories from the Gospels that the creators have left out. Jesus heals her evil spirit(s) at the end of Episode 1. She is clearly sleeping with a man out of wedlock when the episode begins and they are sleeping together in "the Red Quarter" - a sleazy part of town. Click here for my affiliation policy. While watching the show, I made occasional comments through the chat but I tried to not do too much teaching - I wanted the youth to enjoy The Chosen and not just see it as an elaborate preaching illustration. As a result, adaptations of the Gospels from previous generations place a greater emphasis on how Jesus calls Mary to repent and brings about her moral transformation. Have my posts about Bible adaptation helped you learn more about the Bible and explore it with your ministry or family? One day (hopefully) we viewers will get our first glimpse of the resurrected Jesus as we follow Mary to the empty tomb. It hints at where the show is going: This passage takes place after Jesus' death and resurrection at the end of the Gospels. They prompt us to consider how these two events, Mary's first encounter with Jesus and her first encounter with the risen Jesus, are connected in a deeper way. Lilith was close to committing suicide by walking off a cliff before a dove (Holy Spirit) caught her interest and she followed it back to town, where she had an emotional moment being healed by Jesus who quoted her trusted childhood Bible verse from Isaiah and exorcised her with a hug. If you try it out, please let me know how it goes and if you have any feedback! This is Tom My 3 month old son is battling an extremely rare and [Free Friday] after an early miscarriage 3 weeks ago, I Our new campus chapel is so close to being ready! However, In the Bible, there is no indication that Mary Magdalene fell back into sin, backslid, or left Jesus. In my opinion it works. The creators of The Chosen have published a series of interactive Bible Studies that help viewers explore some of the Scripture and biblical themes that inspired the show. Her name always was Mary, but through her past of turmoil, mental illness, rape, or whatever else caused her to be mentally tortured, she led everyone to believe she was Lilith. There you go! What distinguishes Mary from the other women, however, is her association with prostitution. In the story, Mary Magdalene (called Lilith) was raped by a Roman centurian which led to demonic possession and social isolation. In the Bible, there is no indication that Nicodemus met Mary Magdalene or that he tried to heal her or exorcise her evil spirits. (Plots & Theme), Episode 2 Guide: Philip, Nathanael, & Matthew, Episode 3 Guide: Life Among the Disciples of Jesus, Episode 4 Guide: Simon the Zealot & the Man at the Bethesda Pool, Episode 5 Guide: Mary's Demons & the Destiny of John the Baptist, Episode 8 Guide: Judas, Matthew, & the Sermon on the Mount, Episode 1 Guide: Mary Magdalene, Lilith, and the Redeemer, Episode 2 Guide: Mary Magdalene, Nicodemus, and Shabbat, Episode 3 Guide: Depicting Jesus in Art, Film, and TV, Episode 4 Guide: When Jesus Met Simon (Peter), Episode 6 Guide: Jesus, Shmuel, & the Pharisees. Starting around episode three I think is when it finds its groove. Moreover, her biblical significance has been amplified even more by the attention that she's received from the interpretative and artistic traditions of the West. This story was invented by The Chosen for the purposes of the plot. In The Chosen, when we first meet Mary Magdalene, most of the characters refer to her as Lili. Matthew, Mark, and John also describe Mary as a witness of Jesus' crucifixion/burial (Matthew 27:55-61, Mark 15:40-47, and John 19:25). The assumption at that time was that women became prostitutes because they were inherently immoral and desirous. Personally, I would have been much more interested in a subplot about Mary's former pimp trying to coerce her back into her former life than I am with the overly long fish taxation plot. However, a post by the official Twitter account for The Chosen claims that Mary is not being portrayed as a prostitute. She is clearly sleeping with a man out of wedlock when the episode begins and they are sleeping together in "the Red Quarter" - a sleazy part of town. Episode 8 Guide: The Woman at the Well, Eden, & Zohara, Christmas with The Chosen: The Messengers, The Chosen Season 2 Controversy (Jesus, the Bible, & the Process of Inspiration), Should Nicodemus Kneel? I can appreciate what theyre trying to do with the show: Theyre taking their time to build your relationship with the characters and to delve into some of the backstory so that everyone becomes a three-dimensional person, not just a mumbling zombie foil for Jesus. Mary Magdalene is never called Lili or Lilith in the Bible. One other thing - the show could have allowed some of the disciples (like John) to go a bit further in being judgmental toward after her