I wouldn't take too long discussing these questions. Can you think of moments when you may need to be reminded that God is with you? These experiences cause Mary to flee back to her old life, drinking and gambling. 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. 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. If you liked this post, you might want to check out some of my other posts on The Chosen and Bible adaptation. He attempts to heal her and exorcise the evil spirit in her, but he is unsuccessful and concludes that she is beyond hope. 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. While she shows up from time to time and engages in conversations with the other disciples, she no longer has her own personal plot. The Chosen invents this story to illustrate biblical teachings about Jesus' grace and forgiveness. 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. 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. Hopefully these questions will prove helpful as you watch episode 1 of The Chosen with your youth group. 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. 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. Click here for my affiliation policy. There are also characters and stories from the Gospels that the creators have left out. However, a post by the official Twitter account for The Chosen claims that Mary is not being portrayed as a prostitute. 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. Episode 7 Guide: Did Nicodemus Follow Jesus? 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. 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. 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. Jesus heals her evil spirit(s) at the end of Episode 1. In The Chosen, when we first meet Mary Magdalene, most of the characters refer to her as Lili. As I noted above, in the Bible there is no indication that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. In a previous era of Hollywood Mary's status as a prostitute made her exotic and intriguing. Although there's nothing in the Gospels that suggests that these two figures should be linked together, Mary mistakenly became identified with the forgiven prostitute in the interpretative tradition of the Western Church. Why do you think The Chosen depicted Mary as a prostitute? 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. Jesus heals her evil spirit(s) at the end of Episode 1. You can find episode one free on YouTube here, although there are lots of ads. 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. Season 2 Reflection P2: What was The Chosen Season 2 about? This story was invented by The Chosen for the purposes of the plot. 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! 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. Mary Magdalene is never called Lili or Lilith in the Bible. They speak to different audiences & look good on screen), Can you think of characters or stories that the film left out? These parallels are more than a neat bit of foreshadowing. 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." 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. 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. It's a great comfort in the midst of the pandemic and other turmoil. Just long enough to make this point: Adaptations often add, change, and leave out details, because what works in a book isn't always the same as what works in television or film. In The Chosen, Mary Magdalene is played by Elizabeth Tabish. Do you believe Jesus knows you by name? [Spoilers] Did anyone else misinterpret the HotD Finale? [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. 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. However, some scholars believe the word would be better translated as demoness and see it is a reference to a Mesopotamian spiritual being. 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, Nicodemus meets Mary Magdalene in Season 1, 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. However, some biblical interpreters mistakenly labeled her as such because the story before Luke 8 is about a prostitute being forgiven. Although The Chosen is still a few seasons away from the Resurrection of Jesus, it is clearly beginning with the end in mind. In the Bible, there is no indication that Nicodemus met Mary Magdalene or that he tried to heal her or exorcise her evil spirits. Mary Magdalene is never called Lili or Lilith in the Bible. Thank you! 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. I hope you enjoy them! Why do you think they were removed? She becomes too perfect and seems to have no ongoing struggles in her faith like Peter or Andrew. 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. Over time, the label stuck and now many adaptations depict her this way. It is an excellent form of Lectio Divina. The important role that Mary Magdalene plays in The Chosen is not nearly as surprising as that of Nicodemus. Later Jewish tradition described a demonic figure known as Lilith in a variety of ways. In the Bible, there is no indication that Mary Magdalene was raped. Jesus clearly expected his disciples to sin frequently and made it clear that he was committed to pursuing them and offering forgiveness (. What's disappointing is that it doesn't delve too far into the implications of this. Click here for my affiliation policy. There are a few Bible passages that I thought were helpful to discuss the first episode of The Chosen. 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. Season 2 Reflection P2: What was The Chosen Season 2 about? 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. Many Christians still memorize this passage to remind them of how God is always with us, even in the most difficult trials. Until Jesus shows up, some youth may find the show a little slow. Dallas Jenkins (Director) is not Catholic, but - in my mind - makes the best Christian films I have seen anywhere. 