So I'm glad The Chosen did something - I just hope that, instead of trying to jam so many story arcs into each season, future seasons trim the fat to make room so significant arcs like Mary's have room to be fully realized. Episode 1 depicts how she got these demons cast out of her by Jesus. Your contributions mean so much. 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). It hints at where the show is going: This passage takes place after Jesus' death and resurrection at the end of the Gospels. Have my posts about Bible adaptation helped you learn more about the Bible and explore it with your ministry or family? [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. In The Chosen, when we first meet Mary Magdalene, most of the characters refer to her as Lili. 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. Expert Answers: The Gospels never refer to Mary as Lilith. Having offered some criticism, I will say that the scene of Jesus forgiving Mary was moving. You can really connect with the characters, and it really helps you better immerse yourself with the Gospel. 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. Lilith here could just mean demon possessed. This comes out powerfully in the first Episode like to show you why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen here. Starting around episode three I think is when it finds its groove. (Jesus), What about Jesus' identity does this hint at? To the credit of the production team, you cant discern a denominational slant from the script. They speak to different audiences & look good on screen), Can you think of characters or stories that the film left out? Many Christians still memorize this passage to remind them of how God is always with us, even in the most difficult trials. I think Mary went by Lilith when she came to Magdala, not scripturally speaking, but for the story line. The ancient name Lilith derives from a Sumerian word for female demons or wind spirits. I love this series. /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. She was a witness of Jesus' crucifixion and burial (Mark 15:40-47) and also the first person to discover the empty tomb, witness the resurrected Jesus, and share the good news with the disciples (John 20:1-18). You can find episode one free on YouTube here, although there are lots of ads. 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. 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." 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. I've condensed the lesson into an easily printable pdf below. 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 The Chosen, it is not entirely clear whether Mary Magdalene was engaging in prostitution before the events of Season 1, Episode 1. 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. Mary Magdalene is never called Lili or Lilith in the Bible. (for LOTR: Tom Bombadil. FYI: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This passage is one of the few appearances of Mary Magdalene in the Gospels. As it was, we didn't really get a good sense of why Mary responded the way she did. 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). I hope you enjoy them! Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 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. Its not perfect, but its a pretty great start. In the Bible, there is no indication that Nicodemus met Mary Magdalene or that he tried to heal her or exorcise her evil spirits. Due to COVID restrictions, my youth group watched The Chosen online using Zoom. Episode 7 Guide: Did Nicodemus Follow Jesus? The Bible includes Mary Magdalene in a list of women who had evil spirits healed by Jesus. In Episode 6, Jesus sends Peter and Matthew to find Mary and bring her back. If you liked this post, you might want to check out some of my other posts on The Chosen and Bible adaptation. There are also characters and stories from the Gospels that the creators have left out. Thus, when Jesus first encounters Mary, what he offers her isn't forgiveness for her life of prostitution; it's relief from the oppressive demons that drove her to the type of life that she's lived. In The Chosen, it is not entirely clear whether Mary Magdalene was engaging in prostitution before the events of Season 1, Episode 1. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. 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? One challenge that film adaptations of Jesus' life need to overcome is the lack of significant female characters. It's a great comfort in the midst of the pandemic and other turmoil. (he calls her by her name), How does this connect to what happened in episode 1? The Chosen introduces a lot of characters and expects us to just keep up. What distinguishes Mary from the other women, however, is her association with prostitution. Luke notes that Mary had seven spirits exorcised from her, but the other women experienced miraculous healing as well. 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. 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. 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. 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. And to be fair, there isnt a whole lot of backstory for any of the disciples in the Bible, so its not a surprise the writers filled in the blanks with some artistic license. I admire your comment. Have my posts about Bible adaptation helped you learn more about the Bible and explore it with your ministry or family? Her association with prostitution was a result of the proximity between the first mention of her in Luke (. But why does Mary Magdalene get all the attention and not Joanna or Susanna, who are also mentioned? After sharing that information, you can ask: What stuck out to you about Mary Magdalene's depiction in The Chosen? What distinguishes Mary from the other women, however, is her association with prostitution. 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. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. There was just a hint of judgment in, Mary Magdalene was a female disciple who traveled with Jesus during his ministry (, All four Gospels suggest Mary was the first witness of the resurrected Jesus (, The Bible includes Mary Magdalene in a list of women who had evil spirits healed by Jesus. In The Chosen, during Season 2, Episodes 5-6, Mary Magdalene briefly leaves Jesus and falls back into sin, before being sought out, forgiven, and restored to ministry. The Chosen seems to be hinting that Mary is a prostitute (e.g. This shift in our societal understanding of the sex trade has changed the significance of Mary's supposed role as a prostitute. An adaptation like The Chosen isn't meant to replace the Bible; it's meant to drive us deeper into the Bible and spiritual reflection. Why do you think The Chosen is trying to connect episode 1 to what will happen when Jesus is resurrected? 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. By. These experiences cause Mary to flee back to her old life, drinking and gambling. Later Jewish tradition described a demonic figure known as Lilith in a variety of ways. 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. 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. I think the producer said he wanted to do eight seasons total. 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. According to the Gospel accounts, Jesus cleansed her of seven demons, and she financially aided him in Galilee. In the Bible, there is no indication that Nicodemus met Mary Magdalene or that he tried to heal her or exorcise her evil spirits. 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). 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. For Mary's actual fall, it felt like the show was trying too hard to keep her character PG. This story was invented by The Chosen for the purposes of the plot. 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. The creators make changes in order to adapt the biblical stories to TV. 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. See a Roman centurion fill Lilith/Mary s sight, a suggestion that the woman have. 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? The trauma of her rape is hinted at again in Season 2, Episode 5, and is the trigger that causes Mary to backslide. I will definitely continue watching it then, I just wanted to make sure! 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. Can you think of moments when you may need to be reminded that God is with you? 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. I offer my work for free and rely on the generous support of readers like you. 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. You may want to warn students beforehand that this episode contains some demonic activity. 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). In the Bible, there is no indication that Mary Magdalene fell back into sin, backslid, or left Jesus. How does that truth encourage you? Yes, we see that Jesus had warm and empowering relationships with females. 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. 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. 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. (he is God). I also suggest setting expectations for the first episode. I offer my work for free and rely on the generous support of readers like you. 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. There was just a hint of judgment in Episode 7, but it gets brushed aside way too quickly, given the cultural expectations. Unfortunately, because Mary's change happens so quickly, her character goes from being pretty dynamic in episodes 1-2 to being a pretty flat in the remainder of the season. The creators of The Chosen have published interactive Bible Studies that are meant to explore some of the Scripture and biblical themes that inspired Season 1 and help viewers apply them to everyday life. 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. 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. Describe a pencil. Season 2 Reflection P1: What is The Chosen Season 2 about? Until Jesus shows up, some youth may find the show a little slow. Why do you think The Chosen depicted Mary as a prostitute? Interestingly, The King of Kings (1927) also uses Mary Magdalene to introduce us to Jesus for the first time. (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. What do you think Mary's life was like before Jesus showed up? As a general rule, the characters who follow Jesus aren't bad people; they're misunderstood and rejected and in need of love. If you try it out, please let me know how it goes and if you have any feedback! [SPOILERS] Is the Jon Snow spin-off really such a good idea? For more details, check out my post focused specifically on Lilith, Demons, and Evil Spirits. 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. 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). When making the Chosen, he is advised by a Catholic Priest, Rabbi, and Evangelical Pastor. Mary Magdalene is never called Lili or Lilith in the Bible. 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. Although The Chosen is still a few seasons away from the Resurrection of Jesus, it is clearly beginning with the end in mind. Click here for my affiliation policy. Over time, the Western artistic tradition repeatedly depicted Mary as a prostitute and the mistaken association got stuck in the cultural consciousness. More importantly, allowing some of the disciples to judge Mary a bit more would have added more tension and could have fueled future arcs. When Nicodemus encounters her, we discover that the evil spirit that is possessing her is named Lilith. Below I'll share an outline describing how to do a Viewing Party for The Chosen Episode 1 (I Have Called You by Name). This version of Mary - not the one who needs moral reformation but the one who needs sympathy and belonging - fits perfectly with the kinds of stories that The Chosen has focused on. Literally none of that is in Scripture or sacred tradition and that bothers me! Over time, the Western artistic tradition repeatedly depicted Mary as a prostitute and the mistaken association got stuck in the cultural consciousness. 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. 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), 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. 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