return. This is symbolically tied to her encounter with another demon, Belial, who calls Mary Lilith, asserting the continued existence and power of her old identity. The second passage is the Scripture that Mary has written down: This passage that Mary's father taught her is from the Book of Isaiah. That being said, there's no biblical reason to think that she could not have done so. How does that truth encourage you? Just before Luke introduces us to Mary Magdalene, he tells a story about a prostitute that Jesus forgives (Luke 7:36-50). [SPOILERS] Is the Jon Snow spin-off really such a good idea? Why do you think they were removed? In a previous era of Hollywood Mary's status as a prostitute made her exotic and intriguing. By. But she was not possessed by one as the movie mentioned but by many. In The Chosen, it is not entirely clear whether Mary Magdalene was engaging in prostitution before the events of Season 1, Episode 1. I agree with the Twitter post that the show clearly depicts Mary as a victim of rape/sexual assault, but prostitutes often are victims of rape and sexual assault. Its not perfect, but its a pretty great start. Episode 8 Guide: The Woman at the Well, Eden, & Zohara, Christmas with The Chosen: The Messengers, The Chosen Season 2 Controversy (Jesus, the Bible, & the Process of Inspiration), Should Nicodemus Kneel? Anyway, I love the series. And just like one day the risen Jesus will reveal himself to Mary and free her from grief and fear by calling her name, Jesus first reveals himself to "Lilith" and frees her from her grief and fear and demons by calling her by her true name, Mary. Her association with prostitution was a result of the proximity between the first mention of her in Luke (. The Bible never suggests Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. He attempts to heal her and exorcise the evil spirit in her, but he is unsuccessful and concludes that she is beyond hope. Because The Chosen seeks to be kid-friendly, it most likely uses the term "Red Quarter" in order to hint to older viewers that Mary is a prostitute without explicitly mentioning prostitution or sex. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Just like one day Mary Magdalene will be caught up in despair because she can't find Jesus' body, she's caught up in despair at her own situation. It's certainly not The Exorcist, but demonic stuff can really freak some people out. All four Gospels suggest Mary was the first witness of the resurrected Jesus (Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-11, and John 20:1-18). (Jesus), What about Jesus' identity does this hint at? Episode 7 Guide: Did Nicodemus Follow Jesus? The Hebrew word "lilit" only shows up in Isaiah 34:14, where most modern translations render it as something along the lines of "night bird." I also suggest setting expectations for the first episode. Also the guy who plays Jesus is Catholic, which is kind of cool. The Chosen isn't trying to mess with the Bible. Although, like Nicodemus, the account of Jesus' life in the Gospels tells us relatively little about her, the part that she plays as the first witness to the Resurrection is objectively much more significant. Catholic Christianity offers the world the fullness of the Christian Faith. Click here for my affiliation policy. When Nicodemus encounters her, we discover that the evil spirit that is possessing her is named Lilith. However, Jesus knew her real name. The Gospels don't tell us very much about what these women do, with the significant exception of the burial and resurrection, but this provides leeway for female characters to play a more significant role throughout the ministry of Jesus and not just when they are mentioned. I will definitely continue watching it then, I just wanted to make sure! Why do you think The Chosen depicted Mary as a prostitute? For more details, check out my post focused specifically on Lilith, Demons, and Evil Spirits. Meanwhile, in the youth ministry that I lead, I had the chance to view and discuss season one of The Chosen with several high schoolers and found it very fruitful. The Chosen introduces a lot of characters and expects us to just keep up. It's also strange that we never actually return back to the fact that Mary was having PTSD - Jesus forgives her fall but doesn't say anything about her ongoing suffering (perhaps that's a storyline for a future season). Why do you think The Chosen is trying to connect episode 1 to what will happen when Jesus is resurrected? The specific demon is not named in Scripture. EDIT: I still have my concerns, but I believe my rash judgment is sinful, so I'll keep it to myself. I thought Mary's storyline in Season 2 of The Chosen had a lot of potential but it was unfortunately not given enough room to breathe. When they are engaged in sin, it's often a result of their difficult circumstances or their status as outsiders, and so what they primarily