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? 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. 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 I better can temper myself. That being said, there's no biblical reason to think that she could not have done so. Nicodemus was brought in to perform an exorcism on her but failed, making him question the fullness of the Law. One day (hopefully) we viewers will get our first glimpse of the resurrected Jesus as we follow Mary to the empty tomb. It's certainly not The Exorcist, but demonic stuff can really freak some people out. See a Roman centurion fill Lilith/Mary s sight, a suggestion that the woman have. I think Mary went by Lilith when she came to Magdala, not scripturally speaking, but for the story line. The creators of The Chosen probably chose this name because it is associated with demons in Jewish traditions. 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. 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 also suggest setting expectations for the first episode. Jesus is said to have cast seven evil spirits out of her (Luke 8:1-3). I offer my work for free and rely on the generous support of readers like you. As a general rule, the characters who follow Jesus aren't bad people; they're misunderstood and rejected and in need of love. This comes out powerfully in the first Episode like to show you why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen here. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Its not perfect, but its a pretty great start. What distinguishes Mary from the other women, however, is her association with prostitution. East pencil writes or draws used for note taking West pencil is yellow has a eraser and lead. In the passage, who is it that says, "I have called you by name"? 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. 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. Mary Magdalene was a female disciple who traveled with Jesus during his ministry (Luke 8:1-3). ***Update: Learn more about the origin of "Lilith" in my recent post ***. How does that truth encourage you? (the Lord), Who is it that says these words in the show? I offer my work for free and rely on the generous support of readers like you. 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. In the same way, we get our first glimpse of the pre-resurrected Jesus as we follow her struggles in the first episode. 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. Mary Magdalene is never called Lili or Lilith in the Bible. 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. As it was, we didn't really get a good sense of why Mary responded the way she did. What distinguishes Mary from the other women, however, is her association with prostitution. 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. I hope you enjoy them! (Jesus), What about Jesus' identity does this hint at? Season 2 Reflection P1: What is The Chosen Season 2 about? FYI: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Below I'll share an outline describing how to do a Viewing Party for The Chosen Episode 1 (I Have Called You by Name). **Update: I explore the origin of the name "Lilith" in my recent post **. 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? By. 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. 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." For more details, check out my post focused specifically on Lilith, Demons, and Evil Spirits. 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. 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. Im not sure many people caught this, but when Jesus follows Mary outside, he calls to her saying, Mary of Magdala! Mary then turns around, dropping her jar and says to him, How do you know my name? I think one could make sense of the Mary/Lilith name in that scene alone. The trauma of her rape is hinted at again in Season 2, Episode 5, and is the trigger that causes Mary to backslide. every time a new character showed up. In The Chosen, it is not entirely clear whether Mary Magdalene was engaging in prostitution before the events of Season 1, Episode 1. The Bible never mentions "the Red Quarter." Describe a pencil. When Nicodemus encounters her, we discover that the evil spirit that is possessing her is named Lilith. In The Chosen, when we first meet Mary Magdalene, most of the characters refer to her as Lili. 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. EDIT: I still have my concerns, but I believe my rash judgment is sinful, so I'll keep it to myself. 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. 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. The creators make changes in order to adapt the biblical stories to TV. Her association with prostitution was a result of the proximity between the first mention of her in Luke (. In The Chosen, when we first meet Mary Magdalene, most of the characters refer to her as Lili. In The Chosen, when we first Mary Magdalene in Season 1 Episode 1, she has already been possessed by evil spirits for some time. When Nicodemus encounters her, we discover that the evil spirit that is possessing her is named Lilith. Thats as far off-script as they go for the rest of the season, everything else is pretty true to a harmonized Gospel narrative. Mary Magdalene was a disciple of Jesus. Jesus is said to have cast seven evil spirits out of her (Luke 8:1-3). 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. 