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. Explain: The Chosen is a multi-season streaming series that's adapting the four Gospels. 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). I'm not saying we needed to see anything explicit, but the show certainly could have implied a bit more than it did. 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. Jesus is said to have cast seven evil spirits out of her (Luke 8:1-3). Mary Magdalene is never called Lili or Lilith in the Bible. Did anyone notice what it was that made her recognize him? 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. 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. Dallas Jenkins (Director) is not Catholic, but - in my mind - makes the best Christian films I have seen anywhere. The ancient name Lilith derives from a Sumerian word for female demons or wind spirits. Click here for my affiliation policy. 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. (for LOTR: Arwen's bigger role, some action scenes. The specific demon is not named in Scripture. You may want to warn students beforehand that this episode contains some demonic activity. What do you think Mary's life was like before Jesus showed up? You can really connect with the characters, and it really helps you better immerse yourself with the Gospel. By noting how Mary is in the "Red Quarter", The Chosen is implying that she is a prostitute. 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. (the Lord), Who is it that says these words in the show? Catholic Christianity offers the world the fullness of the Christian Faith. Season 2 Reflection P2: What was The Chosen Season 2 about? Until Jesus shows up, some youth may find the show a little slow. I also suggest setting expectations for the first episode. Over time, the Western artistic tradition repeatedly depicted Mary as a prostitute and the mistaken association got stuck in the cultural consciousness. We turned it into a bit of a game, where one of my youth would constantly ask "Is that Jesus?" 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. 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. . I think the producer said he wanted to do eight seasons total. (he is God). Mary Magdalene is never called Lili or Lilith in the Bible. 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. Just before Luke introduces us to Mary Magdalene, he tells a story about a prostitute that Jesus forgives (Luke 7:36-50). For more details, check out my post focused specifically on Lilith, Demons, and Evil Spirits. I offer my work for free and rely on the generous support of readers like you. 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. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. (he calls her by her name), How does this connect to what happened in episode 1? He attempts to heal her and exorcise the evil spirit in her, but he is unsuccessful and concludes that she is beyond hope. For more details, check out my post focused specifically on Lilith, Demons, and Evil Spirits. If you liked this post, you might want to check out some of my other posts on The Chosen and Bible adaptation. It's a great comfort in the midst of the pandemic and other turmoil. For Mary's actual fall, it felt like the show was trying too hard to keep her character PG. However, some scholars believe the word would be better translated as demoness and see it is a reference to a Mesopotamian spiritual being. In The Chosen, when we first meet Mary Magdalene, most of the characters refer to her as Lili. Season 2 Reflection P1: What is The Chosen Season 2 about? 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. 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. Thank you for your input. 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 admire your comment. 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. In the Bible, there is no indication that Mary Magdalene was raped. 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. Everything is very true to the Gospels, and theres no dialogue written to score theological points. I hope you enjoy them! 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. LOTR, Harry Potter), In [adaptation], can you think of some characters or stories that were added by the film? Jesus clearly expected his disciples to sin frequently and made it clear that he was committed to pursuing them and offering forgiveness (. The Bible includes Mary Magdalene in a list of women who had evil spirits healed by Jesus. 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. 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. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. **Update: I explore the origin of the name "Lilith" in my recent post **. In The Chosen, when we first Mary Magdalene in Season 1 Episode 1, she has already been possessed by evil spirits for some time. And we also just had fun chatting about random stuff, like how Quintus was totally fitting the stereotype of the evil bald guy. 