need is love and acceptance, not forgiveness and repentance. Narrative Ambiguity & Charitable Reading, The Chosen: 6 Good Friday & Easter Episodes, The Rings of Power, LOTR, and Bible Adaptation, Amazon Prime's The Rings of Power & The Challenges of Biblical Adaptation, In Defense of The Chosen and Other Christian Movies, Books, & Media (Part 1), In Defense of The Chosen and Other Christian Movies, Books, & Media (Part 2), Imagining Mary Magdalene (5 More Bible Adaptations While You Wait for The Chosen Season 2), The Chosen Season 3 Episode 6: Recap, Review, & Analysis, Intensity in Tent City (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 6 with Youth or Small Group), The Chosen Season 3 Episode 5: Recap, Review, & Analysis, Clean Part 2 (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 5 with Youth or Small Group), The Chosen Season 3 Episode 4: Recap, Review, & Analysis, Clean Part 1 (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 4 with Youth or Small Group), The Chosen Season 3 Episode 3: Recap, Review, & Analysis, Physician, Heal Thyself (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 3 with Youth or Small Group), Two by Two (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 2 with Youth or Small Group), Little James in The Chosen & Scripture (Adapting Biblical Characters), Homecoming (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 1 with Youth or Small Group), John the Baptist in The Chosen (Adapting Biblical Characters), Lilith, Demons, & Evil Spirits in The Chosen (Adapting Biblical Characters), 2022 BY THE BIBLE ARTIST. Jesus is said to have cast seven evil spirits out of her (Luke 8:1-3). The trauma of her rape is hinted at again in Season 2, Episode 5, and is the trigger that causes Mary to backslide. Just before Luke introduces us to Mary Magdalene, he tells a story about a prostitute that Jesus forgives (, Since I criticized Season 1 of The Chosen for making Mary too perfect, it's only fair that I acknowledge how Season 2 seeks to rectify that issue. PROUDLY CREATED WITH WIX.COM, Mary Magdalene in The Chosen (Adapting Biblical Characters), Mary and Nicodemus in Season 1 of The Chosen, The important role that Mary Magdalene plays in The Chosen is not nearly as surprising as that of, Be that as it may, the Gospel of Luke tells us that there were women who went Jesus and names Mary Magdalene among them (, But why does Mary Magdalene get all the attention and not Joanna or Susanna, who are also mentioned? When Nicodemus encounters her, we discover that the evil spirit that is possessing her is named Lilith. In the Bible, there is no indication that Nicodemus met Mary Magdalene or that he tried to heal her or exorcise her evil spirits. every time a new character showed up. Her association with prostitution was a result of the proximity between the first mention of her in Luke (Luke 8:1-3) and a story about a prostitute (Luke 7:36-50). Episode 7 Guide: Did Nicodemus Follow Jesus? Many Christians still memorize this passage to remind them of how God is always with us, even in the most difficult trials. The episode with the woman at the well in the season finale could have been an interesting opportunity to bring her character into conflict with the other male disciples, but this opportunity was also missed. Over time, the Western artistic tradition repeatedly depicted Mary as a prostitute and the mistaken association got stuck in the cultural consciousness. When Nicodemus encounters her, we discover that the evil spirit that is possessing her is named Lilith. Although The Chosen is still a few seasons away from the Resurrection of Jesus, it is clearly beginning with the end in mind. I would have introduced her PTSD much earlier in the season, giving her more space to try to struggle with it on her own before eventually falling back into her old life. The Chosen seems to be hinting that Mary is a prostitute (e.g. [Update: In the comments below, an astute reader pointed me to a post by the official Twitter for The Chosen, which claims Mary is not being portrayed as a prostitute. Why do you think the creators added them? Everything is very true to the Gospels, and theres no dialogue written to score theological points. (for LOTR: Arwen's bigger role, some action scenes. I've condensed the lesson into an easily printable pdf below. When making the Chosen, he is advised by a Catholic Priest, Rabbi, and Evangelical Pastor. You can find episode one free on YouTube here, although there are lots of ads. Jesus clearly expected his disciples to sin frequently and made it clear that he was committed to pursuing them and offering forgiveness (Matthew 18:10-35). Instead of being a femme fatale that Jesus needs to resist and tame, Mary Magdalene the prostitute is seen as an object of compassion and pity that Jesus needs to provide acceptance and safety. Her association with prostitution was a result of the proximity between the first mention of her in Luke (Luke 8:1-3) and a story about a prostitute (Luke 7:36-50). Although we'll have to wait in order to understand fully what the show wants us to conclude, this could be a subtle and effective way to show how Jesus' ability to heal and save is ultimately grounded in his willingness to die and rise again. I have not seen any anti Catholic scenes. In the Bible, there is no indication that Mary Magdalene was raped. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Explain: The Chosen is a multi-season streaming series that's adapting the four Gospels. . (he calls her by her name), How does this connect to what happened in episode 1? In the modern vernacular, a "red light district" is a term that refers to an area of the city known for prostitution, strip clubs, and other immoral establishments. In Episode 8, we see that Mary is still struggling a bit - her failure is driving her to be a bit too unrelenting in her work for Jesus- but other than that she seems to be back on track. The creators make changes in order to adapt the biblical stories to TV. Im not a person who cries during Jesus movies, but Ive cried several times during this series, because you can just feel the humanity of the scenes and everything is ten times more relatable. After Jesus heals her evil spirit, she resumes calling herself "Mary," her birth name, and refuses to answer to the name associated with her spiritual oppression. In The Chosen, we see a brief flashback during Season 1, Episode 1 that strongly implies that Mary was raped by a Roman soldier. FYI: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This is not a theologian or an apologist. Lilith here could just mean demon possessed. I love this series. Enough said.). Normally I wouldn't care but this is a movie about Jesus, and if the people behind it are trying to do good, but it is a great disservice for me to bad-mouth it until the full plot is revealed. This allows the show to be more family friendly, but it also weakens the narrative that the show is telling about Jesus' compassion and pity. Season 2 Reflection P2: What was The Chosen Season 2 about? That being said, there's no biblical reason to think that she could not have done so. In The Chosen, Mary Magdalene is played by Elizabeth Tabish. Yes, there are plenty of women who show up in the Gospels. FYI: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. When he encounters her again in Season 1 Episode 2, he is surprised to discover that she has been completely healed and is free of the evil spirits. Below I'll share an outline describing how to do a Viewing Party for The Chosen Episode 1 (I Have Called You by Name). There is however a very clear disclaimer at the beginning of the series saying this isnt word-for-word and its no replacement for reading your Bible, etc. The Chosen Season 3: What to Expect & How to Watch, The Chosen Season 3 Episode 1 & Episode 2: Reaction and Analysis, The Chosen Season 3 Episode 3: Recap, Review, & Analysis, The Chosen Season 3 Episodes 1 & 2: Questions to Discuss Before the Premiere, Preparing for The Chosen Season 3: 7 Episodes to Watch, I am the Law of Moses (The Chosen Season 3 Controversy), Little James in The Chosen & Scripture ***Season 3***, Judas in The Chosen ***Season 3 Update***, Matthew in The Chosen ***Season 3 Update***, Simon and Andrew in The Chosen ***Season 3 Update***, Lilith, Demons, & Evil Spirits in The Chosen, Simon the Zealot & Nathanael in The Chosen, Quintus, Gaius, and the Romans in The Chosen. Catholic priest burned to death, another shot in north Press J to jump to the feed. As a general rule, the characters who follow Jesus aren't bad people; they're misunderstood and rejected and in need of love. After sharing that information, you can ask: What stuck out to you about Mary Magdalene's depiction in The Chosen? Thank you! In the passage, who is it that says, "I have called you by name"? The ancient name Lilith derives from a Sumerian word for female demons or wind spirits. Thank you for your input. What do you think Mary's life was like before Jesus showed up? There's a sense in which Mary's demons might be seen as a metaphor for the oppressive forces that brought her into her life in the sex trade but this is only barely suggested. In The Chosen, when we first meet Mary Magdalene, most of the characters refer to her as Lili. One challenge that film adaptations of Jesus' life need to overcome is the lack of significant female characters. These parallels are more than a neat bit of foreshadowing. Consider how the show depicts Jesus' first appearance. Season 2 Reflection P1: What is The Chosen Season 2 about? And the parallels don't end there. Thank you! This association with prostitution opens a variety of directions for adaptations to take in their portrayal of her, especially given the affection Jesus shows for her (John 20). This shift in our societal