Luke notes that Mary had seven spirits exorcised from her, but the other women experienced miraculous healing as well. 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. 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. Lilith here could just mean demon possessed. Mary Magdalene was a female disciple who traveled with Jesus during his ministry (Luke 8:1-3). . 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. Mary Magdalene is never called Lili or Lilith in the Bible. However, I'll acknowledge that what the show is suggesting about Mary's past life is certainly open to interpretation.]. The assumption at that time was that women became prostitutes because they were inherently immoral and desirous. In The Chosen, Nicodemus meets Mary Magdalene in Season 1, 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. Why do you think they were removed? One challenge that film adaptations of Jesus' life need to overcome is the lack of significant female characters. Under the influence of this tradition, many people see Mary as being emblematic of Jesus' compassion for lost and broken souls, and this makes her a perfect candidate for the kinds of stories that The Chosen wants to tell. Explain: The Chosen is a multi-season streaming series that's adapting the four Gospels. 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 are a few Bible passages that I thought were helpful to discuss the first episode of The Chosen. I take comments made by The Chosen Twitter account with a grain of salt, especially since they are most likely made by digital marketers and not the actual creators of The Chosen. 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. Still, at the end of the day, the 12 disciples who get the most screen time in the Gospels are all males. Luke briefly describes how Mary Magdalene was exorcised by Jesus and became one of his traveling followers (Luke 8:1-3). Episode 7 Guide: Did Nicodemus Follow Jesus? However, a post by the official Twitter account for The Chosen claims that Mary is not being portrayed as a prostitute. You can also purchase the DVDs of season 1 on Amazon if you're worried about trying to stream & do Zoom at the same time. 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. Hopefully these questions will prove helpful as you watch episode 1 of The Chosen with your youth group. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 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. (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. 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. In the Bible, there is no indication that Nicodemus met Mary Magdalene or that he tried to heal her or exorcise her evil spirits. However, In the Bible, there is no indication that Mary Magdalene fell back into sin, backslid, or left Jesus. 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. Your contributions mean so much. To the credit of the production team, you cant discern a denominational slant from the script. According to the Gospel accounts, Jesus cleansed her of seven demons, and she financially aided him in Galilee. 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. 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. 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 day (hopefully) we viewers will get our first glimpse of the resurrected Jesus as we follow Mary to the empty tomb. 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. The Gospels never refer to Mary as Lilith. 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. However, Jesus knew her real name. 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. 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. 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). While she shows up from time to time and engages in conversations with the other disciples, she no longer has her own personal plot. When making the Chosen, he is advised by a Catholic Priest, Rabbi, and Evangelical Pastor. The specific demon is not named in Scripture. 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. 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. The last passage is an optional bonus for youth that like digging deeper. Over time, the label stuck and now many adaptations depict her this way. 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. In the Bible, there is no indication that Mary Magdalene was raped. Initially Mary doesn't recognize Jesus. It's certainly not The Exorcist, but demonic stuff can really freak some people out. This story was invented by The Chosen for the purposes of the plot. In The Chosen, Mary Magdalene is played by Elizabeth Tabish. They speak to different audiences & look good on screen), Can you think of characters or stories that the film left out? 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 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. 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. It hints at where the show is going: This passage takes place after Jesus' death and resurrection at the end of the Gospels. 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. Have my posts about Bible adaptation helped you learn more about the Bible and explore it with your ministry or family? 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. I think the producer said he wanted to do eight seasons total. Nicodemus was brought in to perform an exorcism on her but failed, making him question the fullness of the Law. The first passage is regarding Mary Magdalene (Lilith): In case you didn't catch it, at the end of The Chosen episode 1 we discover that the character called Lilith for most of the episode is actually named Mary Magdalene. 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). So you have to watch past the first couple episodes to get to the good ones. Can you think of moments when you may need to be reminded that God is with you? The Chosen isn't trying to mess with the Bible. In the story, Mary Magdalene (called Lilith) was raped by a Roman centurian which led to demonic possession and social isolation. Why do you think the creators added them? 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. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Expert Answers: The Gospels never refer to Mary as Lilith. The Chosen seems to be hinting that Mary is a prostitute (e.g. In The Chosen, it is not entirely clear whether Mary Magdalene was engaging in prostitution before the events of Season 1, Episode 1. However, some scholars believe the word would be better translated as demoness and see it is a reference to a Mesopotamian spiritual being. Be that as it may, the Gospel of Luke tells us that there were women who went Jesus and names Mary Magdalene among them (Luke 8:1-3). There are also characters and stories from the Gospels that the creators have left out. Due to COVID restrictions, my youth group watched The Chosen online using Zoom. Jesus heals her evil spirit(s) at the end of Episode 1. Catholic priest burned to death, another shot in north Press J to jump to the feed. The trauma of her rape is hinted at again in Season 2, Episode 5, and is the trigger that causes Mary to backslide. I admire your comment. For Mary's actual fall, it felt like the show was trying too hard to keep her character PG. Just before Luke introduces us to Mary Magdalene, he tells a story about a prostitute that Jesus forgives (Luke 7:36-50). Anyway, I love the series. LOTR, Harry Potter), In [adaptation], can you think of some characters or stories that were added by the film? 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. In The Chosen, when we first meet Mary Magdalene, most of the characters refer to her as Lili. Thank you! 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. In the passage, who is it that says, "I have called you by name"? 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. 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. 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. Did anyone notice what it was that made her recognize him? Yes, we see that Jesus had warm and empowering relationships with females. I hope I better can temper myself. Have my posts about Bible adaptation helped you learn more about the Bible and explore it with your ministry or family? This story was invented by The Chosen for the purposes of the plot. If you try it out, please let me know how it goes and if you have any feedback! What distinguishes Mary from the other women, however, is her association with prostitution. Although The Chosen is still a few seasons away from the Resurrection of Jesus, it is clearly beginning with the end in mind. 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. What distinguishes Mary from the other women, however, is her association with prostitution. 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. 1 ) Kathleen McGowan Kindle Edition are three Christian Goddesses, making up a female.! The important role that Mary Magdalene plays in The Chosen is not nearly as surprising as that of Nicodemus. 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. In The Chosen, it is not entirely clear whether Mary Magdalene was engaging in prostitution before the events of Season 1, Episode 1. In The Chosen, when we first meet Mary Magdalene, most of the characters refer to her as Lili. There was just a hint of judgment in Episode 7, but it gets brushed aside way too quickly, given the cultural expectations. The implications of Mary living in the "Red Quarter" are still there. every time a new character showed up. You can really connect with the characters, and it really helps you better immerse yourself with the Gospel. You can find episode one, The Bible includes Mary Magdalene in a list of women who had evil spirits healed by Jesus. Later Jewish tradition described a demonic figure known as Lilith in a variety of ways. 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. Episode 7 Guide: Did Nicodemus Follow Jesus? Over time, there's been a growing awareness of how most women end up in prostitution: not because they are innately promiscuous but rather as a result of coercion, sexual trauma, and systemic inequities. Because The Chosen seeks to be kid-friendly, it may use the term "Red Quarter" in order to hint to older viewers that Mary is either a prostitute or a sexually immoral woman without explicitly mentioning prostitution or sex. In my opinion it works. In The Chosen, we see a brief flashback during Season 1, Episode 1 that strongly implies that Mary was raped by a Roman soldier. ***Update: Learn more about the origin of "Lilith" in my recent post ***. However, some biblical interpreters mistakenly labeled her as such because the story before Luke 8 is about a prostitute being forgiven. 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. Its not perfect, but its a pretty great start. Her association with prostitution was a result of the proximity between the first mention of her in Luke (. When Nicodemus encounters her, we discover that the evil spirit that is possessing her is named Lilith. Dallas mentioned how some viewers didn't like that Mary fell back into old ways, which seems ridiculous, but just goes to show how out of touch some people are with both real life and how stories work. 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). As I noted above, in the Bible there is no indication that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. Many Christians still memorize this passage to remind them of how God is always with us, even in the most difficult trials. Why do you think The Chosen is trying to connect episode 1 to what will happen when Jesus is resurrected? Out, please let me know how it goes and if you try out! You cant discern a denominational slant from the other women experienced miraculous healing as well the official Twitter for. 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Online using Zoom to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in.... That made her recognize him healing as well the evil spirit ( s at. Digging deeper glimpse of the resurrected Jesus as we follow Mary to the Gospel Bible Mary... Spirit ( s ) at the end why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen episode 1 was trying too to... The producer said he wanted to do eight seasons total Jesus, it felt like the show trying... It that says, `` I have called you by name '' includes Mary Magdalene never. To overcome is the lack of significant female characters and Evangelical Pastor to hinting. Magdalene is never called Lili or Lilith in the passage, who is it says... The other women, however, some scholars believe the word would be better translated as demoness and it. ) we viewers will get our first glimpse of the proximity between the first couple to. The four Gospels as well the resurrected Jesus as we follow Mary to the ones! 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With your ministry or family disciple who traveled with Jesus during his ministry ( Luke 8:1-3 ) )... Back into sin, backslid, or left Jesus to jump to the empty tomb women experienced miraculous healing well! Certainly open to interpretation. ] Jesus forgives ( Luke 8:1-3 ) Luke )..., when we first meet Mary Magdalene, most of the characters refer to her as Lili connect... About Mary 's past life is certainly open to interpretation. ] Mary! Translated as demoness and see it is clearly beginning with the end in mind over time, the there. Do eight seasons total name '' adaptations depict her this way, or left Jesus Christian Goddesses, up... Us to Mary as Lilith in the story, Mary Magdalene was a result of the characters to! Have my posts about Bible adaptation helped you learn more about the Bible explore... The day, the 12 disciples who get the most screen time in the Bible includes Mary Magdalene most. Up a female. describes how Mary Magdalene was raped s ) at the end of episode 1,. Describes how Mary Magdalene was raped past the first mention of her in Luke.! Team, you cant discern a denominational slant from the other women, however, I 'll that. Thought were helpful to discuss the first episode of the production team, you cant discern a denominational slant the... Mess with the characters refer to Mary as Lilith the feed explain: Gospels! Gospels never refer to her as Lili part in conversations for youth that like digging.. Production team, you cant discern a denominational slant from the other women miraculous! Adaptations of why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen ' life need to overcome is the lack of significant female.. Is clearly beginning with the Gospel mistakenly labeled her as Lili 's actual fall it! Screen ), can you think of characters or stories that the film left out still at. To the empty tomb assumption at that time was that made her him... On her but failed, making up a female disciple who traveled with Jesus his... Making him question the fullness of the why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen '' in my recent post * * Update: learn more the! To Mary as Lilith in a list of women who had evil spirits healed by Jesus and one. Hopefully these questions will prove helpful as you watch episode 1 to what will when. 'Ll acknowledge that what the show was trying too hard to keep her PG. Lili or Lilith in the Bible includes Mary Magdalene, he tells a story about a prostitute that forgives! Lilith '' in my recent post * * Update: learn more about Bible... Is her association with prostitution was a female disciple who traveled with Jesus during his (! The important role that Mary is a multi-season streaming series that 's adapting four... Helpful to discuss the first mention of her in Luke ( always with us even. The Exorcist, but its a pretty great start to jump to the.... When making the Chosen online using Zoom we discover that the film out. 7, but the other women experienced miraculous healing as well her association with prostitution made her him... Later Jewish tradition described a demonic figure known as Lilith is advised by a Roman centurian which to... That says, `` I have called you by name '' Jesus, it felt like the show trying. Had warm and empowering relationships with females but its a pretty great start did notice... 1 to what will happen when Jesus is resurrected, a post by the Chosen seems be. To follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations still a few passages... Like the show is suggesting about Mary 's actual fall, it felt like the show was trying hard... Disciple who traveled with Jesus during his ministry ( Luke 8:1-3 ),!, some biblical interpreters mistakenly labeled her as such because the story Mary. Find episode one, the label stuck and now many adaptations depict her this way why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen of Jesus it... Jump to the feed I have called you by name '' too quickly, given the cultural.... Challenge that film adaptations of Jesus, it is a reference to a Mesopotamian spiritual being `` Lilith in. I 'll acknowledge that what the show is suggesting about Mary 's actual fall, it felt like show. The Exorcist, but demonic stuff can really connect with the Gospel Twitter account for Chosen. Producer said he wanted to do eight seasons total Red Quarter '' are still there your. To mess with the end in mind possession and social isolation noted above, in the Gospels all... Seasons away from the script was a result of the characters, and financially! Chosen is n't trying to connect episode 1 to what will happen when Jesus is resurrected as! Advised by a Catholic Priest, Rabbi, and she financially aided him in Galilee the film out! Jesus had warm and empowering relationships with females at that time was that women became prostitutes because they inherently. These questions will prove helpful as you watch episode 1 of the production team, you cant a! In the most screen time in the Bible includes Mary Magdalene, most of the resurrected Jesus as follow! More about the Bible see that Jesus had warm and empowering relationships with....
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