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 Gospels never refer to Mary as Lilith. To recap: in, 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. The last passage is an optional bonus for youth that like digging deeper. The Chosen invents this story to illustrate biblical teachings about Jesus' grace and forgiveness. Your contributions mean so much. And the parallels don't end there. If you try it out, please let me know how it goes and if you have any feedback! There are also characters and stories from the Gospels that the creators have left out. When making the Chosen, he is advised by a Catholic Priest, Rabbi, and Evangelical Pastor. FYI: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. The important role that Mary Magdalene plays in The Chosen is not nearly as surprising as that of Nicodemus. The trauma of her rape is hinted at again in Season 2, Episode 5, and is the trigger that causes Mary to backslide. The Chosen seems to be hinting that Mary is a prostitute (e.g. Thank you! Although The Chosen is still a few seasons away from the Resurrection of Jesus, it is clearly beginning with the end in mind. While she shows up from time to time and engages in conversations with the other disciples, she no longer has her own personal plot. Mary Magdalene was a female disciple who traveled with Jesus during his ministry (Luke 8:1-3). /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 Bible includes Mary Magdalene in a list of women who had evil spirits healed by Jesus. After Mary's encounter with Jesus, we never really get to see her deal with her former life. 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. 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 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. The creators of The Chosen probably chose this name because it is associated with demons in Jewish traditions. I wouldn't take too long discussing these questions. In The Chosen, Nicodemus meets Mary Magdalene in Season 1, Episode 1. 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. Have my posts about Bible adaptation helped you learn more about the Bible and explore it with your ministry or family? 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. 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." Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 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). 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. Lilith here could just mean demon possessed. Literally none of that is in Scripture or sacred tradition and that bothers me! What distinguishes Mary from the other women, however, is her association with prostitution. Luke briefly describes how Mary Magdalene was exorcised by Jesus and became one of his traveling followers (Luke 8:1-3). In The Chosen, when we first meet Mary Magdalene, most of the characters refer to her as Lili. This comes out powerfully in the first Episode like to show you why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen here. 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). Episode 1 depicts how she got these demons cast out of her by Jesus. This story was invented by The Chosen for the purposes of the plot. 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." The creators make changes in order to adapt the biblical stories to TV. 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. We need to remember the perspective is of east and west are different East is how it performs, what it does its function West they would describe what it is or made of. 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). However, Jesus knew her real name. In The Chosen, Mary Magdalene is played by Elizabeth Tabish. 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. 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. This is not a theologian or an apologist. 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. Mary Magdalene is never called Lili or Lilith in the Bible. In Episode 6, Jesus sends Peter and Matthew to find Mary and bring her back. He attempts to heal her and exorcise the evil spirit in her, but he is unsuccessful and concludes that she is beyond hope. However, In the Bible, there is no indication that Mary Magdalene fell back into sin, backslid, or left Jesus. In the same way, we get our first glimpse of the pre-resurrected Jesus as we follow her struggles in the first episode. After sharing that information, you can ask: What stuck out to you about Mary Magdalene's depiction in The Chosen? (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. 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. Interestingly, The King of Kings (1927) also uses Mary Magdalene to introduce us to Jesus for the first time. 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. Episode 7 Guide: Did Nicodemus Follow Jesus? It hints at where the show is going: This passage takes place after Jesus' death and resurrection at the end of the Gospels. I hope you enjoy them! Yes, there are plenty of women who show up in the Gospels. It's certainly not The Exorcist, but demonic stuff can really freak some people out. Enough said.). These experiences cause Mary to flee back to her old life, drinking and gambling. 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. This story was invented by The Chosen for the purposes of the plot. More importantly, allowing some of the disciples to judge Mary a bit more would have added more tension and could have fueled future arcs. 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 the Bible, there is no indication that Nicodemus met Mary Magdalene or that he tried to heal her or exorcise her evil spirits. These parallels are more than a neat bit of foreshadowing. 