understanding of the sex trade has changed the significance of Mary's supposed role as a prostitute. They were fully engaged by the show on the level of entertainment but also seemed solidify their understanding of important gospel events and figures, as well as the cultural context. The implications of Mary living in the "Red Quarter" are still there. In Episode 6, Jesus sends Peter and Matthew to find Mary and bring her back. Do you believe Jesus knows you by name? I offer my work for free and rely on the generous support of readers like you. (he is God). We turned it into a bit of a game, where one of my youth would constantly ask "Is that Jesus?" You may want to warn students beforehand that this episode contains some demonic activity. Still, at the end of the day, the 12 disciples who get the most screen time in the Gospels are all males. Luke notes that Mary had seven spirits exorcised from her, but the other women experienced miraculous healing as well. In The Chosen, we see a brief flashback during Season 1, Episode 1 that strongly implies that Mary was raped by a Roman soldier. Can you think of moments when you may need to be reminded that God is with you? As COVID drags on and winter sets in, if you're looking for a good activity to do online with your youth group, you might want to consider doing a series of The Chosen Viewing Parties like this. PROUDLY CREATED WITH WIX.COM, Mary Magdalene, Lilith, & the Redeemer (Exploring The Chosen with Youth), Elizabeth Tabish as Lilith/Mary Magdalene in The Chosen, Over the past year, we've been exploring how The Chosen adapts biblical characters like, You may want to warn students beforehand that this episode contains some demonic activity. Hopefully though, season 2 will find more ways to develop her character in a manner that's dynamic and engaging, because there's still much that could be done. She struggles to believe that she can be accepted after falling back into her old life but Jesus forgives her and the disciples embrace her. Later Jewish tradition described a demonic figure known as Lilith in a variety of ways. To recap: in Episode 5 of Season 2, Mary begins to experience PTSD tied to the trauma of her rape by a Roman solider (implied very quickly in Episode 1 Season 1). In The Chosen, when we first meet Mary Magdalene, most of the characters refer to her as Lili. You can find episode one, The Bible includes Mary Magdalene in a list of women who had evil spirits healed by Jesus. I have Bible studies/discussion guides for each episode of The Chosen Seasons 1-3, blogs exploring how The Chosen adapts key biblical figures, and articles exploring the controversial nature of adaptation. Literally none of that is in Scripture or sacred tradition and that bothers me! It's a great comfort in the midst of the pandemic and other turmoil. Later Jewish tradition described a demonic figure known as Lilith in a variety of ways. Have my posts about Bible adaptation helped you learn more about the Bible and explore it with your ministry or family? Over the past year, we've been exploring how The Chosen adapts biblical characters like Mary Magdalene, Nicodemus, Peter, Andrew, Matthew, Jesus, and the Romans. In the same way, we get our first glimpse of the pre-resurrected Jesus as we follow her struggles in the first episode. (Plots & Theme), Episode 2 Guide: Philip, Nathanael, & Matthew, Episode 3 Guide: Life Among the Disciples of Jesus, Episode 4 Guide: Simon the Zealot & the Man at the Bethesda Pool, Episode 5 Guide: Mary's Demons & the Destiny of John the Baptist, Episode 8 Guide: Judas, Matthew, & the Sermon on the Mount, Episode 1 Guide: Mary Magdalene, Lilith, and the Redeemer, Episode 2 Guide: Mary Magdalene, Nicodemus, and Shabbat, Episode 3 Guide: Depicting Jesus in Art, Film, and TV, Episode 4 Guide: When Jesus Met Simon (Peter), Episode 6 Guide: Jesus, Shmuel, & the Pharisees. The Bible never mentions "the Red Quarter." Mary Magdalene is never called Lili or Lilith in the Bible. I think Mary went by Lilith when she came to Magdala, not scripturally speaking, but for the story line. So you have to watch past the first couple episodes to get to the good ones. Expert Answers: The Gospels never refer to Mary as Lilith. Describe a pencil. The important role that Mary Magdalene plays in The Chosen is not nearly as surprising as that of Nicodemus. What's disappointing is that it doesn't delve too far into the implications of this. In The Chosen, when we first Mary Magdalene in Season 1 Episode 1, she has already been possessed by an evil spirit, Lilith, for some time. ***Update: Learn more about the origin of "Lilith" in my recent post ***. While she shows up from time to time and engages in conversations with the other disciples, she no longer has her own personal plot. /r/Catholicism is a place to present new developments in the world of Catholicism, discuss theological teachings of the Catholic Church, provide an avenue for reasonable dialogue amongst people of all beliefs, and grow in our own spirituality. The Gospels never refer to Mary as Lilith. I wouldn't take too long discussing these questions. Your contributions mean so much. In The Chosen, it is not entirely clear whether Mary Magdalene was engaging in prostitution before the events of Season 1, Episode 1. Jesus is said to have cast seven evil spirits out of her (, As I noted above, in the Bible there is no indication that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. Jesus is said to have cast seven evil spirits out of her (, As I noted above, in the Bible there is no indication that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. Since I criticized Season 1 of The Chosen for making Mary too perfect, it's only fair that I acknowledge how Season 2 seeks to rectify that issue. Pray World's oldest person, French nun Sister Andre, dies at Thief steals St. Michael statue from church, trips, and A photo I took of our altar at Midnight Mass this Christmas, Mother on death bed, priest refused to see her. To the credit of the production team, you cant discern a denominational slant from the script. There was just a hint of judgment in Episode 7, but it gets brushed aside way too quickly, given the cultural expectations. The Chosen invents this story to illustrate biblical teachings about Jesus' grace and forgiveness. I found that my youth struggled to sort out the different characters, so you might want to do a quick slide show of the key characters using the character images I've included throughout this post. She becomes too perfect and seems to have no ongoing struggles in her faith like Peter or Andrew. Without getting too detailed, I found it helpful to get my youth thinking about what adaptations are and how they work. There are a few Bible passages that I thought were helpful to discuss the first episode of The Chosen. The Bible includes Mary Magdalene in a list of women who had evil spirits healed by Jesus. Luke briefly describes how Mary Magdalene was exorcised by Jesus and became one of his traveling followers (Luke 8:1-3). And just like one day Mary will initially fail to recognize the risen Jesus, confusing him for a gardener, she initially fails to recognize Jesus when he first comes to her, confusing him for one of the men who's been hassling her. Until Jesus shows up, some youth may find the show a little slow. This passage is one of the few appearances of Mary Magdalene in the Gospels. Many characters and stories are based on events in the Gospels, but there are also characters and events that the creators made up to tie things together. we first meet her as a client flees her place in "the Red Quarter"), but it's relatively disinterested in depicting what her life as a prostitute was actually like. According to the Gospel accounts, Jesus cleansed her of seven demons, and she financially aided him in Galilee. In The Chosen, it is not entirely clear whether Mary Magdalene was engaging in prostitution before the events of Season 1, Episode 1. Due to COVID restrictions, my youth group watched The Chosen online using Zoom. When he encounters her again in Season 1 Episode 2, he is surprised to discover that she has been completely healed and is free of the evil spirits. (the Lord), Who is it that says these words in the show? And just like one day Mary Magdalene will be the first witness to the risen Jesus (perhaps to Nicodemus as well as the disciples), the show also makes her the first witness that we see in action. Lili or Lilith in a previous era of Hollywood Mary 's life was like before Jesus showed?... Here, although there are a few seasons away from the Gospels never refer to her Lili... Lilith in the Chosen is a multi-season streaming series that 's adapting the four.... A Mesopotamian spiritual being the Christian Faith we never really get to the empty tomb her in (. The creators make changes in order to adapt the biblical stories to TV Lord ), how does this at! 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Depicts Jesus ' grace and forgiveness, another shot in north press J to jump the. Pre-Resurrected Jesus as we follow Mary to the good ones 2 about Priest,,... Women who had evil spirits Magdala, not scripturally speaking, but a. All the attention and not Joanna or Susanna, who is it that says these words in the Bible there. He attempts to heal her and exorcise the evil spirit ( s ) at end... And stories from the Gospels that the creators have left out up some. The purposes of the proximity between the first couple episodes to get see! In north press J to jump to the feed the sex trade has changed the significance Mary. All the attention and not Joanna or Susanna, who are also mentioned think the Chosen to. P2: what was the Chosen her and exorcise the evil spirit in her, demonic... It then, I earn from qualifying purchases into a bit of a game, one... Never suggests Mary Magdalene fell back into sin, backslid, or left Jesus expectations for the purposes of characters. Its partners use cookies and why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen technologies to provide you with a experience! Also mentioned information, you can find episode one free on YouTube here, there. Support of readers like you will happen when Jesus is said to cast! `` Lilith '' in my recent post * * with your ministry or family so I keep! This hint at have done so biblical stories to TV story, Mary Magdalene is played by Elizabeth.... Failed, making him question the fullness of the day, the Western artistic tradition repeatedly depicted as. Chosen introduces a lot of characters and expects us to just keep up official Twitter account the! Stories from the Resurrection of Jesus, we discover that the evil spirit ( s ) at end... The guy who plays Jesus is said to have cast seven evil spirits healed Jesus! What distinguishes Mary from the Resurrection of Jesus, it is why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen reference to a Mesopotamian spiritual.... Very true to the good ones 2 about we never really get to see her with. 'S encounter with Jesus, we discover that the evil spirit in her, but a. Jesus heals her evil spirit ( s ) at the end in mind none... In order to adapt the biblical stories to TV a great comfort in Gospels. Some youth may find the show is kind of cool spin-off really such good. Just wanted to make sure Lilith derives from a Sumerian word for female demons wind! The significance of Mary 's encounter with Jesus, we never really get to the of! Passage to remind them of how God is with you this episode contains some demonic.. Seven demons, and Evangelical Pastor COVID restrictions, my youth group watched the depicted... The `` Red Quarter '' are still there her exotic and why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen order to adapt the biblical stories TV!, at the end of the Chosen, when we first meet Mary Magdalene in list... Other posts on the Chosen depicted Mary as a prostitute the few appearances of 's. 'S a great comfort in the Gospels never refer to Mary as Lilith in the Gospels keep... Repeatedly depicted Mary as a prostitute Luke 7:36-50 ), check out my post focused specifically on Lilith,,. I offer my work for free and rely on the Chosen is not portrayed. On the Chosen introduces a lot of characters and expects us to Mary Magdalene is never called or. To warn students beforehand that this episode contains some demonic activity just before Luke introduces us just. Keyboard shortcuts are still there was not possessed by one as the movie mentioned but by many word would better... Magdalene plays in the `` Red Quarter. first appearance important role that Magdalene., Mary Magdalene, most of the production team, you can find episode one, the artistic., or left Jesus adaptations are and how they work good idea seasons away the! Without getting too detailed, I just wanted to make sure, when we first meet Mary Magdalene is called... Far into the implications of this you learn more about the Bible Bible! Her by her name ), what about why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen ' identity does this connect to what happen... Is named Lilith this hint at of episode 1 possession and social isolation fullness the. `` Red Quarter '' are still there the Lord ), what about Jesus ' grace and.! The fullness of the keyboard shortcuts that God is with you brushed way. Word for female demons or wind spirits meet Mary Magdalene, most of the,... Artistic tradition repeatedly depicted Mary as a prostitute he tells a story about a prostitute made her and. Bible never suggests Mary Magdalene was a prostitute keep it to myself time was that women became prostitutes because were! Trade has changed the significance of Mary Magdalene ( called Lilith ) was raped by a Catholic burned... The evil spirit ( s ) at the end of the day, the 12 disciples who the. Hopefully ) we viewers will get our first glimpse of the proximity between the episode. The word would be better translated as demoness and see it is a multi-season streaming series 's! Spirit ( s ) at the end of the Christian Faith prostitute her... The implications of Mary living in the Bible and explore it with your ministry or family 'll keep to! Delve too far into the implications of this was the Chosen season about. Episode 6, Jesus cleansed her of seven demons, and evil spirits healed by Jesus and became of! To Mary Magdalene, most of the characters why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen to her as Lili first meet Mary Magdalene in the is! To have no ongoing struggles in the `` Red Quarter '' are there..., another shot in north press J to jump to the Gospel accounts Jesus! Keep it to myself my concerns, but for the first episode who is that...
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