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. Expert Answers: The Gospels never refer to Mary as Lilith. In The Chosen, we see a brief flashback during Season 1, Episode 1 that strongly implies that Mary was raped by a Roman soldier. The ancient name Lilith derives from a Sumerian word for female demons or wind spirits. Luke notes that Mary had seven spirits exorcised from her, but the other women experienced miraculous healing as well. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. In the Bible, there is no indication that Mary Magdalene fell back into sin, backslid, or left Jesus. [SPOILERS] what is Jordan Peele's 'Nope' about? 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. 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. /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. However, I'll acknowledge that what the show is suggesting about Mary's past life is certainly open to interpretation.]. 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. Have you seen other examples of how Jesus can show up suddenly and change someone's life in a big way? It's odd? Yes, there are plenty of women who show up in the Gospels. 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. I love this series. But why does Mary Magdalene get all the attention and not Joanna or Susanna, who are also mentioned? In The Chosen, it is not entirely clear whether Mary Magdalene was engaging in prostitution before the events of Season 1, Episode 1. Enough said.). For Mary's actual fall, it felt like the show was trying too hard to keep her character PG. 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). But she was not possessed by one as the movie mentioned but by many. The assumption at that time was that women became prostitutes because they were inherently immoral and desirous. However, Jesus knew her real name. The trauma of her rape is hinted at again in Season 2, Episode 5, and is the trigger that causes Mary to backslide. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Also the guy who plays Jesus is Catholic, which is kind of cool. By noting how Mary is in the "Red Quarter", The Chosen is implying that she is a prostitute. I've condensed the lesson into an easily printable pdf below. Due to COVID restrictions, my youth group watched The Chosen online using Zoom. The Bible never mentions "the Red Quarter." Luke notes that Mary had seven spirits exorcised from her, but the other women experienced miraculous healing as well. (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. Lilith here could just mean demon possessed. 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. That being said, there's no biblical reason to think that she could not have done so. 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. The Chosen isn't trying to mess with the Bible. 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. Episode 1 depicts how she got these demons cast out of her by Jesus. 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. Have my posts about Bible adaptation helped you learn more about the Bible and explore it with your ministry or family? 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. In The Chosen, we see a brief flashback during Season 1, Episode 1 that strongly implies that Mary was raped by a Roman soldier. The Bible includes Mary Magdalene in a list of women who had evil spirits healed by Jesus. According to the Gospel accounts, Jesus cleansed her of seven demons, and she financially aided him in Galilee. (he is God). The Chosen seems to be hinting that Mary is a prostitute (e.g. Without getting too detailed, I found it helpful to get my youth thinking about what adaptations are and how they work. 1 ) Kathleen McGowan Kindle Edition are three Christian Goddesses, making up a female.! In The Chosen, it is not entirely clear whether Mary Magdalene was engaging in prostitution before the events of Season 1, Episode 1. After sharing that information, you can ask: What stuck out to you about Mary Magdalene's depiction in The Chosen? Why do you think The Chosen is trying to connect episode 1 to what will happen when Jesus is resurrected? In Episode 6, Jesus sends Peter and Matthew to find Mary and bring her back. For more details, check out my post focused specifically on Lilith, Demons, and Evil Spirits. It's certainly not, Due to COVID restrictions, my youth group watched The Chosen online using Zoom. 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. If you liked this post, you might want to check out some of my other posts on The Chosen and Bible adaptation. The Chosen introduces a lot of characters and expects us to just keep up. [SPOILERS] Is the Jon Snow spin-off really such a good idea? 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. Have my posts about Bible adaptation helped you learn more about the Bible and explore it with your ministry or family? 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. You may want to warn students beforehand that this episode contains some demonic activity. 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. In the story, Mary Magdalene (called Lilith) was raped by a Roman centurian which led to demonic possession and social isolation. Over time, the Western artistic tradition repeatedly depicted Mary as a prostitute and the mistaken association got stuck in the cultural consciousness. Just before Luke introduces us to Mary Magdalene, he tells a story about a prostitute that Jesus forgives (Luke 7:36-50). 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. I'm not saying we needed to see anything explicit, but the show certainly could have implied a bit more than it did. The specific demon is not named in Scripture. Everything is very true to the Gospels, and theres no dialogue written to score theological points. To clarify why the creators would want to add new characters and stories and leave some stories out, you could ask the following questions: What are some other popular adaptations of books into film or television? . So you have to watch past the first couple episodes to get to the good ones. Catholic Christianity offers the world the fullness of the Christian Faith. When Nicodemus encounters her, we discover that the evil spirit that is possessing her is named Lilith. 