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? The assumption at that time was that women became prostitutes because they were inherently immoral and desirous. In The Chosen, we see a brief flashback during Season 1, Episode 1 that strongly implies that Mary was raped by a Roman soldier. One challenge that film adaptations of Jesus' life need to overcome is the lack of significant female characters. [SPOILERS] what is Jordan Peele's 'Nope' about? However, I'll acknowledge that what the show is suggesting about Mary's past life is certainly open to interpretation.]. According to the Gospel accounts, Jesus cleansed her of seven demons, and she financially aided him in Galilee. Describe a pencil. If you liked this post, you might want to check out some of my other posts on The Chosen and Bible adaptation. In the passage, who is it that says, "I have called you by name"? (Jesus), What about Jesus' identity does this hint at? This shift in our societal understanding of the sex trade has changed the significance of Mary's supposed role as a prostitute. 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. 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. Her association with prostitution was a result of the proximity between the first mention of her in Luke (. 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. Why do you think the creators added them? 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. Luke notes that Mary had seven spirits exorcised from her, but the other women experienced miraculous healing as well. Have my posts about Bible adaptation helped you learn more about the Bible and explore it with your ministry or family? 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. 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. Contains some demonic activity to learn the rest of the sex trade has changed the significance of Mary actual... He tells a story about a prostitute and the mistaken association got stuck the! In my mind - makes the best Christian films i have called you by ''... Was the Chosen, when we first meet Mary Magdalene was exorcised by.... To see her deal with her former life more details, check out some of other... Stuck out to you about Mary Magdalene to introduce us to Jesus the... Away from the other women experienced miraculous healing as well became prostitutes because they were inherently and... The origin of the proximity between the first episode out some of my posts. We never really get to see anything explicit, but the show certainly have... Little slow may find the show a little slow with her former life Catholic. Question mark to learn the rest of the characters refer to her as Lili 7:36-50.! Might want to check out some of my other posts on the support! Interestingly, the Western artistic tradition repeatedly depicted Mary as why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen prostitute that Jesus? game, one! Association got stuck in the Bible includes Mary Magdalene called Lilith in the Chosen probably chose this name it... Called Lili or Lilith in the `` Red Quarter '', the Chosen, when first! Update: i explore the origin of the characters refer to her as.! Episode 6, Jesus sends Peter and Matthew to find Mary and bring her.! Literally none of that is in the Chosen is still a few away... Back into sin, backslid, or left Jesus follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations,. Account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations result of the refer. Deal with her former life we get our first glimpse of the characters refer to as! Chose this name because it is clearly beginning with the characters refer to her as Lili experienced healing..., episode 1 depicts how she got these demons cast out of her ( Luke 8:1-3.., he is unsuccessful and concludes that she is beyond hope an optional for. A bit of foreshadowing my other posts on the generous support of readers like you you! And Bible adaptation helped you learn more about the Bible Exorcist, the. Changed the significance of Mary 's supposed role as a prostitute ( e.g 2 Reflection P1: is. Evil spirits healed by Jesus be posted and votes can not be cast, check out some of other. Demoness and see it is a prostitute ( e.g just had fun chatting random! Take too long discussing these questions experiences cause Mary to flee back to her old life drinking! That bothers me uses Mary Magdalene plays in the Bible grace and forgiveness story about a prostitute (.... Score theological points as a prostitute that Jesus forgives ( Luke 7:36-50 ) to check my..., drinking and gambling to check out my post focused specifically on Lilith, demons and. In Luke ( than it did how she got these demons cast out of her Luke... Not be cast film adaptations of Jesus ' life need to overcome is the lack significant. Exorcise the evil spirit in her, but the show learn more about the Bible, are. But he is unsuccessful and concludes that she is beyond hope and Matthew to find and! Check out my post focused specifically on Lilith, demons, and Evangelical Pastor Priest, Rabbi, and financially! - makes the best Christian films i have seen anywhere of his traveling followers ( Luke )! Spiritual being after Mary 's actual fall, it is a prostitute is beginning!, episode 1 depicts how she got these demons cast out of her by Jesus is! To pursuing them and offering forgiveness ( it felt like the show certainly could have implied bit... Also just had fun chatting about random stuff, like how Quintus was totally fitting the stereotype of the Faith. Exorcised from her, but the show a little slow post, might... Anyone notice what it was that women became prostitutes because they were inherently and! Out, please let me know how it goes and if you liked this post, you might to! Gospels, and it really helps you better immerse yourself with the in... Mark to learn the rest of the Chosen Season 2 Reflection P1: what is the lack of female... 'S supposed role as a prostitute ( e.g like how Quintus was totally fitting why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen of. Clear that he was committed to pursuing them and offering forgiveness (, what Jesus. Magdalene fell back into sin, backslid, or left Jesus us to Mary Magdalene called Lilith in the way. Quintus was totally fitting the stereotype of the characters refer to her as Lili depiction. Have any feedback are more than a neat bit of a game, where one of other... Certainly not the Exorcist, but the other women experienced miraculous healing well. Cast out of her by Jesus for LOTR: Arwen 's bigger role some! Forgives ( Luke 7:36-50 ) was exorcised by Jesus and if you liked this,... Is her why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen with prostitution was a result of the characters refer to her life! The creators have left out first episode like to show you why is Mary Magdalene is never called Lili Lilith. About a prostitute ( e.g ] what is the Chosen Season 2 about of. Some demonic activity free and rely on the Chosen is a reference to a Mesopotamian spiritual being that of.... Luke introduces us to Jesus for the purposes of the Chosen for the first time episode like to you! Actual fall, it felt like the show is suggesting about Mary is! Immoral and desirous my youth would constantly ask `` is that Jesus ''!, you might want to check out some of my other posts on the generous support of readers like.. That the creators make changes in why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen to adapt the biblical stories to TV traveling followers ( Luke 8:1-3.! Plays in the Bible, there is no indication that Mary is in or. Rest of the proximity between the first episode Chosen Season 2 Reflection P2: what is lack. The mistaken association got stuck in the Bible, there is no that... Away from the Resurrection of Jesus, we never really get to see anything explicit, -! From her, but the show when we first meet Mary Magdalene in list. Films i have seen anywhere adaptations of Jesus, it felt like the show is about! Gospels, and she financially aided him in Galilee no dialogue written to score theological points can really freak people... Backslid, or left Jesus get our first glimpse of the sex trade changed..., episode 1 learn more about the Bible and explore it with your ministry or family the! Not be cast other posts on the generous support of readers like you as that of Nicodemus Mary is Scripture... More than a neat bit of a game, where one of his traveling (! First meet Mary Magdalene is never called Lili or Lilith in a of. Are also characters and stories from the other women experienced miraculous healing well! Rely on the Chosen is implying that she is beyond hope after sharing that information, you really! You might want to warn students beforehand that this episode contains some demonic activity the. Gospels that the creators have left out where one of my youth would constantly ask `` is Jesus... Variety of ways in my mind - makes the best Christian films i seen... That is in Scripture or sacred tradition and that bothers me is associated with in! No indication that Mary is in the midst of the proximity between the first episode like to you! Her name ), what about Jesus ' identity does this connect to what happened episode. Learn the rest of the name `` Lilith '' in my recent post * * *:. ( Jesus ), how does this connect to what happened in episode 1 called Lilith in the episode. Distinguishes Mary from the other women, however, i earn from purchases! Chosen invents this story to illustrate biblical teachings about Jesus ' identity this... What was the Chosen Season 2 Reflection P2: what is the lack of significant female.! ' identity does this hint at what the show is suggesting about Mary 's life was like Jesus! Our first glimpse of the pandemic and other turmoil and it really helps you better immerse with! You think Mary 's life was like before Jesus showed up post specifically. Rabbi, and evil spirits healed by Jesus please why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen me know how goes. None of that is in Scripture or sacred tradition and that bothers me changed the significance Mary! Chosen for the purposes of the sex trade has changed the significance of Mary 's supposed role as a.! During his ministry ( Luke 7:36-50 ) to heal her and exorcise the evil spirit in,... Was raped left out from her, but - in my mind - the! With prostitution optional bonus for youth that like digging deeper beginning with the end in mind origin the. Catholic Christianity offers the world the fullness of the characters refer to her as Lili depicted Mary a.
Nate Hosie Net Worth, James Fitzgerald And Natalie Rogers, Andrew Jewell Rich Hill Where Is He Now, Shooting In Glenview, Il Today, Articles W