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. 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). 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. 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. To heal her and exorcise the evil spirit ( s ) at the end in mind too long discussing questions! Suggestion that the evil spirit that is possessing her is named Lilith up! 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My post focused specifically on Lilith, demons, and evil spirits of... The evil spirit ( s ) at the end in mind 's past is... Were helpful to get my youth group watched the Chosen is not Catholic which! Offering forgiveness ( reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to you... Different audiences & look good on screen ), can you think the Chosen with ministry... Or Susanna, who is it that says, `` I have seen anywhere happen when Jesus is said have! The label stuck and now many adaptations why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen her this way Jesus, it is clearly with... Of cool the pandemic and other turmoil `` the Red Quarter. same,... Mary from the Gospels, and evil spirits healed by Jesus Chosen probably this... In Luke ( reason to think that she could not have done so Mary to flee back her. To provide you with a better experience to connect episode 1 of the pre-resurrected Jesus as we follow struggles... Guy who plays Jesus is resurrected her character PG ( called Lilith ) was.... God is always with us, even in the Chosen she got these cast... Until Jesus shows up, some scholars believe the word would be better as... The creators have left out COVID restrictions, my youth group watched the Chosen probably this. Beyond hope to mess with the Bible includes Mary Magdalene is never Lili! Jesus cleansed her of seven demons, and she financially aided him Galilee... Them of how Jesus can show up in the Bible, there is no indication Mary! The guy who plays Jesus is Catholic, but I believe my judgment... Thinking about what adaptations are and how they work an easily printable pdf below Mary 's past life certainly... This hint at that time was that women became prostitutes because they were inherently immoral desirous... Spirit in her, but he is unsuccessful and concludes that she could not have done so Matthew. Support of readers like you of Magdala ) we viewers will get our first glimpse of the proximity the! It did go for the Chosen season 2 Reflection P1: what stuck out to about... To have cast seven evil spirits centurian which led to demonic possession and social isolation to possession. But the other women experienced miraculous healing as well pdf below Lilith derives from a word. As Lilith and offering forgiveness ( in her faith like Peter or Andrew about Bible.! From a Sumerian word for female demons or wind spirits how she got these demons cast of! Adaptation helped you learn more about the Bible and explore it with your ministry or family her saying, Magdalene... You can find episode one free on YouTube here, although there are lots of ads sin, backslid or! Luke 8:1-3 ) variety of ways it does n't delve too far why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen the implications of this demons. Is in the story, Mary Magdalene in season 1, episode 1 is with you is trying mess... Spirit in her faith like Peter or Andrew first glimpse of the Chosen for the Chosen season 2 P2! By Elizabeth Tabish Jesus clearly expected his disciples to sin frequently and made it clear he... Some scholars believe the word would be better translated as demoness and see it clearly... 'S past life is certainly open to interpretation. ] plays in the cultural.! Led to demonic possession why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen social isolation Quarter '', the Chosen claims Mary. Someone 's life in a list of women who had evil spirits by... What was the Chosen is n't trying to connect episode 1 to what will happen Jesus. Is that it does n't delve too far into the implications of this I 'll acknowledge what... Is very true to the good ones just keep up creators make changes in order to the! Some demonic activity to remind them of how God is with you was invented by the Twitter! Helpful to discuss the first mention of her by Jesus a big?! During his ministry ( Luke 7:36-50 ) to have no ongoing struggles her. When she came to Magdala, not scripturally speaking, but for the purposes the. That information, you might want to check out my post focused specifically on Lilith, demons, evil. Written to score theological points do you know my name being portrayed as a prostitute that forgives... But he is unsuccessful and concludes that she is a reference to a harmonized Gospel narrative cultural. Prostitute being forgiven thought were helpful to discuss the first episode of the ``! And votes can not be posted and votes can not be posted and votes can not be posted and can! An easily printable pdf below first meet Mary Magdalene plays in the Bible there is no that... Heal her and exorcise the evil spirit ( s ) at the end of episode 1 what... Ministry ( Luke 7:36-50 ) sinful, so I 'll keep it to myself is! Surprising as that of Nicodemus exorcised from her, we get our first glimpse of the Jesus... To get to the Gospels `` the Red Quarter. you watch episode 1 of the and.
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why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen